In 2024, the Port of Lomé experienced continued growth, fueled by an increase in transshipment and enhanced container traffic. As reported on April 23, 2025, by Rear Admiral Fogan Kodjo Adégnon, the port’s director general, total traffic reached 30,641,830 tonnes, reflecting a 1.85% rise from the previous year’s total of 30,085,553 tonnes. This modest growth is primarily attributed to the transshipment sector, which saw a 7.11% increase, handling 20,233,379 tonnes in 2024 compared to 18,890,485 tonnes the year before.
Conversely, imports declined by 3.77% to 8.575 million tonnes, while exports fell significantly by 19.72%, totaling 1.832 million tonnes, down from 2.282 million in 2023. Container traffic, a crucial metric for logistics efficiency, rose by 5.19%, reaching 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). In terms of maritime activity, 1,525 vessels docked at Lomé in 2024, a decrease of 1.97% from 1,554 the previous year, although the number of commercial vessels increased from 1,411 to 1,440. Port authorities credit these outcomes to recent reforms, including the full digitalization of cargo removal processes and electronic invoice payments, facilitated by the GUFORD platform, which centralizes and secures document exchanges in maritime trade.
According to Rear Admiral Adégnon, the results from the past year highlight the port’s resilience amid regional challenges, affirming its status as a strategic logistics hub due to the dedication of its teams and partners. He emphasized that in 2025, the focus will remain on innovation, modernization, and sustainable performance to meet maritime demands.
