• Dakar ranked top sub-Saharan African port in 2024 CPPI index
• Score rose from -82 to +23 after major DP World upgrades
• Egypt’s Port Said, Morocco’s Tangier Med rank among world’s best

The Autonomous Port of Dakar ranked first in sub-Saharan Africa for 2024, according to the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. The index measures the total time container ships spend in port, from arrival at the anchorage to departure from the berth.

The report showed a significant improvement for the Senegalese port, whose score jumped from -82 in 2023 to +23 in 2024, marking one of the largest gains globally. The report attributes the improvement to major investments by operator DP World, including new cranes, expanded storage areas, and a port community system. The port also benefited from better land connectivity, with modernized roads, the ongoing rehabilitation of the railway to Mali, and a new customs one-stop shop to reduce delays.

Dakar was not the only African port to show progress. While still posting a negative score, Benin's Port of Cotonou (-17) gained 226.7 points between 2023 and 2024. South Africa's Ports of Cape Town and Coega also recorded major rebounds after being ranked among the world's least efficient for years. The report, however, notes that South African ports remain hampered by long wait times at anchor and aging infrastructure.

Overall, North African ports continue to post the best performances on the continent. Egypt's Port Said ranks third globally with a score of 137, while Morocco's Tangier Med holds fifth place with a score of 136. Their performance confirms their status as key hubs on the maritime routes connecting Asia and Europe.

The report notes that most African ports, located in low-income countries, still perform below the global average due to limited technological, human, and institutional capacity. In some cases, operators favor slower operations, which are considered less costly when the value of the goods or infrastructure is relatively low.

Globally, the top performances belong to Asian giants, with Yangshan in China dominating the ranking with a score of 146, followed by Fuzhou with 139. Asian ports occupy the majority of the top 20, confirming their leadership in operational efficiency.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou

Ranking of African Ports According to the CPPI Index (2024)