National Port Authority Poised to Construct US$200M. Specialized Bulk Terminal to Reduce Import Charges

Monrovia, Liberia: The Government of Liberia, through the National Port Authority (NPA), has announced a US$200 million investment aimed at constructing a specialized bulk and re-bulk terminal at the Freeport of Monrovia. The move is intended to overhaul the handling of essential commodities such as rice, cement, and wheat, among others.

By: Abraham Sylvester Panto

The project, disclosed during a Monday, May 19, 2025, conversation with the press, will target one of the most glaring infrastructural deficiencies in West African maritime trade and is expected to alleviate the logistical bottlenecks undermining Liberia’s import economy.

National Port Authority Managing Director Sekou Dukuly emphasized the unique position Liberia holds as one of the few West African nations still lacking a dedicated terminal for bulk goods, a shortfall that perpetuates excessive delays and surcharges for businesses and consumers alike.

“We are one of the only ports in West Africa without a specialized terminal for bulk commodities,” he said. “The best practice globally is that bulk commodities, whether clean or dusty, are processed through specialized terminals, which separate them from container transactions, but unfortunately, Liberia does not have such a facility,” the NPA boss stated.

Highlighting the direct economic consequences of infrastructural gaps, Managing Director Dukuly cited the case of a vessel that docked in Monrovia in July 2024 and was unable to offload promptly due to inadequate storage facilities.

The situation, he said, resulted in demurrage charges accumulating until its departure in early November, leading to daily penalties of US$2,500, a financial burden ultimately transferred to consumers through higher commodity prices.

Dukuly pointed out that the sustained elevated price of rice in Liberia cannot be explained by international market conditions alone, noting that even after the Indian government removed a 20% export tariff on rice—initially imposed during the Russia-Ukraine conflict—the prices on local shelves have not reflected this relief.

He attributed the persistence of high rice prices to the systemic inefficiencies and added costs embedded within the port’s handling processes.

“You don’t see a reduction in the price of rice here because the additional costs of doing business at the port are still being factored into the normal price of rice on the market,” MD Dukuly said.

According to Dukuly, the envisaged bulk terminal is designed to segregate the handling of bulk commodities from container traffic, facilitating more efficient storage, faster offloading, and reduced turnaround times for vessels, thereby cutting the accumulating demurrage fees that currently weigh heavily on importers.

In addition to cost reduction, the new terminal is expected to improve the overall competitiveness of Liberia’s import sector by enhancing the port’s capacity to accommodate larger shipments and more diverse cargo types, positioning the Freeport of Monrovia as a more attractive hub for regional trade.