Togo: The Port of Lomé maintains its position in the Top 100 Ports Worldwide

The Port of Lomé maintains its position in the Top 100 Ports Worldwide. Indeed, ranked 94th in the 2023 rankings, Togo, along with South Africa, is among the only African countries featured in the list of the Top 100 ports in the world for the year.

Having entered this prestigious list of the 100 best ports in 2021, Togo and South Africa have successfully maintained their positions in the rankings, while other African countries were removed from the 2023 list.

Furthermore, the West African nation has climbed two spots. In 2022, it occupied the 96th place, and this year, the Autonomous Port of Lomé (PAL) is ranked 94th.

The rapid rise of the Port of Lomé in the ranks of major port facilities is attributed to its deep waters.

It is, in fact, the only country in West Africa with this natural advantage. Additionally, Lomé Container Terminal (LCT), a joint venture between Terminal Investment Ltd (a subsidiary of the Mediterranean Shipping Co.) and China Merchants Port Holdings, has played a crucial role.

Opened in 2014, LCT quickly became the central hub for MSC, the largest container shipping company in West Africa, not only for transshipment but also as a gateway to landlocked countries such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and northern Nigeria.

Thanks to LCT, the Port of Lomé has progressively expanded and continuously upgraded its terminal facilities to accommodate the largest vessels passing through the region.

These advantages make PAL the indispensable transshipment port in the region.

Despite a significant decrease in traffic recorded for the year 2022, the Port of Lomé continues to hold its position as the largest container hub in West Africa.

Although the throughput dropped to 1.8 million TEU from nearly 2 million TEU in 2022, the challenges faced by other ports in the ranking allowed this port to climb to the 94th place globally.

Yoann Amouzou