AGL Cameroun injects US$3.3M into port equipment, enhancing packaging logistics across Central Africa

CAMEROON – AGL Cameroun has unveiled new equipment worth more than CFA2 billion (approximately US$3.3 million) at the port of Douala, including a 100-ton crane, 20 forklifts, and 10 tanker trucks.

The investment aims to strengthen port, logistics, and industrial capabilities while improving service standards across packaging-intensive supply chains serving Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

The equipment, presented on March 26, includes clamp and fork forklifts designed to speed up handling of cotton bales and other goods in storage facilities.

These machines are expected to ease warehouse congestion and improve the flow of loading, packaging, and storage operations, critical functions for maintaining product integrity across long supply chains.

Heavy-Lift Capacity Transforms Port Operations

The new 100-ton crane features a 60-meter main boom, extendable by 25 meters, reaching a maximum height of 85 meters, equivalent to a 25-story building.

The crane can lift up to 30 tons at a distance of 10 meters, significantly increasing heavy-lift capacity at the port of Douala. According to AGL, it will allow certain operations to be handled locally, reducing reliance on external equipment.

Packaging Logistics Get a Productivity Boost

The tanker trucks and semi-trailers will handle urban and regional transport of goods, including malt and wheat for Boissons du Cameroun and Mocaf in the Central African Republic.

The goal is to ensure more reliable deliveries, improve customer service rates, and reduce breakdowns and delays that can disrupt packaging supply chains.

Strategic Investment Context

Thibaut Lamé, AGL Cameroun’s chief executive, explained that the investment is part of a broader strategy. The company plans to invest CFA20 billion (approximately US$32.6 million) in 2026 to boost competitiveness, increase productivity, and improve the overall customer experience.

The Douala port serves as a critical gateway for landlocked Central African markets.

What This Means for Packaging

For the packaging industry across Central Africa, AGL’s investment signals improving infrastructure reliability, a persistent challenge that has historically constrained supply chain performance.

Faster handling at port reduces moisture damage to paper-based packaging materials, while improved warehousing minimizes compression damage to finished packaging stocks.

As AGL modernizes its fleet and expands heavy-lift capacity, packaging manufacturers can expect more consistent delivery schedules, reduced product damage, and greater capacity to handle peak season volumes.

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