Is AD Ports building an Atlantic-to-Red Sea land bridge? AD Ports has signed a Heads of Terms (HoT) agreement to explore the development and operation of a multipurpose terminal at Matadi Port — the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) primary Atlantic gateway, according to a statement.

Right on cue: The UAE signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the DRC earlier this week — aiming to slash tariffs, eliminate trade barriers, and open up private-sector collaboration in mining, agriculture, and clean energy.

Why it matters

For AD Ports, this marks a significant expansion of its footprint in Africa — adding to its existing logistics portfolio in Egypt, Angola, Tanzania, and the Republic of Congo. By securing a foothold in Matadi, the group is aligning itself at the center of import and export flows for one of the continent’s most strategic trade corridors.

How so, Enterprise? Matadi is a critical maritime gateway for the DRC — a nation that shares borders with nine countries, including five landlocked ones. With the current capacity of the Atlantic port at a modest 350k TEU general cargo, an expansion could set the port up to serve as the go-to regional gateway for trade.

What’s next?

The HoT will serve as a roadmap for both parties. We can expect further technical and commercial assessments as they move toward a definitive agreement for the terminal’s development. Success here would likely lead to streamlined trans-African trade volumes and enhanced global market access for the DRC.

Background

Elsewhere in the region: AD Ports previously partnered with logistics solutions firm CMA CGM on a JV to develop and operate the New East Mole multipurpose terminal in neighboring Congo-Brazzaville. Other Emirati players have also secured footholds in the area: DP World is developing a deep-sea container port in the DRC, while state-owned International Holding Company inked an agreement last year to buy 56% of Alphamin Resources, which owns the Bisie tin mine operation in DRC.

Mineral-rich DRC is eyed by many global players

The DRC holds some 72% of the world’s cobalt reserves and accounts for over 74% of the supply. The DRC maintains a robust trade surplus, importing goods worth USD 11.5 bn and exporting USD 29.6 bn in 2024, a 37.5% y-o-y, according to OEC data.

The US has made a big play: In December, the US International Development Finance Corporation expressed interest in taking up an equity share in a new joint venture (JV) between DRC’s state miner Gecamines and Swiss commodities group Mercuria to market copper and cobalt. The new partnership could give US end users the right of first refusal on the DRC’s mineral supplies. It also looks to expand minerals to include germanium and gallium –– key for semiconductors and solar panels.

The move adds fuel to the fiery contest between the US and China to secure crucial minerals. China heavily leads as the DRC’s major importer, importing USD 21.6 bn worth of goods, followed by South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, and Spain.

In other AD Ports news

AD Ports Group locked in the capital to finish its Safaga multipurposeterminal in Egypt. The group secured a USD 115 mn project finance facility, backed by a USD 61 mn loan from the International Finance Corporation and USD 54 mn from the National Bank of Kuwait (Egypt). The 15-year tenor funding supports the development of the USD 200 mn Noatum Ports-Safaga Terminal, set to become the first internationally operated port in Upper Egypt.

Why it matters: The Safaga project aims to reduce logistics distances for Upper Egypt’s mining and agricultural sectors by up to 500 km, allowing goods to reach the sea faster and potentially cutting emissions by 50k tons of CO2 annually.

What’s next: The terminal is currently scheduled for completion in 2H 2026. Once operational, it will handle 450k TEUs and 5 mn tons of dry bulk annually, serving as a critical hub in AD Ports’ expanding footprint in Egypt.

Background: AD Ports inked a definitive 30-year concession agreement with Egypt’s Red Sea Ports Authority for the development and operation of a multipurpose terminal at Safaga Port just over a year ago.

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