Seaports play an important role in the growth of any economy. These ports serve as global commercial gateways and have a significant impact on the world’s economic interdependence. This holds true in Africa as well. From the bustling port towns of Lagos in Nigeria to the strategic hub of Durban in South Africa, Africa is home to various seaports that have become a symbol of the continent’s economy.
Africa’s major seaports are critical for connecting the region to the global economy. The continent’s abundant resources have made it a popular location for purchasing some of the world’s most valuable and rare minerals, oil, cobalt, agricultural products, and other commodities.
The export of these goods has become critical to the survival of economies around the region. These ports also serve to create jobs and boost area businesses.
The importance of seaports raises the question of which ones on the continent are the most important. Billions of dollars enter and exit the economy through these ports.
This is especially crucial in Africa, where the African Union reports that 90% of all traded goods are moved by water.
The Bird Story Agency’s Bird TenX series ranked Africa’s top 10 seaports based on trade volume.
1. Tanger Med
Tanger Med is a Moroccan industrial port complex located 45 kilometers northeast of Tangier and across the Strait of Gibraltar from Tarifa, Spain, with the ability to handle 9 million 20-foot containers (TEU). It has the capacity to export 1 million new vehicles while also transporting 7 million passengers and 700,000 trucks each year. It is Africa’s largest seaport.
2. Port Said
Egypt’s busiest port has a capacity of 5 million tones of 20-foot containers. It is located in northeastern Egypt, at the northern end of the Suez Canal, and is built primarily on reclaimed ground.
3. Port of Durban
This is the largest port in both South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. It has a capacity of 2.9 million TEUs and can accommodate 600,000 transported vehicle units. It is located on South Africa’s east coast, 680 nautical miles northwest of Cape Agulhas and 625 nautical miles south-southwest of the port of Maputo.
4. Lekki Deep Sea Port
This is Nigeria’s most functional and busy seaport, having a capacity of 2.7 million 20-foot TEUs. It is located in Lagos’ Southwest district, the commercial hub of Africa’s greatest economy.
5. Port of Ngqura
This is one of Africa’s most major deep water container ports, located on South Africa’s east coast, 20 kilometers northeast of Gqeberha. It is part of a Special Economic Zone. It has a capacity of two million TEU.
6. Port of Abidjan
After establishing a second container terminal in December 2022, this port’s handling capacity increased by more than doubling, from 1 million TEUs to 2.5 million. It is situated in Treichville, southern Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
7. Port of Casablanca
This harbor, located near the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, is one of the largest artificial seaports ever built. It can handle 1.3 million TEUs and 21.3 million tons of cargo each year.
8. Mombasa Port
This gigantic seaport, known as the “gateway to East Africa,” is located on the coast of southern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It has a capacity of 1.65 million containers per year.
9. Port of Doraleh
The Port of Doraleh, located 5 kilometers west of Djibouti City, is an extension of the Port of Djibouti and has a handling capacity of 1.65 million containers annually. This port connects Europe, the far east, the Persian Gulf, and the Horn of Africa.
10. Tema Port
This port accounts for 70% of Ghana’s total maritime transportation. It has a capacity of 22,000 TEUs, rising from only 5000 in 2022. It is Ghana’s busiest port, located in the southeastern region of the country along the Gulf of Guinea.