North Africa’s largest economy unveils 8 logistics corridors linking its ports to African markets

The corridors will connect seaports and the Suez Canal with dry ports, industrial zones, agricultural areas and mining regions through railways, electric high-speed rail and highways, according to Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir.

The projects are designed to reduce cargo handling times and transport costs while improving Egypt’s competitiveness.

The eight corridors are Arish–Taba, Sokhna–Alexandria, Safaga–Qena–Abu Tartour, Cairo–Alexandria, Tanta–Mansoura–Damietta, Gargoub–Salloum, Cairo–Aswan–Abu Simbel, and Bernice–Aswan–East Oweinat–Kufra–N’Djamena.

The network gives Egypt multiple land and maritime routes into African markets, with the southern corridors extending towards Sudan, Libya and Chad.

The Bernice–Aswan–East Oweinat–Kufra–N’Djamena corridor is particularly significant for Egypt’s African trade ambitions because it is designed to extend the country’s logistics reach deep into North and Central Africa.

The Cairo–Aswan–Abu Simbel corridor also strengthens connectivity towards Egypt’s southern border, linking transport infrastructure with the country’s wider development plans.

Egypt is simultaneously expanding the capacity of its ports. The government plans to develop five new ports, taking the number of commercial ports to 19, while expanding port areas to 100 million square metres and adding more than 70 kilometres of new berths.

The push comes as Egypt’s maritime sector records stronger cargo flows. Egyptian ports handled 233 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, up 12% year on year, while container throughput increased 25% to 11.1 million TEUs. Egypt also rose to 19th globally in the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index and ranked first in Africa, according to El-Wazir.

The strategy also comes as Egypt seeks stronger direct trade links with African economies. Earlier this month, Cairo and Senegal agreed to work towards establishing a commercial shipping route between Alexandria and Dakar, aimed at increasing trade between Egypt and West Africa.

The expansion could give Egypt a larger role in moving African commodities and manufactured goods to global markets while creating new routes for imports into the continent.

The government says the broader objective is to transform Egypt’s ports from standalone maritime facilities into integrated logistics hubs capable of connecting production zones, inland transport networks and international shipping routes.