Shipping Costs Rose Sharply on Abidjan to Douala Route
The cost of transporting 20-foot dry containers from Abidjan to Douala climbed 95 percent throughout 2025.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Transportation
Live Poll
Do you feel the cost of goods and shipping in your area is getting worse?
Data from the National Shippers' Council showed that the average annual cost to ship a 20-foot dry container from Abidjan to Douala reached CFA1.328 million in 2025, up from CFA682,000 in 2024. This 95 percent increase surpassed costs for routes originating from major European ports like Antwerp and Le Havre.
Why it matters
The route experienced a significant cost surge, with a 98 percent year-over-year increase during the second quarter of 2025. Major carriers subsequently implemented additional fees that further elevated the price of shipping goods between these two hubs.
Average annual costs for the Abidjan to Douala route reached CFA1.328 million in 2025, compared to CFA682,000 in 2024. During the same period, major carriers CMA CGM and Maersk introduced surcharges of $100 and $200 per container, respectively.
The players
National Shippers' Council
This organization collects freight data and monitors shipping costs for container shipments to Douala.
CMA CGM
This global shipping and logistics company implemented a new surcharge for container shipments to Douala.
Maersk
This integrated container logistics company added a fee for cargo arriving in Douala.
The details
While costs for the Abidjan-Douala connection spiked, shipping rates from international hubs such as Nansha, Ningbo, Xiamen, Jebel Ali, and Antwerp to Douala actually declined between the second quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025. New surcharges from CMA CGM on October 1, 2025, and Maersk on October 27, 2025, exacerbated the pricing disparity for regional shippers.
Timeline
2024 served as the base year for the annual shipping cost comparison.
Shipping costs on the route increased 98% during the second quarter of 2025.
The average cost to ship on the route rose 95% across the 2025 calendar year.
CMA CGM implemented a $100 container surcharge on October 1, 2025.
Maersk implemented a $200 container surcharge on October 27, 2025.
Market Landscape
The regional price hike creates a significant imbalance compared to lower-cost international routes tracked by the National Shippers' Council annual freight cost data. This shift complicates logistics strategies for firms relying on the Abidjan-Douala corridor versus global trade lanes.
Businesses and consumers relying on this shipping corridor may face increased retail prices due to the higher freight expenses. The additional surcharges from major carriers add further costs to the supply chain for goods entering the region.
The takeaway
Shipping routes can experience extreme localized volatility that diverges significantly from global market trends. Shippers should evaluate alternative transit options when regional surcharges make domestic routes more expensive than long-haul international transport.
Further reading
For more background on how freight costs affect global trade, visit the Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business in Cameroon.
Live Poll
Do you feel the cost of goods and shipping in your area is getting worse?
