The government of the Republic of Djibouti was astonished to learn about the Container Port Performance Index 2023, published on Wednesday, June 5 by the World Bank in partnership with the private company S&P (Standard and Poor’s). According to this report, the Djibouti Container Port (SGTD) fell from the 26th position globally in 2022 to the 379th in 2023. This drop of over 350 places in one year is clearly absurd and does not reflect any tangible reality on the ground.
The Republic of Djibouti vehemently rejects this report with its ludicrous conclusions, which unjustifiably damages our country and our facilities. This comes at a time when we have been facing complex operational conditions since early 2024 due to international tensions.
Clearly, the “data” used by the authors of this report are erroneous. Our performance indicators, in line with the best international standards, are constantly improving. The productivity of the docks at the Djibouti container port is 120 moves per hour. Ship docking statistics show significant growth, with an increase of more than 30% between 2022 and 2023. The docks are far from saturated, with an average utilization rate of 40%. The port also fulfills its responsibilities in terms of strategic and humanitarian support for the entire region. Finally, no exceptional events have disrupted the port’s activity in 2022 and 2023.
The calculation methods used by the experts of this report seem to distort the reality of the port industry. Other world-class ports with high traffic density are relegated “in the ranking” to the detriment of ports with significantly more limited traffic.
Furthermore, for equally enigmatic reasons, the port of Djibouti – considered the best port in Sub-Saharan Africa for three consecutive years by the same report – no longer appears in this region and has been “moved” to a region “West, Central, and South Asia”, covering an area from Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh.
In any case, our commitment has not changed. Last year, as in previous years, the Djibouti Container Port (SGTD) continued to invest in its facilities and productivity, to fulfill its import-export missions for the entire region, and to develop new activities such as transshipment. Four state-of-the-art gantry cranes were acquired for large-capacity vessels.
The Djibouti Container Port (SGTD) is now more than ever a competitive tool. It is at the heart of a global multi-modal and multi-port project, a major and long-term investment for the Djiboutian State. All these facilities serve global trade and our clients, maritime lines, economic players, importers, and exporters.
