Container shipping lines serving the West Africa-Europe trade have added extra sailings over recent weeks, responding to steady demand growth on a route that connects ports including Tema, Lagos and Abidjan with terminals in Northern Europe.
Freight forwarders say the additional capacity has helped ease space constraints that had periodically pushed up rates and lengthened booking lead times, particularly during peak shipping periods.
Carriers have also adjusted rotations to call at a wider spread of West African ports directly, reducing the need for transshipment via hubs outside the region for some cargo.