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The Berbera Corridor: Berbera to Ethiopia

Last checked: 20 October 2026 · Corridors

The Berbera Corridor links Berbera port in Somaliland to Ethiopia by road. DP World says the port has 500,000 TEUs of yearly container capacity and a 1,050-metre quay 1. A 22.5 km Hargeisa Bypass was completed under a 2020 to 2023 project 3. In 2022 Berbera handled about 4% of Ethiopia's trade, against over 95% for Djibouti, as reported by The Reporter 6. Maersk gives 12 free days for dry containers at Berbera (provider page) 7.
Container capacity
500,000 TEUs a year, with plans for 2 million TEUs (company statement) 1
Quay length
1,050 metres, including a 400-metre section for Triple E vessels (company statement) 1
DP World stake
58.5% of the container and general cargo terminal, 2025 (company statement) 1
Hargeisa Bypass
22.5 km, completed, project period 2020 to 2023 3
Corridor road length
240 km in 2021 2, 234 km in 2021 4, 250 km in 2025 1
Share of Ethiopia's trade through Berbera, 2022
About 4%, as reported 6
Maersk free time at Berbera
12 days for dry containers (provider page) 7

The port

DP World says Berbera has a 1,050-metre quay, including a 400-metre section that can take Triple E vessels. It handles over 14 container vessels a month and has a yearly container capacity of 500,000 TEUs, with plans to reach 2 million TEUs (company statement) 1. The port has bulk and breakbulk facilities and is linked to the Berbera Special Economic Zone 1.

DP World launched a Jebel Ali to Berbera service in October 2025. It sails every nine days and calls at Aden and Djibouti 1. DP World says vessel productivity has risen 450%, container volumes 30% and general cargo 90% since 2017 1. Over 4.1 million head of livestock move through Berbera each year 1.

Ownership

Ownership figures differ by date and source. In December 2021 The Reporter, in a report by Amanuel Yelkal, gave the shares as DP World 51%, Somaliland 30% and Ethiopia 19%, with DP World managing the port under a 30-year concession 4.

In June 2022 the government of Somaliland said Ethiopia had lost its 19% stake for failing to meet the conditions to complete the deal, reversing a 2017 agreement, as reported by Tesfa-Alem Tekle in The East African 5. The same month The Reporter said DP World owned 65% and Somaliland the rest, and that DP World had spent US$240 million of the US$442 million set aside for construction 6. In October 2025 DP World said it holds 58.5% of the container and general cargo terminal (company statement) 1.

The road to Ethiopia

The road runs from Berbera to the Ethiopian border at Togochale 4. Reported lengths differ. The UK ambassador described the corridor as 240 km in May 2021, due for completion late in 2022 with UK, Abu Dhabi and European support 2. The Reporter gave 234 km in December 2021, said to be about 85% built, in a US$400 million project funded by the UAE and the UK 4. DP World cited a 250 km road in October 2025 1.

The 22.5 km Hargeisa Bypass was financed by the UK Prosperity Fund and carried out by the Somaliland Ministry of Transport and Roads Development. TradeMark Africa lists construction as complete, for a project that ran from 2020 to 2023 3. Its page cites an August 2023 endline study that found corridor transit times had fallen by 38% 3.

Charges

Maersk's Somalia import page gives these Berbera terms. Free time is 12 days for dry and special containers and 6 days for reefers. Charges run per calendar day from discharge until the empty container is returned to the depot. Port storage is billed by and paid to the port operator (provider page) 7.

Maersk Berbera rate from 1 March 2023Days 1 to 7, per dayAfter 7 days, per day
20-foot dry 7US$15 7US$20 7
40-foot dry 7US$30 7US$40 7
20-foot or 40-foot special 7US$55 7US$105 7

Use by Ethiopian cargo

  • The Reporter said in December 2021 that Djibouti handled over 90% of Ethiopia's international trade 4.
  • In June 2022 The Reporter, in a report by Samson Berhane, said Berbera handled about 4% of Ethiopia's trade and Djibouti over 95% 6.
  • The same report said Ethiopian traders were waiting for a transit agreement with Somaliland, that the port handled public goods, and that some factories in eastern Ethiopia imported three-wheelers through it 6.
  • DP World and Somaliland aimed for Ethiopia to move at least 30% of its goods through Berbera within a decade, as reported in June 2022 6.
  • The UK government said in May 2021 that the World Food Programme brought 65% of its food aid for Ethiopia through Berbera 2.
  • Maersk says imports arrive on a fortnightly feeder from Salalah and that reefer cargo is not handled at Berbera (provider page) 7.

Common questions

Who runs Berbera port?

DP World, which says it holds 58.5% of the container and general cargo terminal (company statement) 1.

Does Ethiopia own part of Berbera port?

The government of Somaliland said in June 2022 that Ethiopia had lost its 19% stake, as reported by The East African 5.

How long is the Berbera Corridor road?

Figures differ: 240 km in a May 2021 UK government statement 2, 234 km in a December 2021 report 4 and 250 km in an October 2025 DP World statement 1.

What free time do shipping lines give at Berbera?

Maersk gives 12 days for dry containers and 6 days for reefers (provider page) 7.

Is the Hargeisa Bypass open?

TradeMark Africa lists the 22.5 km bypass as complete, for a project that ran from 2020 to 2023 3.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.

Sources

  1. Government of Dubai Media Office: DP World launches new Jebel Ali Berbera shipping route (16 October 2025)
  2. UK Government: UK Ambassador launches construction of the Hargeisa Bypass (4 May 2021)
  3. TradeMark Africa: Hargeisa Bypass road construction, project page (undated, accessed 20 October 2026)
  4. The Reporter Ethiopia: Berbera Togochale road project nears completion, by Amanuel Yelkal (4 December 2021)
  5. The East African: Ethiopia loses its 19pc stake in Berbera port, Somaliland minister, by Tesfa-Alem Tekle (11 June 2022)
  6. The Reporter Ethiopia: Traders await trade deal between Somaliland, Ethiopia to use Berbera Port, by Samson Berhane (11 June 2022)
  7. Maersk, provider page: Shipping to and from Somalia, import information, Berbera (accessed 20 October 2026)

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