The Lobito Corridor is redrawing the logistics map of Southern Africa. It links the Port of Lobito, on the Atlantic, to the interior of Angola and, through the Benguela Railway, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia. The concessionaire Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) operates the railway, and the 2026 numbers show the corridor gaining scale.
What the numbers say
- Railway. LAR expects to move about 400 thousand tonnes in 2026, 51% more than the 265 thousand tonnes of 2025. About half will be copper and cobalt from the DRC to Lobito, with a similar volume in the opposite direction.
- Monthly record. In July 2026 LAR had the best month in its history, with 27 thousand tonnes of international cargo.
- Port. The Port of Lobito handled 931 thousand tonnes in the first half of 2026, mostly minerals, with an annual forecast of around 2 million tonnes.
- Expansion. International press mentions a target of doubling international cargo to 800 thousand tonnes in 2027, after the first drawdown of a US$753 million financing package.
Read these figures with care: the sources measure different things. Some refer to LAR cargo on the railway, others to total port throughput, and forecasts are company projections, not audited results.
What changes for importers and exporters
- A second gateway. Lobito complements Luanda and can offer route alternatives, especially for cargo bound for central and southern Angola or the interior of the region.
- Distribution to the interior. The railway opens the possibility of combining port and rail on routes that today depend on long road journeys.
- Return cargo. A better balance between export and import cargo can improve rail freight economics.
- Pressure on capacity. The priority given to minerals shows that capacity for general cargo and containers is something to follow case by case.
How to decide the route
The choice between Luanda, Lobito and other options depends on final destination, cargo type, timing and availability of regular service. Before assuming Lobito is cheaper or faster, compare the total delivered cost (freight, port handling, inland transport, storage and customs clearance) for each alternative, not just ocean freight.