Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

Port Overview

Abidjan, located on the southeast coast of Côte d’Ivoire along the Gulf of Guinea, is the country’s largest city and principal seaport. It ranks among West Africa’s busiest ports and serves as a key commercial gateway for landlocked countries in the region. The port’s strategic position, connected by rail to Burkina Faso, enhances its regional importance. Abidjan handles over 1 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, making it a major container hub in West Africa.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Abidjan’s main port facilities include two major container terminals: the Vridi Container Terminal and the new Côte d’Ivoire Terminal (CIT), with a combined capacity exceeding 3 million TEU annually. Key terminals handle containers, Ro-Ro, bulk, fruit, grain, oil, and fishing cargo. The port is equipped with 8 ship-to-shore gantry cranes, 27 rubber-tired gantry cranes, and advanced fleet management systems. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are not currently in use.

Container Terminals

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire has two main container terminals with a combined annual capacity of 2.5 million TEUs. The terminals offer a total of 10 berths—five at each terminal—with quay lengths up to 1,100 meters and drafts up to 16 meters. Automation levels are high, featuring ship-to-shore cranes, RTGs, and advanced control systems. Major operators include APM Terminals and Bolloré Ports.

Port Services

• Container handling: Two modern container terminals with advanced equipment and high throughput capacity.
• Cargo operations: Facilities for bulk, breakbulk, liquid, and general cargo, including specialized berths and multipurpose terminals.
• Ship services: Bunker fuel supply, fresh water provisioning, waste management, pilotage, tug assistance, and emergency repairs.
• Warehousing: Extensive storage complexes, cold storage for perishables, and bonded warehousing.
• Customs: On-site customs clearance, security screening, and streamlined processes for imports, exports, and transshipment.

Global Connectivity

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire’s main port, serves as West Africa’s leading maritime gateway, connecting directly to major ports in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. It supports regional trade for landlocked countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger via robust road and rail links. Abidjan lies on key shipping routes, facilitating efficient access to global markets and acting as a vital transshipment and intermodal hub for the region.

Port Statistics

Port of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire:

• TEU throughput (2023): 1,230,000
• World ranking: Just outside the global Top 100 container ports; aims to enter Top 100 by 2027
• Number of berths: 34
• Port area: 1,200 hectares (land and water combined)
• Major shipping lines: Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, Grimaldi, Bolloré/APM Terminals

The port recently expanded with a second container terminal, boosting capacity and regional connectivity.