Cotonou Port Sees Activity Rise in 2025

The port of Cotonou, Benin's economic capital, has seen a notable increase in activity since 2025, following a sharp decline in 2024. The port complex handled more than 5 million additional tons of goods last year, including over 500,000 EVP, despite a drop from 12 to 9 million tons in 2024, amid a crisis with neighboring Niger, one of its main clients. The port's management, led by Bart Van Eenoo, now aims for a gain of about 2 million tons this year.

Regional Competitors Handle Much More Traffic

Despite this increase, Cotonou faces significant competition from regional ports such as Abidjan, Lome, and Tema, which handle about three to five times more goods and containers. In 2025, Abidjan handled 46.6 million tons of goods, including 1.69 million EVP, while Tema recorded 31 million tons and 2.2 million EVP. Lome, whose total traffic for the year is not yet known, has declared 2.4 million EVP, after handling 30.6 million tons.

Cotonou Invests Heavily in Infrastructure

Cotonou is investing nearly 500 billion CFA francs (approximately 855 million USD) in its infrastructure. In Tema, a roadmap of about 1.5 billion USD is being implemented as part of a public-private partnership involving MPS, the port authority (GPHA), APM Terminals (Maersk), and AGL. In Lome, the program led by MSC has already allowed for the injection of more than 500 million euros (559.4 million USD). The imbalance could still worsen, with Cotonou aiming for 25 million tons within ten years, while its coastal neighbors aim for 50 million tons in the short and medium term.

Nigeria's Growing Port Infrastructure Threatens Cotonou

Nigeria, rarely considered a direct competitor, is also a growing threat due to the restructuring of its port sector. In addition to the Lekki port, inaugurated in 2023, and the billions being invested in the main ports of Apapa and Tin Can Island, a modernization program for four secondary ports (Calabar, Delta, Onne, and Rivers) was unveiled last September. Old deep-water port projects in Badagry and Ogun are also back on the agenda.

Infrastructure and Rail Projects Aim to Improve Connectivity

In parallel with port infrastructure, investments are announced to improve rail interconnectivity with the hinterland. Nigeria is set to complete by the end of 2026 the Kano-Maradi axis to better serve Niger, and Ghana has been developing since 2021 an 1102 km line aimed at connecting Tema to Ouagadougou. In Côte d'Ivoire, the rail has already been handling shipments to the Burkina Faso capital for several years.

Cotonou Focuses on Digitalization and Efficiency

Despite the competitive context, Cotonou intends to capitalize on its vast digitalization project. According to the port's management, this allows for increased responsiveness in handling ships, with a positive effect on the removal of goods. However, the digitalization of this last stage is not yet completed: its final phase could be operational in March 2027, according to the PAC's information systems department. This should further reduce the logistical constraints related to the costs and delays of removal.

Cotonou Reduces Waiting Times for Ships

"In some neighboring ports, waiting times are systematically counted in weeks, or even months, from six weeks to two months. In Cotonou, the situation has clearly changed: for a container, the waiting time is 36 to 72 hours," affirmed Charles Bennett Fayomi, director of port operations and security, during the second edition of PAC Media Connect. The port authority also highlights the safety and fluidity of transit corridors, which have been freed from excessive road checks and police extortion for several years.

Cotonou Aims to Attract Chinese Shipping Companies

As infrastructure projects approach their deadlines, Cotonou counts on improving its maritime connectivity to attract large-capacity ships and increase its volumes. Some analysts consider it essential to have a long-term positioning strategy to better assert itself against regional competition. Cotonou has indeed been going through a phase of traffic restructuring since 2023, following the diplomatic conflict with Niger, its main client.

Cotonou Seeks a Unique Position Among Regional Ports

Called to define a new specialization segment, the platform does not yet seem to have found its bearings. In the region, each port has a well-identified profile. Abidjan combines its national market and the service of the hinterland, notably thanks to corridors towards Burkina Faso and Mali. Lome has established itself as the regional hub for containerized freight transshipment, while Tema combines transshipment and the service of the Ghanaian economy, backed by a solid industrial and commercial fabric. These two latter ports have captured a significant share of Nigerian transit in recent years due to the crisis with Benin.

Cotonou Considers Targeting Chinese Shipping Companies

Lome, engaged in diversifying its traffic sources, has indeed intensified its commercial offensive among AES countries to strengthen its position on the transit segment. For analysts, the Beninese port should distinguish itself from the classic hub model for traditional shipping companies (Maersk, MSC), which sometimes choose several competing ports in the same region. Cotonou could rather aim for the status of a regional hub for other maritime companies expanding on the continent, notably Chinese ones. Driven by the scale of trade with China, COSCO Shipping, the leading Chinese shipping company, has for example multiplied the frequency of its services to West Africa in recent years. This strategy, however, requires several conditions. Cotonou must convince the targeted shipping companies of the relevance of its infrastructure, the regularity of its services, and its ability to absorb increasing volumes, in an environment where competing ports already benefit from well-established maritime networks. Betting more on Chinese companies also exposes the Beninese port to the need to diversify its partners to limit dependence on a limited number of operators.