by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

DP World recently announced the development of a major project, the Banana Port, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The port, which will be built together with Mota-Engil, a Portuguese construction company, is expected to enhance the DRC’s trade infrastructure, promising benefits for the country’s economy and trade capabilities.

According to a press release, the port will be located in the Kongo Central province along the Atlantic coast and will be the country’s key maritime gateway for containerised cargo.

DP World states that the port will streamline trade processes, centralise administrative and customs operations, and enhance the government's visibility and control over foreign trade activities.

The Banana Port will be developed in stages. The first phase will be built to handle the largest ships in the world, featuring a 600-meter quay, a handling capacity of 450,000 TEUs annually, and a 30-hectare storage area.

In the second phase, the quay wall will be expanded by more than two kilometres.

The project is expected to transform the DRC’s trade landscape by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure, reducing business costs, and reinforcing the country's position as a key trade hub in the region.

Currently, the ports in the DRC that handle containerised trade are the ports of Matadi and Boma.

Located on the Congo River, Matadi Port is the DRC's main import/export gateway. It handles containers, general cargo, and bulk goods.

Meanwhile, the Port of Boma, situated upstream from the Atlantic Ocean, primarily handles exports of tropical timber, bananas, cocoa, and palm products.

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