
Madagascar has a long coastline along the Indian Ocean, and as a result, it has a number of important ports that serve as gateways for international trade and commerce.
Toledo Port is one of the busiest ports in Madagascar, located in the city of Toledo on the west coast.
Located on the northwest coast of Madagascar, Antsiranana Port is a significant port for the country's fishing industry.
The port of Toamasina is a major cargo port in Madagascar, handling a significant portion of the country's international trade.
Madagascar Ports
Madagascar has several ports along its coast, each with its own unique characteristics. The Port of Toamasina is a medium-sized port on the east coast, facing the Indian Ocean.
The Port of Toamasina has a maximum draught of 13.2 meters and a maximum deadweight of 74,999 tons. This makes it an important hub for trade and commerce in the region.
Here are some of the major ports in Madagascar:
Each of these ports plays a vital role in facilitating trade and commerce in Madagascar.
List in Madagascar

Madagascar has several ports along its coast, each with its own unique characteristics. The Port of Toamasina is a medium-sized port located on the east coast of Madagascar, facing the Indian Ocean.
One of the notable ports in Madagascar is the Port of Diego Suarez, also known as Port of Antsiranana, which is a medium-sized port in the Diana Region.
The Port of Tulear, also known as Port of Toliara, is another medium-sized port located on the south-west coast of Madagascar.
Here's a list of some of the major ports in Madagascar:
The Port of Toamasina has a maximum draught of 13.2 meters and a maximum deadweight of 74,999 tons.
Madagascar Sea
Madagascar has several sea ports that play a crucial role in the country's trade and commerce. The main port is Tamatave, which has a large capacity for cargo handling and acts as a hub for goods transportation in the area.
The main port, Tamatave, is a key gateway for goods transportation in Madagascar. Its port code is MGTMT.
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Madagascar has several feeder ports that serve as entry points for goods coming from and going to the main ports. Some of these feeder ports include Tolagnaro (MGTRO), Antananarivo (MGTNR), and Vohemar (MGVOH).
Tolagnaro is a feeder port that serves as a gateway for goods coming from and going to the main ports. Its port code is MGTRO.
A dry port is an inland intermodal terminal that connects seaports to inland destinations. Antananarivo is a dry port in Madagascar, with a port code of MGTNR.
Here is a list of Madagascar's main and feeder ports:
Southern Ports
The southern ports of Madagascar are a vital part of the country's maritime trade. Tolagnaro Port is one of the key ports in this region, located on the southeast coast at coordinates 25° 01′ 38.39″ S and 046° 59′ 49.70 “E.
Tolagnaro Port is a small but efficient facility, with a natural bay that provides safe mooring for ocean-going vessels. It handles a variety of cargo, including maize, rice, and sisal, with annual traffic of 2,000 tons of maize, 2,500 tons of rice, and 10 thousand tons of sisal.
The port is owned by Rio Tinto, which holds 80% of the facility. It's available to both domestic and international maritime trade, and can handle all types and sizes of goods, including containers, fuel, bulk, and breakbulk cargo.
A fresh viewpoint: List of Busiest Ports by Cargo Tonnage
Tolagnaro

Tolagnaro is a small port located on Madagascar's southeast coast, handling a significant amount of cargo, particularly maize, rice, and sisal. It's a vital hub for the country's maritime trade.
The port is owned by Rio Tinto, which holds an 80% stake, making it a significant player in the region's economy. It's also available for both domestic and international maritime trade, handling all types of goods including containers, fuel, bulk, and breakbulk cargo.
Tolagnaro's port facilities are well-maintained and in good working order, making it an attractive option for import and export activities. The port can accommodate all types and sizes of vessels, including those used for RoRo operations.
Here are some key statistics about Tolagnaro's port:
Tolagnaro's port is an essential part of Madagascar's southern ports, playing a crucial role in the country's economy and trade.
Ehoala
Ehoala is a port on the southeastern coast of Madagascar, known for its picturesque landscape and convenient anchorage for seagoing vessels. It handles a variety of agricultural products, including rice, maize, and sisal.

The port is protected by 630m breakwaters and was constructed for handling ilmenite exports, becoming operational in 2009. It comprises 3 wharves, including a general cargo berth measuring 76m with a draft of 7.5m.
There are two berths dedicated to containerised goods, one measuring 270m with a draft of 11m and the other 168m with a draft of 9.5m. These berths can accommodate a significant amount of cargo, including conventional cargo and containerised goods.
The port handles a substantial amount of cargo, including 700,000 tonnes of ilmenite and 45,000 tonnes of Zirsill annually. It also stores a thousand containers in its storage yard and has 3 warehouses covering 1200m2 each to store 65,000 metric tonnes of ilmenite.
Mananjary
Mananjary is a small port town in southern Madagascar, situated about 130 kilometers south of Nosy Varika on the RN 11.
The Port of Mananjary is a tiny commercial port that handles coastal business, with ships docking to load or discharge cargo. Approximately ten vessels visit the harbor each year.

Agriculture is a significant contributor to the local economy, with vanilla, pepper, and coffee production being the mainstays. The port's cargo pier depth ranges from 1.8 to 3 meters, allowing for the handling of various cargo types.
The Port of Mananjary is managed by the Mananjary Port Authority, which oversees the port's operations. The anchorage water depth ranges from 14m to 15.2m, providing a safe and stable environment for ships to dock.
Eastern Ports
In Madagascar, the Port of Toamasina is the main hub for maritime trade. It's a significant player in the region, handling a wide range of cargo.
The port is equipped with a sophisticated container port, warehouses, and yard space, making it an efficient logistics center. Overall, Toamasina's port handles around 1.7 million tons of cargo per year.
Here's a breakdown of the types of cargo the port mainly handles:
- ro-ro
- passengers
- gasoline
- containers
- breakbulk goods
- dry bulk
With 70% of its cargo being containerized, Toamasina's port is a key player in the region's trade.
Toamasina
Toamasina is a significant port in Madagascar, handling a substantial volume of cargo. It's protected by a coral reef and an artificial barrier, which helps to safeguard the port and its operations.
The port is a major cargo hub, mainly handling ro-ro, passengers, gasoline, containers, breakbulk goods, and dry bulk. This variety of cargo highlights the port's importance in the region.
Toamasina is equipped with a sophisticated container port, warehouses, and yard space, making it an efficient and well-equipped facility. This investment in infrastructure has helped the port to increase its overall volume.
The port's volume is estimated to be 1.7 million tons per year, with 70% of that being containerized. This suggests that the port is heavily reliant on containerized cargo.
Here are some key statistics about the Port of Toamasina:
- TEU: 400,000 (2015)
- Principal cargo port in Madagascar
- 2nd largest ports in the SADC region after major expansions are completed
Saint Marie
Saint Marie is home to a modest port with a general cargo berth that can accommodate small cargo ships weighing up to 250 tonnes.

The port's draft is a relatively shallow 4.5 m, limiting the types of vessels that can use it.
The Ilot Madame port is the main facility for imports, while a second port caters to passenger ships carrying tourists.
A third facility is being developed to handle the growing number of cruise ships and promote tourism on the island.
Goods from Ilot Madame are transported to other parts of the island, but the process is slow due to congestion and inadequate equipment.
Antalaha
Antalaha is a significant port in the SAVA region of Madagascar, situated 400 kilometers north of Toamasina on the northeast coast.
The Port of Antalaha is managed by SAMA Company, a Henry Fraise company, which is responsible for its operations.
Its port restriction is a notable aspect, as only vessels with a draft of less than 180 can berth, which may limit the types of ships that can use the port.
If you're planning to visit the port, keep in mind that it can handle domestic shipments, but it's unable to accept containers or handle international shipments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the port of discharge in Madagascar?
The main port of discharge in Madagascar is the Port of Toamasina, which handles the majority of the country's container traffic.
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