APM Terminals invests in new services to accommodate Nigerian growth

APM Terminals and Barging Marine Solutions Ltd have signed an exclusive lease agreement until September 2031 to expand services in and around Apapa, underlining the terminal operator’s long-term commitment to develop Nigerian trade opportunities.

The aim of the agreement is leveraging the close collaboration between the two parties to increase capacity and to provide enhanced landside and barge connections to benefit both customers and shipping lines.

As Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, said on signing the agreement: “The Nigerian market has shown solid growth throughout 2025 and APM Terminals strongly believes in the development of the market in the years ahead. Therefore, it is important that we take the necessary steps to develop and realise the potential of the terminal, while also looking at the future potential to invest and modernise further in Lagos. Barging Marine Solutions have been running a resilient business, and we look forward to developing the synergies we see by entering this collaboration.”

“This important collaboration with APM Terminals builds on the strong existing business that we have together and will provide enhanced logistics solutions for APM Terminals’ customers and shipping lines by leveraging BMS’s barging and terminal operations for additional capacity and reliable delivery,” says Karim Said, CEO Barging Marine Solutions Ltd.

The facilities include two waterfront and inland container terminals as well as barge services that will offer an alternative to road transportation and thereby easing the pressure on road-side transport via trucking, reducing traffic congestion, and reducing logistics-related costs.

“We believe that the improved barge services as well as Barging Marine Solutions’ position as market leader within inland container depots has the ability to improve both reliability and speed for our customers as well as optimising our coordination across the supply chain, which will give a more seamless customer experience,” says Frederik Klinke, MD, APM Terminals Nigeria.

Under the agreement, Barging Marine Solutions Ltd — part of GMT Nigeria Ltd — will operate the services for APM Terminals and the companies will jointly develop solutions to add value for customers.