Intercontinental Africa-Europe Logistics: Challenges and Solutions

Trade between Africa and Europe is experiencing unprecedented growth. With over 300 billion euros in annual exchanges, the two continents are more connected than ever. Yet logistics remains the weak link in this commercial relationship.
The first challenge is the fragmentation of the carrier market. Between DHL, FedEx, maritime companies and local African carriers, businesses must juggle dozens of intermediaries with no visibility on actual prices.
The last mile in sub-Saharan Africa represents a significant obstacle. The lack of precise addressing in many urban and rural areas makes deliveries uncertain. Recipients often have to travel to collect their packages.
The solution is emerging with logistics aggregation platforms that compare carriers, optimize routes and deploy relay point networks. These innovations reduce costs by 30-40% while improving reliability.
Multimodal transport β combining sea, air and road β offers the best compromise between cost and speed. Modern optimization algorithms can find the ideal combination for each shipment.
The future of Africa-Europe logistics lies in the complete digitalization of the chain, from real-time GPS tracking to automated customs documentation. Companies adopting these tools now are getting ahead.