Central Africa: Kribi port positioning as strategic gateway without transshipment costs.

The development was revealed On September 5, when nearly fifty journalists, under the umbrella of the Littoral branch of 'Union de la Presse Francophone', UPF, toured the Kribi Logistics Hub, KLH, and the Kribi Container Terminal, KCT. 

The guided visit showcased infrastructure that already accounts for 70 billion FCFA in investments and more than 400 direct jobs, making the port as a strategic growth asset for Cameroon and its neighbours.

KCT, run by a consortium comprising Africa Global Logistics, AGL;  French shipping giant, CMA CGM; China Harbour Engineering Company, CHEC, and Cameroonian investors, has recorded spectacular traffic growth. With a 16-metre draft and a 715-metre quay, the terminal is one of the few in Africa capable of receiving ultra-large vessels of up to 24,000 TEUs.

“In 2025, we have already handled 272,897 TEUs compared to 174,628 in the same period last year, an increase of over 56%. Our target is one million TEUs annually within three years,” KCT Managing Director, David Azra, revealed.  

Backed by cutting-edge infrastructure — seven ship-to-shore gantries, 25-yard cranes, and a fleet of modern handling equipment — the terminal has positioned itself as a direct competitor to ports in West Africa. 

Unlike others, Kribi allows cargo to reach its destination without costly transshipment, significantly cutting freight costs and delays.

Boosting Cameroon’s role in regional trade

Aside the shipping lines, Kribi’s deep-water edge is proving vital for regional economies. Its seamless customs dematerialisation system enhances efficiency, making the port a natural transit hub for landlocked neighbours such as Chad and the Central African Republic.

The Kribi Logistics Hub, created by AGL in 2018, reinforces this ambition. Sitting on a seven-hectare site adjacent to the port, KLH integrates warehousing, storage, and distribution. It started with a 6,000 m² warehouse and a 7,000 m² yard, but is now undergoing a 10,000 m² extension, with a new expansion phase already slated for 2026.

According to Honorine Magne, Development Director at the Port of Kribi, this multimodal hub directly supports growth sectors such as cotton, cocoa, coffee, and sesame, while easing flows to hinterland markets.

Kribi’s economic promise

For Cameroon, the port represents far more than a logistics facility. It is a lever of industrial policy, job creation, and competitiveness. Its rising container throughput strengthens the country’s bargaining power in global trade, while reducing dependency on traditional entry points like Douala.

For the Central African sub-region, Kribi is not just another port — it is emerging as the only deep-water terminal offering direct, cost-saving connections to global markets. That, analysts opine, could gradually reshape trade dynamics in the Gulf of Guinea.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3561 of Thursday September 11, 2025