Maersk expands West Africa footprint with Senegal facility

In a bold move to strengthen its logistics footprint across West Africa, global shipping and logistics giant Maersk has inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art warehouse facility in Senegal. The development underscores Maersk’s strategic commitment to enhancing supply chain efficiency and supporting regional economic growth.

Located just 10 kilometres from key port facilities and major manufacturing zones, the new facility in Dakar is poised to serve as a logistics hub for both domestic distribution and cross-border transportation to neighbouring countries.

“This investment in Dakar demonstrates our long-term commitment to Senegal and the broader West African region,” said Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director for Maersk West Africa. “By establishing this modern warehouse facility, we’re delivering on our promise to create seamless, integrated logistics solutions that enable our customers to optimise their supply chains and accelerate growth.”

The 5,100-square-meter warehouse offers 7,036 pallet positions and includes an additional 500 square meters of outdoor storage space. It is designed to accommodate a wide array of goods, ranging from fast-moving consumer products and retail merchandise to technology and lifestyle items.

Beyond its storage capacity, the facility also offers a suite of value-added services such as palletization, order processing, labelling, packaging, distribution, and pallet customization. These features allow clients to consolidate all cargo handling operations under one roof, streamlining logistics and reducing operational complexity.

“West Africa represents a dynamic and rapidly evolving market with unique logistics challenges,” added Theeuwes. “Our customers deserve reliable, efficient warehouse solutions that connect seamlessly with transportation services. This facility directly addresses those needs and will contribute to the economic growth in the region.”

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The warehouse incorporates advanced technology through a Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), offering customers real-time visibility, improved traceability, and integration capabilities with their existing digital platforms.

Sustainability and safety have also been placed at the forefront of the facility’s operations. The warehouse is powered by 60% solar energy and uses electric material-handling equipment, in line with Maersk’s global push towards decarbonising logistics. Safety features include forklift systems equipped with rear-view cameras and pedestrian sensors, advanced firefighting infrastructure, and around-the-clock CCTV surveillance that meets both local and international standards.

The Dakar warehouse joins Maersk’s expanding network of logistics facilities in West Africa, which now spans eight countries and over 100,000 square meters. Other key locations include Abidjan, Tema, Douala, Lagos, Conakry, Lome, and Cotonou—all operating under the same high HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment) standards.