A side-by-side comparison of Abidjan, Cotonou and Lomé container ports for construction imports — transit times from China, clearance windows, inland reach, and when each is the right choice.
TL;DR. Use Abidjan for Côte d'Ivoire and most south Mali / Burkina onward — fastest clearance with BIVAC pre-cleared docs. Use Cotonou for Benin and any Niger / inland-Burkina forward. Use Lomé when Abidjan or Cotonou is congested.
| Port | From Shanghai | Clearance | Inland reach | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abidjan | 32–40 days | 3–7 days (BIVAC pre-cleared) | CI, south Mali, Burkina south | BIVAC-driven CI imports |
| Cotonou | 34–42 days | 3–7 days clean docs | Benin, Niger, inland Burkina, north Nigeria | Transit-corridor onward to Sahel |
| Lomé | 34–42 days | 5–10 days | Togo, Niger via Burkina | Congestion alternative |
| Tema | 34–42 days | 5–10 days | Ghana, north Burkina | Ghanaian projects |
CI requires PVoC for most construction imports. Pre-cleared at origin: 3–7 day clearance. Without it: 10–18 days plus storage.
Cotonou → Niamey or Cotonou → Ouagadougou by truck means a second customs filing. Split packing list per leg; B/L consigned to the forwarder; HS pre-coded for both legs. Done right, road from Cotonou to Niamey takes 6 days post-clearance.
Well-positioned, underused. Slower than Abidjan/Cotonou (5–10 days) but more predictable in tight Q4 windows.