Massive Delays at the Port of Dakar: Traders Directly Challenge Maersk’s Global Management

The grievances are significant: unjustified delays sometimes exceeding 50 days, lack of reliable commercial communication, no compensation, and, above all, total uncertainty regarding the arrival of goods at a critical moment for the Senegalese economy.

Out-of-range delays with no clear explanation

According to the traders, imports planned months in advance to supply markets ahead of Ramadan remain blocked or repeatedly postponed. The delivery timelines announced at booking are reportedly no longer respected, with no clear operational explanation.

“We organized our imports based on standard transit times. Today, our containers are more than 50 days late without any credible justification,” says a Senegalese importer in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

A commercial service deemed inadequate

Beyond the delays themselves, traders denounce a breakdown in commercial support:
unanswered emails, contradictory information, lack of visibility on arrival dates, and an inability to secure firm commitments.

These shortcomings have direct consequences for:

company cash flow,

banking commitments,

contracts with local distributors,

price stability in the market.

Ramadan and Eid supply seriously at risk

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr represent peak consumption periods in Dakar and nationwide. Traders warn that continued delays could lead to:

stock shortages,

price increases,

direct harm to consumers.

“Today, nothing is guaranteed for Eid. People in Dakar may bear the consequences of these logistical delays,” warns another trader based in Sandaga, Dakar.

Traders ready to move away from Maersk

Faced with what they describe as an untenable situation, several operators say they are seriously considering alternatives to Maersk, despite technical and financial constraints. For them, reliability and communication now outweigh brand reputation.

A direct appeal to global leadership

In a rare move, the collective has issued a public, direct appeal to Maersk’s top leadership, arguing that the issue goes beyond local operations:

Vincent Clerc, Executive Board Member and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with the group since 1998;

Søren Skou, who has led the group since 2016 and oversaw its transformation into an integrated logistics company;

Robert Erni, Chief Financial Officer (CFO);

Karsten Kildahl, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), responsible notably for Europe, Latin America and the IMEA region;

Keith Svendsen, Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals;

Rabab Boulos, Chief Operating Officer (COO);

Scott Andrew Elliott, Interim Regional President for Asia-Pacific.

Traders’ demands

The collective calls for:

public and detailed explanations regarding the causes of the delays at the Port of Dakar;

an immediate emergency plan to release delayed containers before Eid;

regular, transparent, and reliable commercial communication;

compensation mechanisms when contractual transit times are not met.