Port congestion across West Africa has long frustrated shippers and freight forwarders. Yet one gateway is quietly defying the trend. At the Autonomous Port of Cotonou (PAC), containers are picked up within an estimated 36 to 72 hours — a turnaround that ranks Benin’s maritime hub among the smoothest in the sub-region.
A rare pocket of fluidity in a congested region
While several neighbouring ports report vessels waiting at sea for six weeks to two months, Cotonou keeps its pre-docking wait to just 36 to 72 hours. The contrast sharpens further when saturation levels are compared: some coastal infrastructure runs at 200% to 250% of capacity, whereas the Beninese port hovers around 100%.
Inside the numbers: what the gap really means
“There are ports right now where vessels remain stranded at sea for a month without operators being able to touch their cargo. Here, we manage to hold the line,” said Charles Bennett Fayomi, Director of Port Operations and Security, during the PAC Média Connect meeting held in early October 2026, where he presented a comparative review of commercial activity.
An overflow valve for regional trade
Paradoxically, this relative efficiency comes while the port is in the middle of an expansion project. By absorbing part of the surplus freight diverted from saturated ports in the sub-region, Cotonou is positioning itself as a strategic logistical alternative for West African commerce.
Costs kept in check for operators
Although rising volumes place constant pressure on handling chains, port authorities remain reassuring about the financial impact on economic operators. The PAC says it maintains ancillary fees and delay-related penalties among the lowest on the regional market, preserving the competitiveness of the Beninese corridor.
The bigger question: can the advantage last?
The real dilemma is whether Cotonou can sustain its 36-72 hour container pickup as more cargo is rerouted its way. The port’s current performance is impressive, but the expansion works and growing volumes will test its ability to stay fluid. For now, the data suggests Benin’s gateway has carved out a rare edge in a region where delays are the norm.
