“Addressing these challenges requires more than expanding terminals.”
— Mohammed Akoojee, CEO Africa, DP World, speaking to The Loadstar
What happened
Congestion at West and Central African ports has not eased going into the last quarter of the year, and major container lines are now passing the cost on to shippers. Everstream Analytics’ port congestion report of 14 October puts the average vessel wait at Conakry, Guinea, at about 12.5 days, where berths are allocated first-come, first-served and limited to one vessel per shipping line. Tema in Ghana averaged around 5.8 days, and reefer plug use there has reached 100%. Cotonou in Benin and Pointe-Noire in the Republic of the Congo were each close to four days, with Pointe-Noire’s yard reported to be about 95% full and fixed berthing windows suspended.
Against this background, carriers have announced new peak season surcharges. From 22 October 2026, cargo from China to West and Central Africa faces a surcharge of US$350 per TEU for Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana and Togo, and US$550 per TEU for ranges that include Angola, Congo, DR Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau. An existing Guinea-Conakry surcharge stays at US$200 per TEU. From 25 October, a further US$800 per TEU surcharge applies with another major line on cargo from Asia and Oceania to Luanda, Lobito, Cabinda, Pointe-Noire, Matadi, Boma, Libreville, Port-Gentil, Kribi, Douala, Walvis Bay, Bata and Malabo. Analysts quoted by The Loadstar blame the problem on vessel capacity and cargo volumes growing faster than yards, roads and inland transport: Drewry found that Douala ran at 102% of capacity last year.
What this means for shippers
Exporters and forwarders shipping from Pakistan, China and the rest of Asia to these ports should expect longer and less predictable transit times for the rest of 2026. The surcharges mostly hit short-term and spot bookings, so check your quotation and booking confirmation for a PSS line before the cargo is loaded rather than finding it on the freight invoice. Importers buying on CFR or CIF terms should expect suppliers to pass on the increase.
Delays also put documents at risk. The cargo tracking note for the destination, such as the Cameroon BESC/ECTN, the DR Congo FERI or the Guinea cargo tracking certificate, has to match the final bill of lading. When congestion leads a carrier to roll a booking, change the vessel or discharge at a different port, the BL details change and the certificate may need to be amended. Cargo that arrives without valid, matching paperwork can be held at the port. At terminals that are already full, that quickly adds up to demurrage, storage charges and possible penalties.
Our advice: apply for the ECTN or equivalent certificate early, using the confirmed booking details. Tell us straight away if the vessel, voyage or port of discharge changes. Allow extra free time on containers where you can, especially for reefer cargo to Tema. If you have shipments to West or Central Africa loading in the coming weeks, contact HMG and we will check your certificate requirements before the cargo sails.
Key points
- Average vessel waits in mid-October: about 12.5 days at Conakry, around 5.8 days at Tema, and roughly 4 days at Cotonou and Pointe-Noire.
- A peak season surcharge on cargo from China to West and Central Africa applies from 22 October 2026: US$350 or US$550 per TEU depending on the range, and US$200 for Guinea-Conakry.
- A US$800 per TEU surcharge from Asia and Oceania to 13 Central and Southwest African ports applies to cargo loaded from 25 October 2026.
- If a vessel or port changes, the bill of lading changes too, and the cargo tracking note must still match it before arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Which West African ports are the most congested in October 2026?
Conakry in Guinea is the worst affected, with average waits of around 12–13 days in mid-October. Tema (Ghana), Cotonou (Benin), Pointe-Noire (Congo) and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) also report delays of several days.
When do the new Africa surcharges start?
The surcharge on cargo from China to West and Central Africa applies to cargo loaded from 22 October 2026. A US$800 per TEU surcharge from Asia and Oceania to Central and Southwest Africa applies from 25 October 2026. Both stay in force until further notice, so check your booking confirmation.
Do I need a new ECTN or FERI if my container is moved to another vessel?
The certificate has to match the final bill of lading, so a change of vessel, voyage or discharge port usually means the certificate must be updated. Report changes as soon as the carrier confirms them, so the cargo is not held when it arrives.
