Major Port Expansion Unlocks $12 Billion in New Trade Capacity for West African Corridor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — A consortium of international infrastructure investors led by Macquarie Infrastructure and Meridiam has completed the first phase of a $12 billion port and logistics development programme spanning Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, according to a joint announcement released today.

The development — the largest private infrastructure investment in West African history — includes expanded container handling facilities at the Port of Abidjan (capacity increased from 1.2 million to 2.8 million TEUs annually), a new deep-water terminal at Tema Port in Ghana capable of handling the largest container vessels currently in service, and an integrated logistics park and free trade zone adjacent to the Port of Dakar in Senegal.

"This infrastructure transforms the commercial proposition for trading companies looking to access West African markets or use the region as a logistics hub for intra-African trade," said Macquarie Managing Director François Hébert at the launch event in Abidjan. "For the first time, the region has port facilities that genuinely compete with South African and North African alternatives."

Impact on Trade Flows

The expansion comes at a critical moment for West African trade. The region's combined GDP of approximately $850 billion is growing at an average 5.2% annually, driven by strong population growth, rising urbanisation, and significant natural resource wealth. Yet logistical constraints have historically meant that a disproportionate share of trade to and from West Africa transits through South African, Moroccan, or European hubs, adding cost and delay.

Direct vessel calls to West African ports have historically been limited by the shallow draft of existing terminals, which could not accommodate modern super-post-Panamax container ships. The new facilities at Tema and Abidjan have been designed to accommodate vessels carrying up to 24,000 TEUs, enabling direct service from major Asian and European shipping lanes.

"The infrastructure gap has been the single most important constraint on West African trade competitiveness," said Adaeze Okafor, Director of the West Africa Trade Association. "Removing that constraint does not automatically solve all of the region's trade challenges, but it removes the excuse that was most frequently cited for routing cargo through other regions."