Lobito Atlantic Railway targets 800,000 tonnes of cargo in 2027 after US$300 million investment
Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) is targeting a doubling of international cargo volumes to about 800,000 tonnes in 2027 as new investment strengthens the rail infrastructure connecting Angola with the mineral-producing regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The railway operator expects to move about 400,000 tonnes of international cargo in 2026, with volumes projected to rise to roughly 800,000 tonnes next year as additional rolling stock, track improvements and operational upgrades come on stream.
LAR received a US$300 million drawdown in June from a broader US$753 million financing package supporting the development and expansion of the Lobito Corridor.
Investment to increase rail capacity
LAR Chief Executive Officer Nicolas Fournier said the latest funding was being used to increase transport capacity through the acquisition of new wagons and containers, rehabilitation of sections of track and improved coordination between operations in Angola and the DRC.
The company is also preparing for a second drawdown from the financing package to support further investment in the railway network.
About half of the international cargo transported by LAR is currently made up of copper and cobalt moving from the DRC towards Angola’s Atlantic coast, while freight also travels in the opposite direction.
LAR recorded its highest monthly international cargo volume in July, when it transported about 27,000 tonnes.
Critical minerals route
The Lobito Corridor connects Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito with mineral-producing areas of the DRC and Zambia, providing an alternative route for moving copper, cobalt and other commodities to international markets.
The corridor has attracted substantial international financing as governments and development institutions seek to improve regional trade infrastructure and strengthen access to critical mineral supply chains.
The US-backed financing includes support from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), while the broader railway project has also attracted financing from the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Africa Finance Corporation.
LAR’s expansion follows earlier disruptions caused by severe flooding in Angola, which damaged part of the railway and temporarily forced the operator to use road transport to bypass the affected section. Freight services were subsequently restored following emergency rehabilitation works.
With additional investment now being deployed, the operator is positioning the Lobito rail network to handle significantly higher cargo volumes and support growing mineral exports from Central Africa.
