Lagos ports are set to experience a notable uptick in maritime activity from July 1 to 10, 2025, with 13 vessels scheduled to berth across the city’s key port complexes. According to the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) daily shipping position, these vessels will deliver more than 2,700 containers, 550 used vehicles, and over 265,000 metric tonnes of crude oil.
The vessels are expected at Lagos’ three major port hubs—Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port, and Lekki Deep Sea Port—underlining the city’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s maritime trade and its sustained dependence on containerised imports, second-hand vehicles, food items, and industrial materials.
Container Shipments
Four container vessels are slated to deliver a combined 2,300 full container loads (FCL) to Lagos ports during the reporting period.
SEASMILE, operated by Maersk, will dock at APM Terminals in Apapa Port, bringing 720 FCLs.
At Tin Can Island Port, three ships—MSC DYMPHNA, MSC JOHANNESBURG V, and ALGECIRAS EXPRESS—will berth at Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT), delivering 400, 480, and 700 FCLs respectively.
Used Vehicle Imports
In the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) segment, two vessels will discharge a total of 550 used vehicles at Tin Can Island Port:
SILVER GLORY will offload 150 vehicles at the Fivestars Logistics Terminal.
GREAT ABIDJAN will deliver 400 units at the Ports & Terminal Multiservices Ltd (PTML) terminal.
Crude Oil Delivery at Lekki Deep Sea Port
A major highlight of the upcoming shipping activity is the arrival of HORTEN, a crude oil tanker expected to berth at the Dangote Jetty in Lekki Deep Sea Port on July 2. The vessel will deliver an estimated 265,171 metric tonnes of crude oil, likely for processing at the adjacent Dangote Refinery.
This shipment is part of a broader trend, with the refinery projected to receive up to five million barrels of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude in July. Suppliers include Vitol (2 million barrels), Socar (2 million), and Glencore (1 million), with additional spot purchases anticipated.
Bulk and General Cargo
Lagos ports will also accommodate significant bulk and general cargo deliveries:
At Apapa Port:
SPRING LOTUS is expected to discharge 55,750 metric tonnes of wheat at Apapa Bulk Terminals Ltd (ABTL).
MED LIGURIA will offload 11,074 MT of general cargo at Niger Dock.
At Tin Can Island Port (Josepdam Terminal):
MV ENDEAVOR and VENEZIA will deliver 25,902 MT and 38,200 MT of wheat, respectively.
ASTURCON will bring 5,000 MT of malt.
JOY LINE will handle 13,026 MT of general cargo at PTML.
In total, the ports are expected to process over 148,000 MT of bulk and general cargo during this 10-day period, reinforcing their importance to Nigeria’s food supply and manufacturing infrastructure.
National Maritime Outlook
Of the 16 vessels scheduled to berth at Nigerian ports between July 1 and 10, 13 are headed for Lagos, while the remaining three are destined for Calabar and Onne ports.
With terminals managed by APM Terminals, TICT, PTML, Fivestars, Josepdam, Niger Dock, and Dangote Jetty, and vessels operated by major global shipping firms such as Maersk, MSC, and Grimaldi, Lagos continues to dominate Nigeria’s seaborne trade.
The anticipated inflow of containers, vehicles, food commodities, and crude oil underscores Lagos’ central role in addressing the country’s consumer, industrial, and energy needs.
