Angola unveils $900 million Port expansion backed by Chinese companies

Angola has secured a $900 million private investment from Chinese-backed companies to expand the Barra do Dande Port, strengthening the country’s plans to grow manufacturing and increase exports beyond its oil sector. 

The agreement reflects a wider shift in Chinese investment across Africa, with companies increasingly funding commercially driven projects instead of relying on government-backed lending.

For Angola, the investment supports efforts to improve trade infrastructure and attract more manufacturers. 

The project will create a new export gateway for businesses operating in the Barra do Dande Free Trade Zone, where factories have expanded in recent years but continue to face transport and shipping constraints. 

Officials say the new terminal will improve logistics, support industrial production and help position Barra do Dande as one of Angola’s key commercial hubs over the next decade.

Private investment to build new export terminal 

The agreement, signed in Luanda on July 20, brings together the state-owned Barra do Dande Development Company, Huatong Angola Industry and Berkshire Waterhouse Infrastructure Development Ltd.

It covers the sub-concession, construction and operation of the Barra do Dande Port Terminal in Bengo Province. 

The concession will run for 25 years, with an option to renew based on the project’s performance.

Barra do Dande Development Company Chairman Roque Saraiva said the investment is split between a $450 million port terminal and another $450 million for supporting infrastructure, including power facilities and road connections.

Berkshire Waterhouse representative João Rufino said funding will be released in stages as regulatory approvals are completed.

Port expansion targets manufacturing growth 

Construction will be carried out in three phases. The first is expected to take about 24 months, allowing manufacturers in the free trade zone to begin exporting directly through the new terminal.

The remaining phases are scheduled for completion between 2029 and 2030. 

Once completed, the terminal will accommodate vessels carrying up to 80,000 tonnes and is expected to generate more than $10 billion in turnover over time.

Huatong Angola Industry Chairman Zhang Wendong said the project will ease transport bottlenecks that have limited production and improve links between factories and global markets.

He also called for closer coordination of shipping routes to support the port’s long-term operations.

Chinese investment shifts toward commercial projects 

The Barra do Dande project comes as Chinese companies expand their presence in Africa through private investment rather than large state-backed loans.

Similar investments include Kenya’s $1.2 billion airport expansion and Morocco’s growing electric vehicle battery industry led by Chinese manufacturers. 

Huatong Angola Industry is a Chinese manufacturing and infrastructure investor with operations in the Barra do Dande Free Trade Zone.

The company has already invested $250 million in the first phase of its aluminium project, which began production in January 2026, creating 1,200 direct and 800 indirect jobs. It plans to invest about $1.6 billion over several phases while expanding industrial operations in Angola. 

Chinese lending to Africa has fallen sharply from its 2016 peak as companies increasingly favour foreign direct investment and privately financed projects.

Angola’s latest agreement reflects that change while supporting the country’s efforts to strengthen manufacturing, expand exports and reduce its dependence on oil revenue.