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APM Terminals Liberia and Global Logistics Services Inc. have signed a partnership to develop Liberia’s first dedicated Export Processing Centre at the Freeport of Monrovia, a move that could reshape how West African exporters access European markets.
The agreement, announced at the EU-Liberia Business Forum in Brussels, creates a facility designed to consolidate cargo, streamline export procedures and reduce the procedural friction that has long constrained Liberian shippers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
A Hub Built for Consolidation and Compliance
The Export Processing Centre will serve as a central consolidation point, grouping smaller shipments from micro, small and medium enterprises into full container loads ready for ocean carriage. On-site quality and compliance testing will allow exporters to verify their goods meet European Union phytosanitary and product standards before cargo reaches the quay, reducing the risk of costly rejection at destination ports.
The facility will also integrate a digitised documentation workflow with the Liberia Revenue Authority, intended to cut administrative delays and accelerate export approvals. Real-time cargo tracking will be added to improve visibility across the supply chain.
The partners said the centre is expected to lower export handling costs, shorten truck turnaround times and support higher cargo throughput at Monrovia. No timeline for construction or full operational launch has been disclosed.
EU Trade Access in Focus
The initiative is structured to leverage Liberia’s duty-free status under the European Union’s Everything But Arms framework, which grants least-developed countries tariff-free access to EU markets for all products except arms and ammunition.
By helping Liberian producers clear EU compliance hurdles before shipment, the centre aims to increase the frequency and volume of vessel calls at Monrovia while shifting the country’s export profile from raw materials toward higher value-added goods. The partners said the facility aligns with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda, a government-led development framework targeting economic diversification and trade growth.
Rachid Baho, Managing Director of APM Terminals Liberia, said the facility would modernise the Freeport of Monrovia’s capabilities and reinforce Liberia’s position as a rising trade hub in West Africa. “This Export Processing Facility will strengthen our vital commercial ties with Europe,” Baho said.
Peter Malcolm King, Chairman and CEO of GLS Group, framed the partnership as a response to persistent infrastructure shortfalls. “By joining forces with a global leader like APM Terminals, we are providing Liberian exporters with the visibility, speed, and cost effectiveness they need to compete on a global stage,” King said.
Broader Context at APMT
The Monrovia announcement adds to a period of operational activity at APM Terminals across its global portfolio. Earlier this year, the terminal operator progressed work on standardising how technical capability is defined, delivered and verified across its network of terminals, a programme aimed at lifting operational consistency.
APM Terminals Liberia is a subsidiary of APM Terminals, part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk group, which operates terminals in more than 60 countries. The Freeport of Monrovia is Liberia’s primary commercial gateway and handles the bulk of the country’s containerised imports and exports.
For Liberian exporters, the centre’s potential impact hinges on execution. If the digitised LRA integration reduces clearance times as intended, and if the consolidation model attracts sufficient MSME volume to justify regular vessel calls, the facility could mark a structural shift in how Liberia participates in global trade. The companies have not yet indicated when ground will break.
