EU-Backed Lobito Corridor Poised to Reshape Trade and Industrial Logistics Across Central Africa
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The European Union and international partners are accelerating development of the Lobito Corridor, a strategic infrastructure program linking Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia. Positioned to become Africa’s first true transcontinental trade route, the corridor is expected to cut freight transit times from more than a month to as little as one week, vastly improving access to global markets and strengthening regional supply chains.
Through the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, nine member states and the European Investment Bank have committed more than €2 billion to upgrade railways, roads, logistics hubs, and border systems while funding renewable energy, skills development, and value-chain integration across the three countries.
Major investments include the rehabilitation of key rail segments and the development of logistics platforms such as the Caála Logistics Hub in Angola. Additional allocations include €50 million for agricultural value chains and support for SMEs, cooperatives, and miners in the DRC aimed at driving inclusive growth and job creation.
Zambia’s contribution focuses on expanding green transport infrastructure, advancing a greenfield railway project, and integrating the corridor with southern Africa’s existing rail network to ensure seamless mineral and agricultural exports.
Angola is receiving targeted investments in water and energy security, including a €100 million water-supply project, alongside efforts to strengthen governance and vocational training systems.
The corridor is anchored by a public-private partnership model built around long-term operational guarantees.
The Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium—led by Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis—will run the rail network.
Africa Global Logistics manages the Port of Lobito, enhancing throughput capacity and operational efficiency.
This structure aims to de-risk logistics investments, improve service reliability, and attract additional private capital into mining, logistics, and agri-processing infrastructure.
Once fully operational, the Lobito Corridor is expected to improve export competitiveness for critical minerals, reduce bottlenecks affecting the Copperbelt, and expand opportunities in agriculture and manufacturing. By anchoring regional processing capacity, the initiative strengthens Africa–EU economic ties and supports more responsible, traceable sourcing of minerals.
The project aligns with 2021–2027 development priorities around economic diversification, job creation, governance reforms, and human development. Total financing includes roughly €730 million in EU development assistance, with the balance provided through loans and private-sector investment.
The Lobito Corridor represents one of the most ambitious trade and logistics modernization efforts in Africa. By combining cross-border infrastructure upgrades with private-sector operations and sustainable finance, the initiative positions Angola, the DRC, and Zambia for stronger export performance, improved market access, and enhanced global supply chain integration.
