A trade and logistics hub is a strategic location that streamlines the flow of goods, connecting domestic and international markets.
With significant investments in infrastructure, particularly the Abidjan port, and a prime location, Ivory Coast is solidifying its status as a key trade and logistics hub in the region.
Ivory Coast’s Transport Sector
With a well-developed transport sector, Côte d’Ivoire is poised to become a major trade and transport hub in West Africa. Over the past five years, significant investments exceeding USD 2 billion have upgraded infrastructure, addressing previous investment shortfalls stemming from extended political unrest. The country’s effective use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) has driven progress, benefiting neighboring landlocked nations like Mali and Burkina Faso.
Economic Growth
Ivory Coast has attracted substantial private investment, with a yearly average rate of 8.6% between 2012 and 2024, outpacing its francophone peers in West Africa. According to the African Development Bank, the country has minimized its financing gap—the shortfall between available funds and those needed for structural transformation.
Energy Sector Developments
Raphael Souanga, Director of Development and Energy Transition at SIR, announced plans to build a 170,000 b/d refinery in Ivory Coast at ARDA Week 2025. Having completed initial surveys and selected potential partners, this new refinery could increase Ivory Coast’s refining capacity fourfold. The planned refinery would complement SIR’s existing 75,000 b/d facility in Abidjan, slated for an upgrade to 100,000 b/d.
Rising Oil Demand
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, oil product demand in Ivory Coast grew by around 6% in 2024 to 65,000 b/d and is expected to reach 80,000 b/d by 2030. As part of its energy transition strategy, SIR plans to switch from oil-powered electricity to gas-based supply, aiming to reduce associated emissions by over 2 [units].
