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Pan Africa

DP World Accelerates USD 3bn Infrastructure Push Across Sub-Saharan Africa to Transform Trade and Logistics

May 20, 2025

Key initiatives include a US$165 million expansion of the container terminal at Maputo Port in Mozambique, doubling its capacity and transforming it into a regional trade hub for landlocked neighbours such as Zimbabwe and Eswatini. Phase 1 of the project, already underway, involves deepening berths, expanding the yard, and installing state-of-the-art ship-to-shore cranes, with a long-term goal of handling 54 million tonnes annually by 2058.

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DP World is significantly ramping up its infrastructure footprint across Sub-Saharan Africa, with strategic investments to enhance trade flows, deepen regional logistics networks, and foster economic integration. The Dubai-based logistics giant has committed over USD 3 billion to projects over the next three to five years, building on a previous investment cycle that included the acquisition of Imperial Logistics.

Key initiatives include a USD 165 million expansion of the container terminal at Maputo Port in Mozambique, doubling its capacity and transforming it into a regional trade hub for landlocked neighbours such as Zimbabwe and Eswatini. Phase 1 of the project, already underway, involves deepening berths, expanding the yard, and installing state-of-the-art ship-to-shore cranes, with a long-term goal of handling 54 million tonnes annually by 2058.

Complementing this is a new rail corridor linking Komatipoort, South Africa, to Maputo, designed to streamline cargo flows and alleviate border bottlenecks. The Komatipoort terminal is also being upgraded to handle bulk commodities.

Beyond Southern Africa, DP World is advancing major port developments across the continent:

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a deep-sea port in Banana is under construction, featuring an 18-metre draft and a capacity of 450,000 TEUs annually, alongside expected economic gains of over USD 1.12 billion in trade and 85,000 new jobs.
In Senegal, the USD 1.2 billion Port of Ndayane is set to become West Africa’s premier maritime hub, with a planned capacity of 1.2 million TEUs per year, supporting up to 2.3 million jobs nationwide.

DP World’s expansion also includes stronger participation in Nigeria’s logistics and consumer markets through acquisitions like Africa FMCG Distribution and partnerships in cold chain logistics and healthcare delivery, notably with UNICEF.

Additionally, the company has broadened its sustainability mandate, launching a WASH initiative with WaterAid in Bauchi, Nigeria, to address critical water and sanitation challenges, mirroring earlier efforts in Mozambique.

Through infrastructure-led development, DP World is positioning itself as a catalyst for long-term, sustainable growth across Africa, supporting trade, empowering communities, and integrating regional economies into global value chains.