DP World Doubles West African Terminal Capacity

DP World has doubled its container capacity at Dakar in Sengal through the expansion of its West African terminal, as the terminal operator aims to tap growing Asian trade.

Terminal à Conteneur boasts an annual capacity of 600,000 20-foot equivalent units, and DP says the facility is the first in the region to offer window berthing services to reduce anchorage waiting times.

“In addition, DP World has reduced truck turnaround time to less than half an hour, and introduced clear tariffs and processes supported by modern technology systems,” said the global port giant. “The result of these improvements has been an increase of around a third in volumes through the port, with the resultant benefits for the trade and Senegal’s economy.”

West Africa’s fast growing economies are increasingly Asia-focused, but carriers and shippers frequently complain about delays in the region caused by a lack of investment and poor procedures.

Africa trade is forecast to total around $1.5 trillion by 2020, up from $304 billon last year. China’s Ministry of Commerce Trade said that Sino-Africa trade was worth $127 billion in 2010, a huge jump from just $10 billion 10 years earlier.

-- Contact Mike King at michael@borderline.eu.com