Nigeria, others record 20% growth in port calls – UNCTAD

Port calls by container ships rose by 20 per cent in Nigeria and other African countries between the first quarter of 2018 and 2023, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

UNCTAD, in its 2024 Review of Maritime Transport, signed by its Secretary-General, Rebeca Grynspan, stated that tanker calls grew by 38 per cent, record-breaking increases for the continent during the period under review.

It urged the continent to increase investments in port infrastructure to tackle port congestion and boost trade.

“Between the first half of 2018 and the first half of 2023, port calls by container ships rose by 20 per cent in Africa, while tanker calls grew by 38 per cent, both record-breaking increases for the continent,” the report stated.

UNCTAD added that port investment would also boost climate resilience and support seamless cargo movement.

The organisation also underscored the importance of streamlining customs processes, enhancing hinterland connectivity, developing transport and transit corridors, and establishing dry ports.

It also emphasised the need for improved trade and transport facilitation to support intermodal transport connections.

The organisation stressed that Africa bore the brunt of the Red Sea shipping crisis “but is making strides in port and vessel performance, trade facilitation, and the clean energy transition”.

UNCTAD emphasised that establishing dry ports as inland extensions of seaports could facilitate cargo handling, storage, and regulatory inspections away from congested coastal areas, providing significant benefits for trade.

Addressing the urgent demand for improved port and hinterland connectivity, the report highlighted the importance of leveraging digitalisation and automation to streamline cargo-handling operations and enhance public-private partnerships.

The organisation stated that those partnerships were essential for bridging the infrastructure gap and attracting private investments to the sector.

UNCTAD stated that by improving connectivity through sustainable investments, countries could build competitive, climate-resilient port systems.

According to UNCTAD, to assess and enhance port performance, there is a need for the adoption of globally recognised port indicators, which include integrating digital solutions such as single windows and automated customs processes.

The organisation stressed that streamlining customs and trade compliance can lead to significant efficiency gains.

UNCTAD also suggested the establishment of an authorised operator programme and reducing cargo clearance times to accelerate the movement of goods.

One challenge noted by UNCTAD was managing the high turnaround times for empty containers, which could disrupt operations and increase costs.

It advised African countries to establish well-coordinated transport corridors, particularly for landlocked countries, which is key to enhancing connectivity and reducing those delays.

It also noted that constructing dry ports and inland container depots could provide landlocked nations with inland extensions of seaports for cargo handling and storage, alleviating the strain on coastal ports and enabling smoother regulatory inspections.

According to UNCTAD, intermodal solutions, which integrate various transport modes, are central to achieving seamless cargo transport.

The organisation indicated that using containers in multimodal transport helps reduce port congestion and transit times while lowering costs.