Making the Most of Ports in West Africa
Ports have always played an essential role in this highly trade-dependent region. While there are still wide disparities in terms of throughput volumes and capacity, traffic has been growing rapidly in most countries over the last decade. Overall,...
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| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2018
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/919071469608006706/Making-the-Most-of-Ports-in-West-Africa http://hdl.handle.net/10986/31027 |
| Summary: | Ports have always played an essential
role in this highly trade-dependent region. While there are
still wide disparities in terms of throughput volumes and
capacity, traffic has been growing rapidly in most countries
over the last decade. Overall, total throughput in West
Africa grew from around 105 million tons in 2006 to 165
million tons in 2012. Likewise, containerized traffic
remains limited in West Africa compared to other regions but
has grown faster than in any other region in the world over
the last five years. The combined throughput of container
terminals in the region reached almost 5 million twenty-foot
equivalent units (TEUs) in 2013, twice as much as a decade
ago, and is expected to keep growing fast. The future
throughput of West African ports comprises the demand for
containerized trade generated by coastal and landlocked
countries, and additional port movements generated by
transshipment in regional hub(s). Given the regional
dynamics of ports in West Africa, there is also a good case
for more cooperation between West African countries on port
reform, competition and regulation. Strengthening the
capacity and mandate of regional institutions such as the
ECOWAS Commission on these issues would complement
regulatory efforts at the country level and provide a forum
to analyze regional issues related to inter-port competition
and private sector participation in port management. |
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