DP World advances Banana deep-sea port in DRC. (Image source: DP World)

DP World is set to invest US$2.5bn in 2025 to broaden its global logistics footprint, initiating major infrastructure projects across India, Africa, South America, and Europe. The move comes in response to increasing demand for more resilient and integrated supply chain solutions

These four large-scale projects—spanning four continents—will boost DP World's end-to-end logistics capabilities and significantly enhance the capacity of its international port network, reinforcing the company’s role as a central player in global commerce.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and Group CEO of DP World, stated, “Global trade is evolving fast, and we are investing boldly to shape its future. Despite short-term uncertainty, this US$2.5bn commitment reflects our confidence in long-term trade growth and our determination to build the infrastructure needed to keep the world connected.

“We are building a unique array of assets and suite of capabilities, helping our customers stay competitive, support local economies and enable global access. Nobody can match us for the diversity and breadth of our supply chain solutions.”

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, construction is advancing on a deep-sea port at Banana, situated on the Atlantic coast. This 450,000 TEU-a-year port is expected to reduce costs and delivery times for Congolese trade by attracting larger vessels from Asia and Europe, thereby spurring regional economic development.

Elsewhere in West Africa, DP World is progressing with the US$830mn first phase of the Ndayane Port in Senegal. Once operational, this 1.2 million TEU-a-year facility will play a vital role in supporting the country’s long-term economic ambitions.

In South America, the company has begun a US$140mn expansion of the berth at the Port of Posorja in Ecuador. The upgrade will extend the quay to 700 metres, enabling the simultaneous docking of two post-Panamax ships.

Meanwhile, in the UK, DP World is committing US$1bn to enhance its London Gateway logistics hub. The expansion includes two new shipping berths and a second rail terminal, which together are expected to generate 400 new jobs. The upgrades position London Gateway to become the UK’s largest container port by the decade’s end.

These investments are central to DP World’s goal of building a globally interconnected logistics platform—encompassing ports, inland services, marine transport, warehousing, freight forwarding, and digital technologies. The company’s freight forwarding network now spans over 240 offices worldwide, ensuring responsiveness to the evolving demands of global cargo owners.

“Our integrated model gives us visibility and control across the entire supply chain, helping our partners reduce risks and costs. No one else can offer this breadth of capabilities, and we are proud to deliver long-term value to the customers and communities we serve,” added Bin Sulayem.

The company’s expanding presence reflects its broader commitment to trade as a positive force—driving employment, fostering development, and enhancing access to goods for millions around the world.

Bayobab enhances East Africa’s connectivity with resilient cross-border fibre via railway infrastructure

Bayobab, a subsidiary of MTN Group, has marked a key milestone in advancing digital infrastructure across East Africa with the official launch of the Kenya Railway–Uganda Railway NLD Mombasa to Kampala fibre route

This strategic cross-border initiative significantly enhances digital integration between Kenya and Uganda.

The newly commissioned fibre route covers 260 km along the Uganda Railway corridor from Kampala to Tororo, extending to Malaba at the Kenya–Uganda border. It links directly to Kenya’s National Long Distance (NLD) fibre, which was introduced in 2024 and runs along the Kenya Railways Meter Gauge Route from Mombasa to Malaba. The seamless interconnection at Malaba integrates into Bayobab’s subsea cable systems in Mombasa, further reinforcing East Africa’s data transport capabilities and enabling high-capacity, low-latency connectivity from Uganda to global networks.

Strengthening regional digital infrastructure

"Kenya’s position as a regional digital gateway is further cemented by this cross-border collaboration. By interconnecting with Uganda via this high-capacity route, we are enhancing regional digital resilience, creating alternative routes for traffic, and opening new opportunities for businesses and communities along the corridor. This is not just fibre in the ground — it’s a new pathway for digital transformation across East Africa," commented Sylvia Anampiu, managing director: Bayobab Kenya.

Constructed between December 2024 and February 2025, the Kampala-to-Malaba segment is securely deployed along railway infrastructure, ensuring protection from road-based risks such as construction damage and providing stable and uninterrupted network service. This initiative aligns with Bayobab’s broader strategy of enabling secure and seamless cross-border digital connectivity throughout Africa.

Delivering impact through interconnection

As a landlocked country, Uganda gains significant strategic advantage from the route, which provides a shorter and more resilient connection to Mombasa’s subsea cable landing points. The infrastructure supports both rural broadband development and high-bandwidth enterprise services, while linking key data centres across Uganda and Kenya.

Designed to meet the demands of hyperscalers, service providers, and enterprises expanding in East Africa, the route ensures reliable and scalable digital access across the region.

This project underscores Bayobab’s ongoing commitment to building a robust, secure, and interconnected digital ecosystem in Africa. The Mombasa–Malaba–Kampala corridor represents one of several initiatives designed to digitally unite the continent and connect it more effectively to the global digital economy.

Air cargo demand is slowing but capacity is up (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Air cargo volumes were sluggish in Africa compared to other global regions during March, according to the latest analysis from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)

During March 2025, African airlines recorded a -13.4% year-on-year decrease in demand for air cargo services, the slowest among all regions globally.

This is in stark contrast with the global industry average, which saw a 4.4% rise in air cargo demand, measured in cargo-tonne-kilometres, versus March 2024, IATA reported.

Demand for air cargo is a useful barometer of trade, with many high-value items transported by air, such as smart phones and IT equipment, automotive components, precious metals and gems, perishable food items and pharmaceuticals.

E-commerce shipments and other courier items are also a growing component of the air cargo industry.

However, Africa also recorded a 10.5% year-on-year increase in cargo capacity, most of which is belly cargo hold space on passenger aircraft, according to the IATA analysis.

Africa also posted a cargo load factor of 37.1%, representing a year-on-year fall of -10.4%. In other words, a little more than one third of available capacity was taken up by the market.

It makes Africa the weakest-performing region monitored by the airline group, according to Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, who noted that, globally, air cargo volumes overall fared well.

“March cargo volumes were strong,” he said. “It is possible that this is partly a front-loading of demand as some businesses tried to beat the well-telegraphed 2 April tariff announcement by the Trump Administration.”

He said the uncertainty over how much of the 2 April proposals in the USA will be implemented may eventually weigh on trade.

“In the meantime, the lower fuel costs — which are also a result of the same uncertainty — are a short-term positive factor for air cargo. And, within the temporary pause on implementation, we hope that political leaders will be able to shift trade tensions to reliable agreements that can restore confidence in global supply chains.”

While the Europe-North America route was the busiest trade lane in March, Africa-Asia and Europe-Middle East were the only trade lanes to record declines.

The Africa-Asia route has now recorded four consecutive months of decline.

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Cargo ships in Durban South Africa

A new report exploring southern Africa’s logistics sector suggests that supply chain investments and improved infrastructure could boost intra-regional trade by as much as 50% over the coming five years

As trade corridors expand and the demand for sustainable supply chain solutions grows, the report, by Reload Logistics, points to a promising future for the region, with trade also surging on the back of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

The report — Unlocking Southern Africa’s Trade Potential in 2025 and Beyond — projects that by 2030, the ACFTA will boost intra-African trade by over 50%, creating new commodity flows while regional infrastructure investments address network gaps.

It also sheds light on the transformative trends shaping infrastructure, trade integration and digital innovation that are driving southern Africa’s logistics landscape.

Satellite tracking, for example, has reduced cargo theft by 40% along high-risk mining corridors by identifying unauthorised stops and route deviation.

Similarly, port congestion algorithms are assisting bulk carriers in predicting optimal loading windows, reducing demurrage costs at major ports and terminals across southern Africa by up to 20%.

Key insights from the report include:

Critical minerals driving growth: Southern Africa provides around 30% of the world’s critical minerals for electric vehicles, including cobalt and copper, contributing to the transition towards cleaner energy.

Strategic infrastructure investments: The Kasomeno-Mwenda Road Project is removing over 300 km from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Tanzania routes, while the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project plans to double port capacity to 30 million tons by 2030.

Technological transformation: Technological logistics solutions have improved route optimisation by up to 15%.

Sustainability imperatives: By 2030, demand for green logistics could reach approximately US$350bn globally, with exporters increasingly adopting lower-carbon transport options.

Transformative trade corridors: Port developments at Dar es Salaam, Durban, Walvis Bay and Beira are enhancing efficiencies and opening cross-border opportunities.

“Southern Africa’s logistics sector is at a pivotal turning point, shaped by rising trade activity, major infrastructure investments and the growing demand for efficiency,” the report noted.

“With the region’s economy expected to grow by 4.2% in the coming years — driven by commodity exports and transport network improvements — producers, traders and manufacturers must adapt to an increasingly dynamic and interconnected environment.”

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