Africa-Press – Liberia. Monrovia-Liberia’s main gateway for trade, the Freeport of Monrovia, is undergoing an operational transformation, with APM Terminals Liberia reporting a 40 percent increase in activity amid renewed investments, improved efficiency, and growing demand for port services.
The disclosure was made Thursday, March 19, by the company’s Managing Director, Rochid Baho, during a media briefing that positioned the port not just as an entry point for goods, but as a central pillar of Liberia’s economic stability.
“Everything that comes into this country passes through here,” Baho averred at the briefing held at APM Terminals Liberia headquarters.
“If the port works efficiently, the economy works efficiently.”
Backed by its global parent company, APM Terminals, headquartered in the Netherlands, APM Terminals Liberia has intensified efforts to modernize port operations, expand cargo handling capacity, and improve turnaround time for vessels.
Baho revealed that since taking over under challenging conditions marked by slow operations and external pressures, the company has successfully reversed the trend, driving growth, restoring operational stability, and strengthening confidence among international shipping lines.
“We came in at a difficult time,” he noted.
“But today, we are seeing progress, real, measurable progress.”
According to him, infrastructure boost and expanded capacity which are central to the turnaround, is a wave of investment in port infrastructure.
He further noted that over the past year, the company has deployed new container-handling equipment and marine pilot boats aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing vessel waiting time.
Despite the heavy investment in machinery, Baho stressed that the company’s workforce remains its most valuable asset.
“It is not the equipment that delivers performance, it is the people,” he said.
“Our employees are committed, and they continue to go the extra mile.”
While celebrating the gains, APM Terminals Liberia Managing Director warned that external shocks could threaten progress.
Baho pointed to ongoing global conflicts and economic uncertainty as potential triggers for rising fuel prices and supply disruptions, factors that could directly affect port operations and Liberia’s broader economy.
“There is a real risk of increased costs and possible fuel shortages,” he cautioned.
“What happens globally will inevitably affect us here.”
Alos making remarks, the Head of Operations Etienne Saint-Jean, the port now has the technical capacity to handle a range of cargo, including heavy machinery, mining equipment, and bulk commodities.
“We are no longer limited to container operations,” Saint-Jean said.
“We have the equipment and expertise to handle complex cargo efficiently and safely.”
He disclosed that the port recently completed a major vessel operation within four days, an indication of improved productivity and coordination.
Impact on Prices and Supply Chains
With Liberia heavily dependent on imports, port efficiency has direct consequences for the cost of living.
He said faster cargo discharge and improved logistics are helping to stabilize the supply of essential goods, including rice, cement materials, and industrial inputs.
For his part, the Head of Commercial at APM Terminals Liberia Thomas Moore, during the briefing, whic was also followed by a tour of the terminals faculity, emphasized that the company is prioritizing quicker vessel turnaround and streamlined clearance processes to ensure goods move rapidly from port to market.
“The port plays a critical role in ensuring that essential commodities are available and affordable,” Moore said.
“Efficiency here translates directly into impact for the Liberian people.”
He added that digital innovations, including an online customer portal, are reducing delays and improving access to port services for importers and exporters.
Also making remarks at the briefing, Marine Pilot Sam Jabbah highlighted ongoing training programs aimed at strengthening local expertise and preparing Liberian professionals to handle increasingly complex maritime operations.
As Liberia looks to attract investment in sectors such as mining, construction, and manufacturing, stakeholders say the performance of the Freeport of Monrovia will be decisive.
Each shipment of industrial equipment, each container of goods, and each efficiently handled vessel reinforces the country’s economic prospects.
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