Toyota Tsusho Corporation has completed a port redevelopment project in southern Angola, marking an important step in the country’s efforts to rebuild and strengthen its economy after years of conflict.
Working with TOA Corporation, Toyota Tsusho led the full restoration of the Sacomar iron ore export terminal and expanded the Namibe container terminal, both located along Namibe Bay.
The Sacomar and Namibe ports, which share the same bay and play a central role in Angola’s mineral exports and domestic trade, had fallen into serious disrepair over the years. Their poor condition made upgrading them a national priority.
To address this, the Angolan Ministry of Transport signed a contract with the TOA–Toyota Tsusho consortium in January 2019. Construction began in September 2022 as part of the government’s broader plan to rebuild and modernise the country’s ports.
Sacomar Port, first commissioned in 1967, was once the main gateway for exporting iron ore from the Cassinga mine in southern Angola. Operations came to a halt during the civil war, leaving both the mine and the port inactive for decades.
Now that the Cassinga mine has resumed operations under national development plans, restoring Sacomar Port has become a crucial step in supporting the renewed mining activity.
The upgrades include a newly built 520-metre jetty designed for iron ore loading, along with the development of port backlands to support logistics and storage operations. With these improvements, the terminal will once again handle iron ore exports, helping Angola reduce its reliance on crude oil and strengthen its industrial sector.
Namibe Port, which connects inland regions through the Moçâmedes Railway, has also undergone a major expansion. In the past, shallow quay depths made it difficult for large container vessels to dock, forcing traders to depend on Namibia’s Walvis Bay for import and export activities.
The expansion works involved deep-water dredging to accommodate vessels of up to 50,000 DWT (3,000 TEU), the construction of a modern container terminal, and the installation of updated cargo handling systems: including cranes, vessel traffic services (VTS), and workboats.
These improvements will increase the port’s capacity, lower transport costs, and shorten delivery times for southern Angola. The region can now rely on its own port infrastructure for trade and logistics.
Toyota Tsusho and TOA celebrated the project’s completion on 10 October 2025, calling it a major achievement for Angola’s southern corridor. The upgraded port complex is expected to boost local economies, create jobs, and support long-term national growth.
Both companies also reaffirmed their support for developing sustainable infrastructure across Africa, positioning Namibe Bay as an example of how modern port projects can drive recovery and regional integration.
source: africaports.co.za
