Senegal is preparing a major overhaul of its port industry, as part of the government's broader vision for transforming the country's transportation sector.

During an interministerial meeting focused on port and maritime infrastructure, the Senegalese government called for the creation of a national plan to modernize its ports in the coming months. This plan will outline improvements to existing infrastructure and the construction of new facilities at commercial, fishing, and leisure ports.

The roadmap will also address the development of ship repair facilities and the integration of port platforms with the railway network to establish a seamless multimodal transportation system. This move comes as the government has been pushing for broader reforms in the transportation sector in recent months.

Implementing this plan is expected to enhance the overall efficiency of Senegal’s port system, which plays a critical role in the country’s supply chain and international trade. The Port of Dakar, in particular, stands to benefit. Currently, the port is struggling with congestion as it also serves as a transit point for landlocked neighboring countries like Mali. This situation has impacted its performance, with the port ranking 381st out of 405 in the World Bank’s global port ranking.

The modernization roadmap could also accelerate ongoing projects, such as the deep-water port in Ndayane, and support the shift to rail transport for goods, particularly in trade with Mali. Additionally, it could positively affect river mobility and strengthen the fishing industry, a key sector for Senegal, which is a significant fish exporter in Africa.

According to data published in 2022, the volume of fish exports in all forms—fresh, frozen, and processed—increased by nearly 65% between 2015 and 2020, from 188,463 tons to approximately 291,000 tons.