How One Terminal Could Reshape Central African Trade

Infrastructure is essential to the supply chain in Central Africa. If there is a bottleneck or goods are caught between borders, the supply chain is disrupted. Countries' economies rely on a functioning supply chain that creates opportunities for trade, investment, and industrial development.

The launch of the international tender for the Caio Deep-Water Terminal on April 9, 2026, opens the project to global companies, which will bid to run it. The terminal is a clear indicator of the expansion of regional trade and economic growth in Central Africa.

The Project

The deep-water terminal will be located in Cabinda province on the Atlantic coast and is part of a port modernisation strategy. The port is designed to accommodate large ships and support high-volume trade, encouraging the shipping of more cargo into the area at lower costs.

The standard size of shipping containers is 20 feet long, and the terminal will be able to accommodate ships up to 5,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). Both containerised and non-containerised cargo will have access to the port.

The selected private operator will operate, manage, and maintain the terminal for a 20-year concession.

The Strategic Location

Positioned in Cabinda, on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, the terminal will have a significant impact on trade in the region. It will have proximity to many neighboring inland economies that don't have direct access to the global shipping routes. Limited access to trade routes results in costly, indirect supply chains.

The geographic location of the Caio Deep-Water Terminal is beneficial to nearby countries by creating a shorter, more direct route to international markets. The new terminal will also alleviate congested ports and reduce travel to distant ports.

The terminal will link sea access with inland trade through the Northern Logistics Corridor.

More Than a Port

Ports are an essential part of any trade route, but it's the connected transport systems that directly impact trade and create opportunities. The terminal was built to link with roads, rail, and cross-border routes. This integrated trade ecosystem impacts the structural issues that impact the region's trade logistics. The goods no longer have to move through disconnected routes, delaying delivery. Instead, they will travel through a more efficient system.

The Caio Deep-Water Terminal was deliberately built in Cabinda to serve as a gateway and distribution point for Central African Trade. It will serve as a hub for cargo moving between global shipping lands and inland countries.

The Tender and Concession

The port concession announcement is open to operators with proven experience. There is a clearly defined criterion that all bidders are required to meet. The potential operators are required to have technical expertise, financial strength, investment capacity, be adept at long-term operational strategy, and have cargo-handling experience.

Qualified international operators are encouraged to bid and will be competing on their capability, not their professional connections.

The tender documents are publicly available, and the submission requirements are standardized to create transparency in the selection process.

The Caio Deep-Water Terminal is anticipated to create a more efficient trade ecosystem that will create jobs directly and indirectly in the region. It has the potential to redefine Central Africa's position in global trade.

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