Angola’s Freight Transport Faces Sustainability Challenges: UNCTAD Report Calls for Urgent Reforms

The Angola Sustainable Freight Transport Assessment Report, published by UNCTAD, highlights the pressing need for Angola to modernize its freight transport sector. From poor road conditions to inefficient rail services, the report identifies key areas requiring urgent improvement. It recommends investment in infrastructure, policy reforms, and digital innovations to create a more sustainable and efficient transport system. As Angola moves toward economic diversification, implementing these strategies will be crucial for enhancing trade, reducing environmental impact, and boosting agribusiness logistics.

Luanda, Angola – The latest Angola Sustainable Freight Transport (SFT) Assessment Report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) sheds light on the pressing challenges facing the country’s freight transport sector. With a growing need for economic diversification and regional integration, the report outlines key areas requiring improvement and provides strategic recommendations to enhance sustainability and efficiency across Angola’s transport networks. Angola's freight transport system plays a vital role in economic growth, facilitating trade both within the country and with neighboring nations. However, the sector is riddled with inefficiencies, from inadequate infrastructure to outdated regulations. The report underscores Angola’s overreliance on oil revenues, stressing the importance of developing alternative economic sectors, such as agribusiness, which depends on robust logistics networks for sustainable growth. Strategically located in Southern Africa, Angola has the potential to serve as a regional trade hub, but unlocking this opportunity requires significant investments in road, rail, maritime, and air transport systems. The Lobito Corridor, a key trade route, has been identified as a critical area for infrastructure development and regional connectivity enhancement.

The state of freight transport in Angola presents both challenges and opportunities. Maritime transport remains the most reliable and sustainable mode, with Angola’s ports playing a crucial role in regional trade. Road transport faces multiple setbacks, including poor road conditions, insufficient maintenance, and high operational costs, making freight movement expensive and inefficient. Rail transport is undergoing modernization efforts, with plans to expand the railway network to improve connectivity between key economic zones. Air transport, while limited in freight operations, is crucial for international trade and time-sensitive goods. The assessment finds that Angola’s freight transport system lags behind regional sustainability benchmarks, requiring urgent interventions to improve service quality, infrastructure reliability, and safety standards.

The report also highlights critical social and environmental challenges that impact freight transport sustainability, including low participation of women in the sector, calling for gender-sensitive policies and training initiatives to increase workforce diversity. It also raises concerns about rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, necessitating cleaner energy solutions and sustainable transport policies. Additionally, agribusiness logistics gaps remain a major concern, as poor rural road networks hinder the efficient movement of agricultural produce, affecting food supply chains and economic development.

To address these challenges, the report presents a priority action matrix, outlining strategic measures to drive sustainable freight transport in Angola. Key recommendations include investment and financing strategies such as encouraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) and attracting climate finance to support large-scale infrastructure projects. Regulatory reforms should focus on aligning Angola’s transport policies with regional standards, such as SADC axle load limits, to facilitate smoother cross-border trade. Technological advancements like digital freight management systems and intelligent transport technologies can optimize logistics operations. Additionally, road and rail expansion is necessary to improve rural road networks and upgrade railway corridors, ultimately enhancing freight efficiency and reducing transport costs. Strengthening data and monitoring systems will also be crucial in tracking progress and informing evidence-based policy decisions.

Angola stands at a pivotal moment in its transport sector evolution. With the right investment strategies, regulatory reforms, and sustainable policies, the country can transform its freight system into a resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly network that supports economic diversification. The UNCTAD report serves as a crucial roadmap, urging policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders to take bold steps toward an integrated and sustainable freight transport system.