The port of Lomé on the rise

Togo continues to strengthen its position on the global port scene with impressive results. For the fifth consecutive year, the Port of Lomé has ranked among the world's top 100 container ports, according to the ranking published by Lloyd's List, a leading authority in the maritime transport sector.

In 2024, the Port of Lomé recorded a traffic of 2.06 million containers, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous year which saw 1.9 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units). This performance allowed the port to move up one place, rising to 92nd place in the world, after being 93rd last year. Over the past five years, Lomé has thus moved up six places, demonstrating a dynamic of continuous improvement.

The Port of Lomé stands out as the leading port in sub-Saharan Africa in this ranking, and it also occupies 5th position on a continental scale. It is preceded by:

• Tanger Med (Morocco, 17th)
• Port Said (Egypt, 53rd)
• Durban (South Africa, 79th)
• Alexandria (Egypt, 90th)

Lloyd's List analysts attribute this increase to the growth of transshipment, a segment that has been developed through strategic partnerships and reforms implemented to improve the efficiency of port logistics. As the only deepwater port in the sub-region, Lomé benefits from a draft that allows it to accommodate the largest vessels, thus strengthening its competitiveness compared to other regional and continental ports.

The port authority aims to maintain this momentum and consolidate the Port of Lomé's position among the best in the world. Recently, dredging work on the container terminal was completed, deepening the access channel to 18.6 meters and widening the turning circle to 550 meters, in order to accommodate even more giant vessels.

Further investments are already planned to support this growth.

Therese V.