AD Ports Group, Africa Ports Development sign US$80M Douala deal
Construction is expected to take place in close collaboration with the Port Authority of Douala between 2026 and 2028.
CAMEROON – AD Ports Group has joined Africa Ports Development’s 30-year concession to design, build, and operate a new dry bulk terminal at the Port of Douala with a phase one investment of approximately €73.4 million (US$80 million).
The agreement establishes an investment structure in which AD Ports Group and two other UAE investors own 60% of the company’s operating interest, implying an effective economic interest of 51% for AD Ports Group.
For investors in fresh produce and food logistics, this project directly addresses critical supply chain infrastructure.
Phase One: Capacity and Timeline
Phase one comprises the construction of two berths and approximately 450m of quay wall, with an annual handling capacity of around four million tonnes of dry bulk cargo.
Construction is expected to take place in close collaboration with the Port Authority of Douala between 2026 and 2028.
Direct Statements from Leadership
Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, AD Ports Group regional CEO, said the agreement represented a strategically important expansion of the company’s presence in Africa and reinforced its commitment to developing high-impact maritime infrastructure in high-growth markets.
“The Douala dry bulk terminal will enhance trade resilience, support industrial development, and strengthen Cameroon’s role as a gateway to Central Africa,” Al Menhali said.
He said the company would combine local market expertise with its global capabilities in port development and operations to support the Port Authority of Douala’s plans to modernize the port. “We commend the Port Authority for the significant progress achieved in recent years, which has driven strong growth in Cameroon’s maritime sector, and we look forward to contributing further to its long-term development ambitions.”
Africa Ports Development managing partner Marc Tabchy highlighted the uniqueness of this collaboration, “combining our group’s ambition and regional depth with AD Ports Group’s operational excellence.”
Outlook for Regional Food Supply Chains
The new terminal will strengthen regional supply chains and enhance the efficiency of cargo flows through the port, which handles most of the country’s bulk imports and serves as a transit hub for landlocked Central African markets.
For investors, the project demonstrates AD Ports Group’s strategy of securing equity stakes in high-growth African logistics infrastructure, creating long-term visibility for grain and fertilizer trade routes into the continent’s interior.
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