E-PORTS Port Voyage Column | Abidjan Port: The Largest Container Port in West Africa

Dozens of Chinese?offshore vessels keep working, day and night, for the expansion of Abidjan Port (one of the largest natural harbors in West Africa) in Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast. Looking down to the port, you can see nearly a hundred newly-built containers on its left, which constitutes?a large and new container terminal and that will be the largest one?in West Africa.????????

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With its water depth from 20 to 30 meters, the Port can accommodate 60 ships all at once. Nearly 60- (or even 70-) kilometer-long wharves within the lagoon are open to public use after the development of the Vridi Canal in 1950. And ships up to 20,000 tons can thereby get access to the Port where its wharves are connected to railways. ???????

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Critical to the trade in West Africa, Abidjan Port is able to handle 70% of import and exports from landlocked countries, such as Mali and Burkina Faso. In 2023, its throughput has reached 32 million tons, of which container cargoes were 1.9 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 10%. ??

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Cargoes handled mainly include:

Agricultural Products: cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, etc.???

Industrial Raw Materials: iron ore, copper ore, bauxite, etc.??

Industrial Goods: mechanical equipment, automobiles, electronic products, etc. ??

Consumer Goods: food, clothing, daily necessities, etc. ???????

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Among them, cocoa is one of the main exports in Abidjan Port, accounting for about 40%, followed by coffee, palm oil, and rubber. And the main imports mainly include industrial raw materials, industrial goods , and consumer goods. ????

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Abidjan Port has undergone significant expansion and modernization in recent years. In 2015, the Port’s throughput was increased to 1.9 million TEUs after the completion of Abidjan Port expansion project by China Harbour Engineering Company(CHEC), and further climbed to 3.1 million TEUs because of the newly-built C?te d'Ivoire Terminal(CIT) in 2020. ????

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Abidjan Port will be an important transport hub in West Africa with its ongoing expansion and modernization. ??????

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The history of Abidjan Port dates back to the early 19th century?when ?French colonists established?Abidjan on?the ébrié Lagoon?and soon began ?to build ports. In 1893, the French government built the first terminal in Abidjan?Port?to handle the export of agricultural products, such as cocoa and coffee.???????

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Abidjan?Port plays an important role in driving the economy of C?te d'Ivoire after its independence?in 1960?and has become one of the largest ports in West Africa with the throughout increasing. ???

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The second Container Terminal in Abidjan Port in C?te d'Ivoire, commissioned by China Harbour Engineering Company(CHEC) and constructed by CCCC(China Communications Construction Company Limited) First Harbor Engineering Company Ltd., has officially opened for business since December 2, 2023. There are three 150,000-tonne berths with the coastline of 1,312 meters, which will increase the annual throughput of Abidjan Port from 1.2 million TEUs to 2.5 million TEUs, greatly promoting the economic and social development of Cote d'Ivoire and even of West Africa. ????

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[E-PORTS CAUTIONS] For Docking at Abidjan?Port ???

1. Abidjan?Port is operated by the Autonomous Port of Abidjan (PAA)?and C?te d'Ivoire Terminal (CIT). Ship docking requires an appointment in advance?within?30 days. You can make inquiries about port agency in Abidjan Port for appointment on the E-PORTS?platform to avoid losses incurred by “no docking”. ???????

2. The draft in Abidjan Port shall no exceed 16 meters, so large ships need to reduce their load to sail into the Port. ??????

3. Please pay attention to Tide Times and Tide Charts?when docking at Abidjan Port to respond to tidal changes. ??

4. Please take measures to prevent mosquitoes?after docking at Abidjan Port for the bad environment.