Mali, asserting itself as a new lithium producer, will use Côte d’Ivoire’s port infrastructure—particularly the ports of San Pedro and Abidjan—for exporting its output. This logistical choice underscores Côte d’Ivoire’s growing importance in the mining value chain in West Africa.
Logistical Choices of Mining Companies
San Pedro (Kodal Minerals):
On October 20, British company Kodal Minerals began the first exports of lithium concentrate from its Bougouni mine in southern Mali, transiting through the port of San Pedro.
This option was chosen for logistical and financial optimization. Transporting bulk ore by 50-ton trucks to San Pedro is considered more cost-effective than packaging it for shipment via Abidjan, allowing the London-listed company to improve its profit margins.
Abidjan (Ganfeng Lithium):
Meanwhile, Ganfeng Lithium, the Chinese firm that took over the Goulamina project in 2024, selected the port of Abidjan for its shipments.
The decision follows a port services agreement signed with the Belgian company SEA-invest.
Abidjan’s mineral terminal, operational since 2018, was recently expanded to handle the growing volume of mining exports. The first shipments of Malian lithium concentrate have been departing from there since May 2025.
Côte d’Ivoire: A Regional Logistics Hub
These decisions confirm Côte d’Ivoire’s central position within West Africa’s export network.
Complementarity of Ports: The port of San Pedro has become a competitive industrial hub, particularly since the commissioning of its Multipurpose Industrial Terminal (TIPSP) in 2022—an investment of €173 million. Designed to handle various mineral products, this terminal serves corridors leading to Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, providing a strong logistical alternative to the ports of Dakar and Tema.
By modernizing its terminals and leveraging the complementarity between Abidjan and San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire is consolidating its status as a key logistics platform for the region’s landlocked countries. It is thus positioning itself as a major player in the emerging African lithium trade.
