The African maritime transport network, with its 30,725 km of coastline, plays a crucial role. It accounts for 22.1% of intra-African goods transport. However, a new report reveals that the continent faces major challenges in port efficiency, which hinders regional trade. For more information on the importance of maritime transport, visit the International Maritime Organization.

According to the 11th edition of the report on regional integration in Africa, the continent’s maritime network includes 142 links connecting 65 ports. However, many African ports are much smaller and slower than their counterparts elsewhere in the world. This inefficiency results in longer delays and higher costs. For instance, goods remain stuck for over two weeks in Africa, while in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, this wait lasts less than a week.

This Inefficiency Results in Higher Delays and Costs

The study highlights data that illustrates these issues:

• Handling costs: They are about 50% higher in African ports than in other regions of the world. For more on port efficiency, check out the Port Technology International.
• Average arrival time: It is 27.8 hours in Africa, compared to only 7.6 hours in North America. The global average is 10.9 hours.

These figures clearly show the backlog faced by maritime transport in Africa. They also highlight the urgent need for investments to improve infrastructure and processes to boost intra-African trade. To learn more about the economic impact of maritime transport, visit The Maritime Executive.