In brief
- Capital Ethiopia reports that Galaan Multipurpose Port has been approved as a multimodal logistics hub destination.
- The approval enables rail transport from Djibouti under customs control with clearance at Galaan.
- No operator has committed to routing cargo through Galaan, and no project cost figure is available.
Capital Ethiopia reported on 14 November 2026 that Galaan Multipurpose Port has been approved as a multimodal logistics hub destination. The approval, granted jointly by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ethiopian Maritime Authority and the Ethiopian Customs Commission, allows multimodal transport operators to designate Galaan as the final destination for liner cargo under a single through bill of lading.
Under the arrangement, containers can move by rail from the Port of Djibouti to Galaan under customs control, with clearance taking place at the inland facility, Capital Ethiopia reported. The report states the shift is expected to reduce transit times, simplify customs procedures and ease pressure on the Djibouti–Addis Ababa road corridor, but no quantified estimates were provided.
Ethiopian Railway Corporation CEO Takele Uma said the decision would bring international shipping lines closer to Ethiopia's domestic market. The railway operator called on shipping lines, freight forwarders and multimodal transport operators to begin routing cargo through Galaan.
Capital Ethiopia reported that Djibouti handled 17.57 million metric tons of Ethiopian import and export cargo in fiscal year 2025/26, accounting for 96.7 percent of the country's seaborne trade. The source of these figures was not identified in the report.
For years the state-owned Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics enterprise dominated multimodal cargo transportation with approximately 90 percent of cargo handling, Capital Ethiopia reported. In March 2025 the Ethiopian Maritime Authority licensed several companies, including the Ethio-Djibouti Railway, as multimodal transport operators.
Located in Indode, Galaan Multipurpose Port was previously known as Indode Multipurpose Port. Capital Ethiopia's report does not state when the rebranding occurred, nor any project cost, contractor, or capacity figures. No operator has yet committed to routing cargo through Galaan.
Frequently asked questions
What does the approval entail for Galaan port's role as a multimodal logistics hub?
The approval allows multimodal operators to designate Galaan as the final destination for liner cargo, enabling rail transport from Djibouti under customs control with clearance at Galaan.
How does Galaan's capacity and planned connectivity compare to Berbera and Bosaso ports?
The Capital Ethiopia report does not provide capacity figures for Galaan or direct comparisons with Berbera and Bosaso ports.
What trade volumes currently flow through Somali ports from Ethiopia, and how might they shift?
The report states Djibouti handled 17.57 million metric tons of Ethiopian cargo in 2025/26, but no Somali port volumes from Ethiopia are mentioned.