The latest Lloyd's List "One Hundred Ports 2026" report, published on September 14, has ranked seven African ports among the top 100 container ports globally. This marks an increase from the previous edition, which had five African ports in the ranking. The continent's ports have shown significant growth, but Asia continues to dominate the list. The report highlights the performance of various ports based on the volume of containers handled, expressed in twenty-foot equivalent units (EVP).
Morocco's Tanger Med port retains its position as the top African port, ranking 16th globally. In 2025, it handled 11.1 million EVP, up from 10.24 million in 2024. The port is situated between Xiamen, China, and Laem Chabang, Thailand, in the global rankings. Other African ports in the top 100 include Egypt's Port-Saïd (43rd globally), South Africa's Durban (80th), Egypt's Alexandrie (87th), Togo's Lomé (91st), Ghana's Tema (94th), and Kenya's Mombasa (99th).
Egypt is the only African country with two ports in the top 100, while Lomé and Tema are the only West African ports featured in the ranking. The growth of these ports underscores the increasing importance of African trade in the global shipping industry. Meanwhile, Benin's Port Autonome de Cotonou is not included in this ranking, which is based on container volumes.
Despite not being ranked among the top 100 container ports, the Port Autonome de Cotonou has shown significant growth in its overall traffic. According to the Rapport d'exécution du budget (Rapex), the port handled 14.7 million tons of cargo in 2025, up from 9.6 million tons in 2024, representing a 52% increase. The port's exports surged by 74.8%, driven largely by the transit of Nigerian crude oil through the Sèmè-Kpodji terminal.
The growth trend at Cotonou port continued into 2026, with the port handling 7.79 million tons of cargo in the first six months, a 16.6% increase. This performance suggests that the port is making strides in terms of traffic growth, even if it is not yet reflected in the container port rankings. The port's strategic location and investments in infrastructure are likely contributing factors to this growth.
The global ranking of container ports remains dominated by Asian ports, with Shanghai retaining its position as the world's top port, handling over 55 million EVP in 2025. Singapore and Ningbo-Zhoushan also feature among the top three. Nine of the top ten ports globally are Asian, with six of them located in China. Jebel Ali, in the United Arab Emirates, is the first port outside of Asia, ranking 9th globally.
The Lloyd's List report provides valuable insights into the performance of ports globally, highlighting trends and shifts in the shipping industry. For Africa, the inclusion of seven ports in the top 100 underscores the continent's growing significance in global trade. As trade volumes continue to grow, African ports are likely to play an increasingly important role in the global shipping landscape.
Key points
- Seven African ports have been ranked among the world's top 100 container ports.
- Morocco's Tanger Med port leads the continent, ranking 16th globally.
- African ports' growth highlights the continent's increasing importance in global trade.
