The tie between the port of Cotonou and Antwerp is now one of the strongest in relations between Belgium and Benin. On 3 October 2026, the Belgian daily L'Avenir ran a piece on “the Belgian touch in managing African ports”. Cotonou features prominently in it.
Here are the key points of this partnership, with verified figures and their sources.
Port of Cotonou and Antwerp: managed by the Belgian port since 2018
In December 2017, the Port of Antwerp first signed a temporary management agreement. The agreements for permanent management followed in January 2018. Since then, Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PAI), a subsidiary of the Belgian port, has managed the Port autonome de Cotonou. The State of Benin remains the majority owner.
PAI's remit covers upgrading infrastructure, reforming the organisation and improving competitiveness against neighbouring ports. It also includes sharing port management expertise. According to La Nation, this management has delivered logistical and digital progress. Average container dwell time has been cut to ten days.
A vital port for Benin's economy
The port of Cotonou handles around 90% of Benin's international trade, according to La Nation. L'Avenir adds that it accounts for 45% of the country's tax revenue. Any rise in traffic therefore feeds directly into public finances. That is what gives the port of Cotonou and Antwerp partnership its weight.
| Period | Total traffic | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9.6 million tonnes | |
| 2025 | 14.7 million tonnes | +52% |
| First half of 2026 | 7.79 million tonnes | +16.6% year on year |
The 2025 rebound came mainly from exports, up 74.8%. They were driven by Nigerien crude oil shipped through the Cotonou facilities. In the first half of 2026, exports rose by a further 33.3%, while imports held steady at 4.12 million tonnes.
The port is also still investing. The 2021-2026 Master Plan provides for more than 302 billion CFA francs of investment, to raise capacity to 20 million tonnes a year.
Antwerp, “Africa's leading port”
L'Avenir interviews Jean-Christophe Charlier, coordinator of the Global Gateway project at the federal agency Enabel. The paper sums it up: Antwerp is “the first ‘African port’”, as 15% of its volume is done with Africa. That makes Antwerp the most important port for imports and exports of African products.
The European Union has also identified 12 strategic logistics corridors in Africa. Port partnerships also cover security: handling dangerous goods, fighting drug trafficking and digitising customs.
Enabel: the port among four cooperation sectors
Belgian development cooperation also supports the port, through Enabel. The 2023-2028 cooperation programme between Belgium and Benin is worth 45 million euros. It was approved on 23 October 2023. Its main goal is to build the resilience of vulnerable groups, especially young people and women.
- Agriculture: agro-ecological transition, notably in the pineapple and cashew value chains.
- Port: environmental sustainability and decent work at the Port autonome de Cotonou.
- Health: sexual and reproductive rights, tackling gender inequality.
- Police: community policing, for security and social cohesion.
Benin has long been a partner country of Belgian cooperation. The first joint commission met in December 1998. A general cooperation agreement followed in January 1999.
Belgian companies already on the ground
The link between the port of Cotonou and Antwerp is part of wider economic relations. From 2 to 9 November 2024, a Belgian trade mission of 70 delegates from 48 companies visited Benin. It was organised by the Wallonia Export and Investment Agency (AWEX). It focused on the green economy, infrastructure and transport, digital technology and the cultural and creative industries.
What changes for Beninese nationals in Belgium
The port of Cotonou and Antwerp connection also matters to the diaspora. For entrepreneurs, Cotonou is the gateway for goods into Benin and its hinterland. Transport, warehousing, cold chains and maintenance are among the growth sectors in Benin. To launch a project, read our guide on how to start a business in Benin from Belgium and our Investing in Benin page.
The other way round, a Beninese company can set up near Antwerp or Liège. Our article on opening a subsidiary in Belgium sets out the steps. For the wider context, see our overview of the port of Cotonou and our feature on Belgium Benin cooperation.
Sources
- L'Avenir: La touche belge dans la gestion des ports africains (3 October 2026, subscribers only)
- Enabel: Enabel in Benin
- Belgian Embassy in Benin: Development cooperation
- La Nation: Port of Cotonou: traffic recovery confirmed
- La Météo: Port traffic in 2025; Nasuba: Traffic in the first half of 2026
- Safety4Sea: Port of Antwerp takes permanent control of Port de Cotonou (January 2018)
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