Lome, Togo
Lomé, Togo: A vibrant port city blending colonial history with African culture.
Port Overview
Lomé, the capital of Togo, is located on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa and serves as the country’s principal seaport. Covering over 900 hectares, it is the largest port in West Africa and ranks 93rd globally in container throughput. Its strategic deep-water location enables it to function as a major transshipment hub for landlocked countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In 2023, the port handled approximately 1.9 million TEUs, confirming its status as the region’s busiest and most important maritime gateway.
Facilities & Infrastructure
The Port of Lomé is West Africa’s leading deep-water port, featuring a 16.6-meter draft and a 1,050-meter straight dock at its main container terminal, enabling it to handle the largest container vessels, including those up to 24,000 TEU after recent dredging. Key facilities include the Lomé Container Terminal (LCT), equipped with nine ship-to-shore gantry cranes and 24 terminal cranes, and a 50-hectare storage area. The port also offers a third dock (450 meters, 15 meters deep), modern stevedoring services, and is expanding with dry port and industrial zone developments. Advanced cargo handling, ISO-certified services, and streamlined customs procedures reinforce its role as a regional transshipment hub and gateway to landlocked neighbors.
Container Terminals
Lomé, Togo’s main container terminal features 1,050 meters of quay with 3 to 5 berths, a depth of 16.6–16.7 meters, and a capacity of up to 2.7 million TEU annually. The terminal uses modern semi-automated systems, including advanced terminal operating software and state-of-the-art handling equipment. Major operators are Terminal Investment Limited (TiL, part of MSC), with Bolloré Ports also present in the port area.
Port Services
- Container handling: Modern container terminals with high-capacity quay and yard cranes, supporting transshipment and direct services for regional and international trade.
- Cargo operations: Full range of stevedoring, loading, unloading, and bulk/general cargo handling for various vessel types.
- Ship services: Bunkering, hull cleaning, pilotage, towage, and vessel support available at berth.
- Warehousing: On-site storage facilities for containerized and general cargo, including secure warehousing and logistics support.
- Customs: One-stop customs clearance and administrative services, streamlining import/export procedures for efficient cargo movement.
Global Connectivity
Connectivity Overview
The Port of Lomé serves as a critical transshipment hub for West Africa, connecting to major international shipping lines and regional ports. It functions as the primary maritime gateway for landlocked countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The port's strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes enables connections to numerous West African capitals within 24-48 hours via road transport.
Lomé handles shipping routes linking Togo to major global markets including the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, and China. With its 16.60-meter depth, it accommodates large vessels with capacities up to 24,000 TEU, facilitating transshipment traffic across the entire West African coast. The port serves as a regional logistics center with multimodal transport connections through direct rail and road infrastructure.
Port Statistics
Port of Lomé, Togo – Key Statistics (2025):
- TEU Throughput: Approximately 2 million TEUs annually
- World Ranking: Leading container hub in West Africa; among Africa’s top 10 container ports
- Number of Berths: 7 main berths (including deep-water container berths)
- Port Area: About 90 hectares (LCT terminal zone)
- Shipping Lines: Major global carriers including MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and COSCO serve the port
Lomé’s deep-water capacity (up to 18.6 meters) enables handling of 24,000 TEU vessels and supports robust transshipment operations.
