Egypt’s Ministry of Transport is planning to launch six new maritime shipping lines over the next four years to strengthen direct connectivity between Egyptian ports and East and West Africa, a move aimed at more than doubling cargo throughput at the country’s ports by the end of the decade.
According to a source familiar with the ports portfolio at the ministry, total cargo volumes are projected to rise from around 185 million tonnes in the current fiscal year to 400 million tonnes by FY 2029–30. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to boost trade with African markets and secure raw material supplies for Egypt’s domestic industries.
The first of the planned shipping lines is expected to link the port of Alexandria with Doraleh in Djibouti, either later this year or by early 2027. Talks are currently under way with major global shipping companies to establish regular services between Egyptian and African ports, following nearly a decade of sector-wide development investments estimated at close to EGP 300 billion.
Last month, an Egyptian consortium led by the Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport and Green Horn Holding for Investment signed a terms-and-conditions agreement for the development of a new multipurpose terminal in Djibouti, reinforcing Egypt’s east Africa ambitions.
A second proposed shipping line will connect Alexandria with Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, while a third will link Alexandria with Toamasina in Madagascar and Maputo in Mozambique. In addition, three more shipping lines are planned from Ain Sokhna and East Port Said to West African destinations, including Mauritania, Senegal and Ghana.
At present, cargo flows between Egyptian and African ports are largely shaped by commercial decisions taken by shipping lines based on cargo type, volume and client demand. The government, however, is seeking to play a more proactive role by facilitating stable and sustainable services that support export growth and increase imports of African raw materials.
The source noted that high operating costs, port fees and insufficient cargo volumes have historically discouraged some shipping companies from maintaining regular Africa-focused services. The ministry is working to address these constraints to ensure the long-term viability of the new routes and avoid service disruptions.
Cargo throughput at Egyptian ports is expected to rise to about 265 million tonnes in the next fiscal year, up from 185 million tonnes this year and 180 million tonnes last year, before reaching the 400 million tonne target by the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, sector dynamics continue to evolve. Last month, Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group announced that it had submitted an acquisition offer that would give it control of Alexandria Container Handling Company, one of Egypt’s oldest container operators established in the 1980s. In recent years, AD Ports has expanded rapidly across Egypt’s transport and logistics sectors through multiple agreements with both state entities and private players.
While some experts have raised concerns over the growing concentration of transport concessions in the hands of a single foreign operator, government officials have defended the strategy, citing limited alternatives and the need for large-scale investment and expertise to modernise Egypt’s ports and logistics infrastructure.
