Namibia bets on Walvis Bay port as increasingly viable alternative

Countries such as Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe already have well-established dry ports at Walvis Bay and may increasingly lean on them as they diversify their logistics corridors away from South African ports, which are struggling with delays and operational challenges. 

Terminal Investment Namibia (TIN), which has a concession to operate the Walvis Bay port facility, recently confirmed that it has added six rubber-tyred gantry cranes to improve productivity and increase cargo volumes. TIN announced in 2024 that it had obtained financing of around US$126-million to expand and upgrade the port. 

“This expansion provides a faster export corridor for agricultural and perishable goods from landlocked Southern African countries,” comments Trendtype, the emerging markets consultancy. 

Diversifying logistics corridors 

Reports Ecofin news agency: “A significant share of the foreign trade of landlocked Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, including Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, is currently routed through South African ports, particularly Durban. Recurring delays and operational difficulties at those facilities are increasingly prompting those countries to diversify their logistics corridors.” 

Apart from South African ports, Walvis Bay is competing for business with the likes of Maputo and Nacala in Mozambique, Luanda in Angola and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. All four ports are also being upgraded. 

Ecofin adds that, in parallel with the Walvis Bay upgrade, the Namibian government is stepping up investment in overland transport infrastructure.  

“The Trans-Kalahari railway project, which aims to link Namibia with Botswana, is part of that effort. Similar initiatives are also being considered with Zambia, with the goal of deepening regional logistics integration,” the report states.