The Port of San Pedro is one of the most important economic infrastructures built in Côte d’Ivoire since the country became independent. It was built with the aim of reducing regional disparities by creating a centre for the development of the south-western region of Côte d’Ivoire, while also acting as a port of transit for neighbouring landlocked countries (Mali, the forest region of Guinea, and eastern Liberia).
In Côte d’Ivoire, the Port of San-Pedro is second only to the Port of Abidjan in terms of tonnage. This makes it one of the most important ports on the West African seaboard. In 2011, it handled 1.8 million MT of traffic. By 2015, this had risen to 4 million MT, including 3.2 million MT of transshipped goods.