Cameroon completes 40,000-tonne grain silo complex at Douala port
The project is designed to improve grain handling, speed up vessel unloading, and strengthen the efficiency of Cameroon‘s main commercial port.
CAMEROON – The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) and agribusiness operator Afisa Food Industry SA have officially completed and commissioned a major grain storage complex featuring eight industrial silos at the Port of Douala-Bonabéri.
With each unit designed to hold 5,000 metric tonnes, the new facility adds 40,000 tonnes of state-of-the-art cereal storage capacity to Cameroon’s primary maritime trade hub.
The completion marks a pivotal milestone in the port’s long-term modernization master plan to upgrade national logistics, reduce vessel congestion, and boost regional food security.
Developed through a public-private partnership with Afisa Food Industry, a subsidiary of the multinational Elnefeidi Group, the project directly addresses longstanding bottleneck issues in primary grain handling at the port.
The complex integrates advanced, high-capacity Vigan pneumatic suction unloaders capable of discharging raw wheat directly from cargo vessels at rates up to 600 tonnes per hour.
This automated intake system dramatically speeds up berth operations, reducing ship discharge turnarounds from an average of over a week to under three days.
The new storage facility plays a crucial role in supporting Cameroon’s expanding grain processing ecosystem.
Historically, bulk grain handling at Douala was heavily concentrated around single-operator infrastructure, creating supply chain constraints for surrounding industrial millers.
The newly constructed silos will streamline raw material intake to feed local flour mills while stabilizing raw grain reserves against global market volatility and maritime shipping disruptions.
Furthermore, the expanded capacity supports processing networks that re-export finished flour products to landlocked neighboring markets, including Chad and the Central African Republic.
Port officials emphasized that the project aligns directly with PAD’s strategic objectives to lift Douala-Bonabéri’s aggregate cargo handling throughput to 23 million tonnes annually by 2030, and ultimately 45 million tonnes by 2050.
Under the operating agreement, Afisa Food Industry will manage the storage complex for 20 years before transferring full operational control to the port authority.
By combining high-speed discharge technology with large-scale bulk storage, the partnership establishes a modern agro-logistical asset designed to lower import overheads and safeguard food supply chains across Central Africa.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
