With more than a century of operations behind it, A.P. Møller – Mærsk (Maersk) is a leading international integrated logistics company connecting customers across the globe. With operations in more than 130 countries, Maersk operates one of the world’s largest container shipping networks, which moves 12 million containers every year to all corners of the globe. Across the globe, its operations are divided into key divisions, including Maersk’s India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) international network. Within this division, we’re excited to look at some of the key services offered across Africa where Maersk is committed to helping customers across the continent enhance their supply chains with reliable and integrated logistics solutions.
Check out the article in the magazine below:
Maersk has long been the partner of choice for customers around the world, thanks to its seamless movement of goods via its interconnected logistics networks, which combine vessel, plane, and truck transportation, with warehousing and port operations to help support the movement of cargo across the globe. This network has allowed Maersk to maintain its competitive role as a leading cargo logistics provider, where it utilises the local knowledge and logistics expertise of its global network to help facilitate more efficient, reliable and cost-effective shipping solutions. These operations can be seen in Africa, where Maersk delivers vast shipping and logistics operations spanning across the entire continent.
Africa has seen an expanding consumer base in recent years, which has been supported by the continent’s industrial capacity to help bring more unique opportunities and challenges to the region’s logistics networks. These challenges are what Maersk is all about: to deliver both simple and complex logistics solutions that can optimise its customers’ operations and help their businesses continue to grow. Across IMEA, Maersk brings together its local insight, dependable execution and agile logistics network to deliver the logistics needs of its customers every day.
A key country where Maersk’s logistics have been supporting global trade is in Angola, where Maersk has been connecting businesses to the world since 1998. Maersk’s logistics operations serve all main ports in Angola, with regular main line and feeder vessels, as well as vital inland shipping routes. Common exported commodities include oil, diamonds, LNG, coffee and fish. These cargoes, along with general cargo, are met with Maersk’s local experts to facilitate seamless movement of products out of the country, and along to its global network to connect such industries with their respective markets across the world. Alongside general cargo, Maersk also has specialised operations to handle standard, refrigerated and oversized goods travelling to and from Angola.
One of the most pivotal ports for Maersk’s operation in Angola is the Port of Luanda, which is the country’s main maritime hub responsible for export and import services to connect Angolan businesses to the world. Located in the centre of the most populous and economically dynamic region in Angola, the port provides ample space for cargo unloading, which can then be moved via the country’s railroads and highways to end markets. The Port is 2,728 meters long and is divided into seven terminals and a logistics platform intended to aid oil and gas extraction. Maersk facilitates trips to the Port of Luanda to help deliver vital export shipping routes that allow Angola to move its export cargoes across the world, often connecting with key markets, including those in China. Whilst Maersk had previously had a stake in the Port of Luanda terminal, it sold its stake a few years ago and now provides integrated shipping logistics from the port rather than operating the terminal itself.
In recent years, Angola has seen significant growth in its fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chains, which have largely been due to infrastructure upgrades, digital innovation and regional integration across the shipping and logistics space. With a growing and integrated network, Angola has seen increasing investment towards its logistics infrastructure with the development of a new cold storage, solar-powered refrigeration and reefer containers, as well as modernisation upgrades at the Luanda and Lobito ports. Furthermore, the growth has been backed by government schemes that are promoting Angolan-made goods to reduce the country’s dependency on imports. Thus, with supply chains continuing to expand, the need for vital shipping operators such as Maersk is vital to help continue to fulfil the supply chain growth for the country, which in turn bring grater economic development for Angola.
Another key example of Maersk’s operations in Africa is in Djibouti, where the company has been facilitating shipping solutions since 2013. For Djibouti, Maersk offers vital cargo shipping via its three weekly services that operate to and from the Port of Djibouti. From here, Maersk connects the country with markets across the world via its global interconnected shipping network. Shipping operations are vital for Djibouti, as the country, and specifically the Port of Djibouti, is responsible for handling around 90% of neighbouring Ethiopia’s trade. Therefore, the port is not only valuable for supporting Djibouti’s global trade, but also the trade of Ethiopia via its port and shipping operations.
The Port of Djibouti spans 7 specialised facilities, which together form a major logistics hub for global trade. This 7-facility network allows the port to deliver focused logistics, transportations and trans-shipment services across East Africa. One of the most significant aspects of this network is the Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT), which is regarded as one of Africa’s most advanced container terminals, equipped with modern facilities designed to offer world-class productivity. DCT has an annual capacity of 1.5 million shipping containers, and so provides essential handling operations for containerised cargo, as well as for bulk, oil and livestock cargo travelling through the port. Accompanying DCT is the Doraleh Multi-Purpose Port, which then handles a range of cargo, including specialised bulk (grains, minerals and fertilisers), breakbulk, vehicles, and general cargo. Collectively, these port facilities provide Djibouti with the essential infrastructure for logistics and storage, serving as a crucial hub for the Horn of Africa. Therefore, with the Port of Djibouti and its specialised 7-facility infrastructure being so vital to the country’s shipping needs, Maersk’s operations are vital to supporting the country’s port into a thriving hub for both local and global shipping operations.
Both Angola and Djibouti sit within Maersk’s IMEA division, which has seen stable growth across its operations. In July, Maersk announced market updates for the IMEA region, where Africa has seen its trade environment continue to evolve. This is largely shaped by shifting demand patterns and infrastructure development in East Africa, where these developments are being supported by a key import network from the Far East, including China, Japan and South Korea. Then, in Western Africa, improved volumes have continued to show an upward trend, which has been supported by investment in infrastructure, which is meeting the rising demand for goods from consumers. Key countries leading this growth are Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal.
In fact, in Senegal, Maersk has developed an integrated logistics hub strategically located between the Port of Dakar and Dakar’s Industrial Area. The hub is the first of its kind for Senegal and will provide an integrated supply chain solution to meet the needs of Maersk’s customers. The warehouse will offer 5,100 square meters of indoor storage capacity, with an additional 500 square meters of outdoor storage space. This will help Maersk to handle a wide range of commodities, including fast-moving consumer goods, retail merchandise, lifestyle products and technology items. According to Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director for Maersk West Africa, “This investment in Dakar demonstrated our long-term commitment to Senegal and the broader West African region. By establishing this modern warehouse facility, we’re delivering on our promise to create seamless, integrated logistics solutions that enable our customers to optimise their supply chains and accelerate growth.” Theeuwes’ comments here highlight Maersk’s key role not just in West Africa, but across the continent to enhance the existing infrastructure of countries across Africa, and facilitate key shipping routes to help support long term growth for each respective country, and enhance its global networks.
Across all of Maersk’s operations in Africa, the company remains committed to offering creative solutions to its customers, which can help move their goods from one destination to another through its reliable and interconnected network spanning ocean, rail, air and waterways. As we have seen in Angola, Djibouti and even more widely across Africa, Maersk brings together its global shipping network and local insight to deliver integrated shipping solutions that help customers strengthen their supply chains, supported by its reliable and efficient logistics solutions.
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