Logistics and Transport Potential in the Corridor
The Lobito Corridor is one of the most strategic logistics infrastructures in Southern Africa, linking the Atlantic to the interior of the continent through an integrated port-rail-road axis.
The Port of Lobito, fully modernised and concessioned to an international operator with global experience, offers growing capacity for containers, general cargo and minerals, acting as the Atlantic gateway to Zambia, DRC and Angola's domestic markets.
The Benguela Railway (CFB), crossing the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Moxico and Eastern Moxico, enables efficient transport of goods from the hinterland, crossing agricultural, mining and industrial zones with high economic potential.
The corridor's geographic location significantly reduces distances and logistics costs for regional markets, making it a competitive alternative to Southern African ports. Direct access to the main production centres — agricultural (Benguela, Huambo, Bié), mining (Huambo, Moxico, Eastern Moxico), industrial (Catumbela, Caála, Luena) — creates favourable conditions for the development of logistics platforms, warehouses, industrial parks and distribution services. The planned expansion of terminals, logistics zones and transport support infrastructure further reinforces the corridor's role as a structural axis for regional trade.
Did you know?
The Lobito Corridor concession was awarded in 2023 to the consortium Lobito Atlantic Railway (Trafigura, Mota-Engil and Vossloh), foreseeing more than USD 450 million in investment to modernise the Lobito-Luau railway, increase capacity, renew rolling stock and professionalise operations along more than 1,300 km. It is the first major international railway concession in Angola, created to bring the corridor up to global standards of efficiency and safety.
Compared to other African routes, the Lobito Corridor offers the shortest and fastest connection between the Copperbelt and the Atlantic, avoiding congestion at South African ports and the limitations of routes via Dar es Salaam, Beira or Walvis Bay. The port-rail combination concessioned to international operators provides greater reliability, lower logistics costs, greater security and expansion potential of up to 20 million tonnes/year, making it the most competitive alternative for mineral exporters and regional logistics chains.
For Angola, the corridor generates skilled employment, drives logistics services, maintenance, workshops, technical training and new businesses across Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Moxico and Eastern Moxico. It stimulates agricultural, industrial and mining value chains, improves domestic cargo flow and creates conditions to reactivate and improve passenger rail transport, reinforcing the mobility and economic and social development of corridor communities.
30%
reduction in transport time
compared to alternative corridors
1.2 M t/year
mineral cargo transport
1,289 km
railway length in operation
Lobito - Luau
Main Transport and Logistics Resources of the Lobito Corridor
Why invest in Angola
Angola has unique competitive advantages that position it as one of the most promising locations for logistics and transport investment in Southern Africa. Its Atlantic coast occupies a central position between the ports of West and Southern Africa, facilitating connections to major international shipping routes and reducing transit times to European, American and Asian markets. The Port of Lobito, in particular, provides direct and efficient access to the interior of the continent, opening a shorter Atlantic route to the Copperbelt and offering a competitive alternative to congested routes via Durban, Cape Town or Walvis Bay.
Angola's logistics appeal is reinforced by recent reforms that have introduced international operators into key strategic assets, such as the Port of Lobito and the Benguela Railway Corridor, raising management standards, reliability and operational efficiency. The combination of renewed port infrastructure, expanding rail networks, new road investments and greater regulatory predictability strengthens the business environment for international logistics operators.
Furthermore, the accelerated growth of the agricultural, mining and energy sectors is generating growing demand for transport, storage, cold chain, distribution and industrial platform services, making Angola a natural destination for carriers, logistics operators, industrial investors and cross-border trade companies seeking a strategic base to operate across Southern Africa.
Did you know?
The concession of the multipurpose and container terminal at the Port of Lobito was formally awarded in December 2023 to Africa Global Logistics (AGL), a company belonging to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) group. The contract, signed with the Government of Angola, provides for significant investments in operational modernisation, new port equipment, digitalisation and increased cargo handling capacity, with the aim of transforming the port into a competitive logistics hub for Southern Africa.
The entry of AGL, one of the largest logistics operators on the African continent, introduces international standards of efficiency, reduces waiting times and increases operational reliability, reinforcing the competitiveness of the Lobito Corridor over regional alternatives such as Durban or Walvis Bay. The concession should also create skilled employment, stimulate local logistics and maritime services and position the Port of Lobito as an essential platform for the flow of minerals, agricultural products and general cargo from the inland provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Moxico and Eastern Moxico.