West Africa attracts bigger ships though geopolitical risks remain

West Africa’s rise as a significant shipping route, particularly for MSC and its deployment of larger vessels, reflects a combination of economic, logistical, and geopolitical factors.

The region’s increasing integration into global trade, particularly with Asia, has boosted demand for maritime transport. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), implemented in recent years, has encouraged intra-regional trade and infrastructure development, making West African ports more attractive for global shipping lines.

For instance, ports like Lagos (Nigeria) and Tema (Ghana) are key hubs for container traffic from China. Also, significant investments in West African port infrastructure, particularly in Senegal (Dakar), and Ivory Coast (Abidjan), have enhanced the region’s capacity to handle larger vessels. For example, Dakar is emerging as a key hub, reducing congestion compared to other regional ports like Lagos and Abidjan.

Geopolitical tensions, particularly the Red Sea Crisis starting in 2023, have disrupted traditional Asia-Europe routes via the Suez Canal, leading shipping companies like MSC to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.

As Alphaliner posted, the Top 10 carriers send bigger ships to West Africa and Middle East/ISC, highlighting an interesting operational trend, which reshapes global maritime trade.