Tema's rail push to clear empties: what it changes for Ghana's cocoa containers
By Sandra Nansbuga
Tema's rail push to clear empties: what it changes for Ghana's cocoa containers
Tema was classed as a high-congestion port in the week to 10 October 2026, with a median vessel wait of 4.56 days, and Ghana's Railway Development Authority reports about 220 containers a day leaving by rail, initially empty boxes. For cocoa and shea exporters that changes where an export container comes from, not whether Tema is congested.
How congested is Tema right now?
Portcast congestion data published on 11 October, covering 4 to 10 October, put Tema in the high-congestion category with a median vessel waiting time of 4.56 days, up from 3.17 days a week earlier, according to Africa Ports & Ships. The dataset publishes no yard utilisation figure for Tema, so the classification and the wait are the measurable evidence; the source frames the constraint as cargo evacuation, truck availability, customs clearance and off-dock storage rather than berth capacity alone.
The Loadstar reported on 13 October, as cited by Africa Ports & Ships, that West African congestion was exposing shortcomings in port infrastructure and the wider logistics chain, and put regional container throughput growth at 19.4% year on year in 2025. MSC's Africa Express service began deploying vessels of up to 24,000 TEUs calling at Lomé, Tema, Abidjan and Kribi, and Drewry's Eirik Hooper attributed the congestion to a mismatch between vessel capacity, cargo volumes and terminal and logistics throughput.
| Port | Median vessel wait | Portcast class |
|---|---|---|
| Tema | 4.56 days | High |
| Abidjan | 2.42 days | Medium |
| Douala | 0.56 days | Low |
What does the rail evacuation actually move?
The Railway Development Authority reported on 12 October that roughly 220 containers a day were moving by rail with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and private operators, under an arrangement with Integrated Services Solution. The operation began with empty containers transferred from the port to inland facilities including Kumasi Unity Terminal, and was beginning to include loaded containers. The aim is to cut the accumulation of boxes at Tema and let inland and landlocked importers collect cargo closer to its destination. A direct rail connection to Kumasi Unity Terminal remains a longer-term priority.
What this means for buyers
Empty boxes are no longer all at the quay. If part of the pool sits at Kumasi Unity Terminal, the box nominated against your booking may need a rail or road leg back to Tema before stuffing, and that repositioning belongs in your lead time, not the carrier's free period. Confirm with the line where the empty will be released before quoting FOB Tema.
Timing matters more than usual this quarter. COCOBOD's notice of 25 September 2026 set the producer price for the 2026/27 cocoa season, effective that day, so main-crop beans are arriving while the port works through this congestion, and shea cargo booked on the same route faces the same queue. Book against a confirmed sailing, keep grading ahead of box release, and set detention and free time for a port where vessels wait days rather than hours.
How much buffer should exporters build in?
Use the published wait rather than a fixed allowance: at a 4.56-day median, a plan built on one day of port dwell is already short before gate and rail handling are counted. Re-check the weekly Portcast numbers with your forwarder and secure the empty before the lot is ready. Two related reads: COCOBOD's purchase financing and Teso's Robusta expansion.
FAQ
Q: Is the rail programme freeing up empty containers for export?
A: It moves them inland rather than creating more. About 220 containers a day were leaving by rail as reported on 12 October 2026, initially empties for facilities including Kumasi Unity Terminal, which relieves the yard but can put your box further from the quay.
Q: How long are vessels waiting at Tema?
A: A median of 4.56 days in the week of 4 to 10 October 2026, up from 3.17 days the week before, on Portcast data published 11 October.
Q: Does this affect cocoa bookings specifically?
A: It affects the box and the sailing, not the crop. With the 2026/27 producer price effective from 25 September 2026, cocoa is moving into a port where waits run to days, so confirm empty release and cut-off dates before committing a shipment.
Sources: Africa Ports & Ships | COCOBOD's notice of 25 September 2026