UN/LOCODE: AOLAD📍 Angola

Port of Luanda (UN/LOCODE AOLAD)

❖ Coordinates: -8.8400°N, 13.2894°E

❖ Time Zone: Africa/Luanda

❖ UN/LOCODE: AOLAD

## About the Port The Port of **Luanda** (UN/LOCODE: **AOLAD**) is Angola’s principal gateway on the Atlantic coastline, situated at latitude ‑8.83999 and longitude 13.28944 in the nation’s capital province. Operating on **Africa/Luanda** time (UTC +1), the port serves as a strategic hub for both bulk and containerized cargo, handling a growing share of Angola’s import‑export traffic. Its natural deep‑water basin, protected by a breakwater, accommodates vessels up to 250 000 DWT, making it one of the deepest ports in West‑Central Africa. The facility is managed by **Portos de Luanda (PRA)**, a state‑owned entity responsible for berthing allocation, pilotage, and customs coordination. Key attributes that define Luanda’s maritime profile include: - **Geographic advantage:** A 140‑km coastal stretch that links the hinterland to the Atlantic, facilitating direct access to the Gulf of Guinea. - **Multi‑modal connectivity:** Integrated road and rail links (notably the EN110 highway and the Luanda Railway) enable seamless cargo transfers to inland markets. - **Operational capacity:** Over 8 million TEU and 12 million tons of cargo processed annually (2023 figures), with a target to exceed 15 million tons by 2030 under the “Luanda Port Expansion Programme”. The port’s strategic importance is reflected in its recurring ranking among the top 30 African ports by cargo throughput, according to the **World Bank’s Port Performance Index**[^1]. --- ## History The origins of Luanda’s maritime facilities date back to the early **16th century**, when Portuguese colonists established a modest slipway for sugar and ivory shipments. Formal port infrastructure emerged in the **late 19th century**, driven by the export boom of coffee, rubber, and later, oil. - **1920‑1940:** Construction of the original breakwater and the first cargo terminal, enabling the handling of steam‑powered cargo vessels. - **1975‑1990:** Following Angola’s independence, the port entered a period of nationalization and subsequent decline due to civil conflict, which severely reduced operational capacity. - **2000‑2015:** Post‑war reconstruction, funded in part by the **International Monetary Fund (IMF)**, introduced modern container cranes, a dedicated oil terminal, and computerized customs procedures. - **2016‑present:** The Luanda Port Expansion Programme, launched in partnership with Chinese engineering firms, has added a new container yard, a 3‑km offshore quay, and a grain silos complex, positioning the port to meet the needs of a diversifying Angolan economy. These historical milestones illustrate the port’s evolution from a colonial outpost to a modern, multi‑commodity hub. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths and Quays | Facility | Length (m) | Draft (m) | Primary Cargo | |----------|------------|-----------|----------------| | General Cargo Quay | 1 200 | 13.5 | Breakbulk, steel | | Container Terminal 1 (CT1) | 800 | 14.0 | 20‑ft & 40‑ft containers | | Container Terminal 2 (CT2) – under construction | 600 | 14.5 | High‑cube containers | | Oil Terminal | 650 | 15.0 | Crude oil, LPG | | Bulk Grain Silo Quay | 300 | 12.0 | Cereals, feed | The **Berth Allocation System (BAS)** administered by PRA adopts a real‑time scheduling platform, reducing vessel turnaround from an average of 48 hours (pre‑2020) to under 30 hours today. ### Cargo Handling Equipment - **4 Super‑post-Panamax gantry cranes** (45 mt lift, 12 m outreach) - **8 Rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) cranes** for container stacking - **12 mobile harbor cranes** (25 t capacity) for breakbulk cargo - **2 grain elevators** (15 t/h) linked to the silos complex ### Storage and Logistics - **Container yard:** 180 hectares with a capacity of 75 000 TEU, featuring a 24‑hour automated gate system. - **Dry bulk depots:** 5 ha dedicated to cement, minerals, and fertilizer stockpiling. - **Cold‑storage facilities:** 12 000 m³ of refrigerated space for perishables, supporting the growing horticultural export sector. ### Supporting Services - **Pilotage** – 24‑hour pilot service with five locally certified pilots. - **Towage** – Two high‑power tugs (4 000 hp each) capable of handling VLCCs. - **Customs & Inspection** – Integrated electronic data interchange (EDI) system linked to Angola’s Customs Authority (ANAC), expediting cargo clearance. All facilities comply with **IMO SOLAS** and **ISPS** regulations, ensuring safety and security across the port’s operational spectrum. --- ## Economic Importance The Port of Luanda is a linchpin of Angola’s macro‑economic framework: 1. **Trade Volume:** In 2023, the port handled **12.4 million tonnes** of cargo, representing roughly **70 %** of Angola’s total maritime trade. 2. **Oil Export Hub:** Approximately **1.9 million barrels per day** of Angolan crude pass through Luanda’s oil terminal, accounting for over **85 %** of national export revenues. 3. **Industrial Linkages:** The nearby **Luanda Industrial Free Zone** benefits from direct port access, encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in petrochemicals, agro‑processing, and manufacturing. 4. **Employment:** The port directly employs **6 200** workers and indirectly sustains an estimated **30 000** jobs in logistics, transportation, and ancillary services. The Angolan government’s **“Diversify 2025”** plan emphasizes the port’s role in expanding non‑oil exports, such as coffee, cocoa, and timber, leveraging the newly constructed grain silos and cold‑storage capacity. Moreover, the ongoing **Luanda‑Benguela Railway revival** will augment inland cargo movement, further integrating the port into regional supply chains. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Trade Corridors - **West Africa Loop:** Regular liner services connect Luanda with **Abidjan, Dakar, and Lagos**, serving as a trans‑Atlantic conduit for containerized goods. - **Europe‑Africa Direct:** Weekly services to **Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Lisbon** transport oil, petrochemicals, and high‑value cargo. - **South‑America Link:** Bi‑weekly bulk carriers trade with **Rio de Janeiro and Santos**, moving iron ore and agricultural inputs. These routes are predominantly served by **Maersk Line, MSC, and CMA CGM**, which operate vessels ranging from 8,000‑TEU Panamax to 20,000‑TEU Ultra‑Large Container Ships (ULCS). ### Major Cargo Profiles | Cargo Type | Approx. Annual Volume (2023) | Key Origin/Destination | |------------|------------------------------|------------------------| | Crude Oil | 1.9 million bbl/d (≈ 2 Mt) | Export – Global markets | | Refined Petroleum | 800 kt | Import – Europe | | Containers (General) | 7.8 million TEU | Import – Electronics, Machinery | | Dry Bulk (Cement, Fertilizer) | 3.2 Mt | Import – Europe/Asia | | Agricultural Products (Coffee, Cocoa) | 1.5 Mt | Export – EU, US | | Grain & Cereals | 0.9 Mt | Export – North Africa, Middle East | | Minerals (Iron Ore, Bauxite) | 1.2 Mt | Export – Asia | The diversification of cargo, especially the uptick in **agro‑industrial exports**, aligns with Angola’s strategic objective to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. The port’s **deep‑draft capabilities** also make it a preferred anchorage for LNG carriers, positioning Luanda as a future hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) trans‑shipment. --- ### Outlook Projected infrastructure upgrades—including a **new 25‑meter deepwater berth** and expanded rail connectivity—are expected to boost total cargo handling capacity by **30 %** by 2028. Combined with regulatory reforms that streamline customs procedures, the Port of Luanda is set to solidify its status as the gateway for Central‑West African trade. --- [^1]: World Bank, *Port Performance Index 2023*, https://datatopics.worldbank.org/port-performance-index.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

AOLAD

Country

Angola

Province / Region

Luanda

Latitude

-8.839988

Longitude

13.289437

Timezone

Africa/Luanda

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Luanda?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Luanda is AOLAD.

Where is Port of Luanda located?

The Port of Luanda is located in Angola, Luanda. Its coordinates are -8.8400°N, 13.2894°E.

What time zone is Port of Luanda in?

Port of Luanda operates in the Africa/Luanda time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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