Africa's Ports to Challenge European Ports for Container Transshipment Traffic

According to PortWorld, North Africa's ports could challenge European ports for regional container transshipment traffic. Lower labour costs and fewer environmental restrictions - 2 factors boosting North Africa's competitiveness.


The port of Tangier (Morrocco) is a leading potential rival to European transshipment hubs. It should be pointed out, that Maersk and MSC are already investing in the Tangier facilities. The port is scheduled to handle up to 8 mn TEUs a year when fully operational.

Moreover, the Moroccon government is considering building a $1.7 bn container port which will have 3 container terminals, is projected to have a handling capacity of 5 mn TEUs per year.

The Egyptian ports of Damietta and Port Said are also being considered as potential transshipment hubs. A $480 mn credit line has been agreed by two Bahraini banks to fund new container handling facilities, due for completion by 2009, at the Mediterranean port of Damietta.


Suez Canal Container Terminal has also signed a concession agreement with the Egyptian government for Phase 2 of the East Port Said port development which is scheduled to double SCCT container handling capacity by 2011 to about 5.1 mn TEUs from the current figure of 2.55 mn TEUs per year.


Alexandria International Container Terminals has also officially opened 2 new container facilities at Egypt's ports of Alexandria and El Dekheila.


Source:Seanews