The Port Autonome de Dakar has been named the best container port in sub-Saharan Africa for 2024, according to a report by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, highlighting a remarkable turnaround in its performance.
The port’s CPPI index, a key container terminal performance indicator, jumped from -82 in 2023 to +23 in 2024, marking one of the region’s most significant improvements.
The port’s enhanced ranking reflects substantial investments in infrastructure, logistics, and operational efficiency.
This progress is the result of strengthened partnerships with major global port operators and streamlined trade procedures,” a statement from the port’s management noted.
The increase in port calls also demonstrates Dakar’s growing appeal to international shipping lines, even as global maritime trade faces overall declines.
Operated by DP World since 2008, the Dakar platform has undergone extensive modernisation, including the installation of new cranes, expansion of storage areas, and the implementation of a more efficient port community system.
Senegalese authorities have also focused on improving connectivity with the hinterland. Notably, the rehabilitation of the railway line to Mali, a landlocked country reliant on Dakar for trade, underscores this effort, alongside modernised road networks and a single customs window aimed at reducing goods processing times.
Direct maritime links with Asia have further enhanced the port’s competitiveness, allowing more regular and efficient services.
The CPPI report emphasises that these developments position Dakar as a critical hub for regional trade, particularly amid the shifting dynamics of international commerce influenced by geopolitical tensions and global crises such as the war in Ukraine.
“This recognition confirms the strategic importance of the Port of Dakar for both regional and global trade,” the report concluded.
Analysts and investors are closely monitoring the port’s performance, which now serves as a benchmark for other African ports seeking to modernise and attract international traffic.
With its combination of infrastructure investment, improved logistics, and strategic maritime connections, the Port Autonome de Dakar stands out as a model for efficiency and competitiveness in sub-Saharan Africa, signalling Senegal’s growing role in global maritime trade.
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