Terminal Operators Expand Port Capacity Across Africa and the Gulf

· Logistics · Angola · Bangladesh

Terminal operators are pushing capacity into Africa and the Gulf. DP World is investing $90m in Angola's port of Luanda as several operators add or announce capacity amid surging volumes, with West Africa described as particularly hot; congestion along West Africa's coast has exposed infrastructure ill-suited to the region's rapidly developing container market, and Drewry recorded a 19.4% year-on-year upturn in regional volumes. Bangladesh, meanwhile, signed a $336m loan agreement with China to expand and modernise Mongla port, even as workers at Chittagong threatened an indefinite hunger strike over a deal handing a major terminal to DP World. Separately, Gemini Cooperation partners Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will relaunch their Far East-Middle East loop, marketed as AGX and FM1, with a changed Jebel Ali call.

Why it matters：Rapid port investment across Africa, South Asia and the Gulf signals where container capacity and trade lanes are shifting, shaping competition among global terminal operators.

Key points

  • DP World is investing $90m in Angola's port of Luanda
  • Bangladesh signed a $336m China loan to expand Mongla port
  • Gemini partners Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd relaunch a Far East-Middle East loop with a changed Jebel Ali call

Sources (original reporting)

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