We are proud to announce that the MOL Africa website has been featured on the MOL Service blog as part of the build-up to the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), which will take place in Yokohama from August 20–22, 2025.
The feature article not only introduces TICAD9 but also highlights MOL’s deep and long-standing connection with Africa — a relationship that began over a century ago — and showcases how the MOL Africa website serves as a hub for our history, operations, and ongoing initiatives across the continent.
A Century of Connection with Africa
Our roots in Africa go back to 1916, when MOL vessels first called at the ports of Durban and Cape Town. By the 1920s and 1930s, we were running regular liner services connecting Japan to major ports on the east coast of Africa, later expanding to West Africa. Over the decades, our services have evolved with the industry — from pioneering conventional routes to container shipping in the 1980s and beyond.
If you are interested in learning more, please visit our MOL History in Africa page for a detailed timeline of our journey and milestones.
Today, we operate across East, South, and West Africa, supported by a network of offices and partnerships. Our services include:
- Dry bulk shipping of steel, bauxite, and other key commodities.
- Energy transport and infrastructure projects, including LNG-based power vessels in Mozambique and Senegal.
- Product and vehicle transportation, from car carriers to container services.
- Integrated logistics services with hubs in Kenya and partnerships like our stake in Alistair Group.
- Human resource initiatives, such as our Kenyan Worker Migration Project, which builds bridges between Africa and Japan.
A Century of Connection with Africa
Launched in January 2025, the MOL Africa website was created to bring all these stories, operations, and initiatives into one accessible platform. Visitors can explore:
- Detailed overviews of our business sectors and regional presence.
- Historical milestones that trace MOL’s journey in Africa.
- Authentic insights from our people on the ground, covering business trends, culture, and everyday life.
- Press releases, media coverage, and blog posts that reflect Africa’s diverse opportunities and challenges.
Recent blog stories have included everything from the unique perspective of motorcycle taxi logistics (“boda boda” culture) to innovative drone delivery projects for healthcare, and even a hiking report from Mount Kenya titled Snow on the Equator!?.
Looking Ahead to TICAD9
TICAD9 will be a key moment for deepening our engagement with Africa. MOL will host a seminar on August 20 at 1:00 PM, spotlighting projects such as the conversion of retired ships into offshore data centers, alongside our powership initiatives. We will also participate as panelists in other sessions during the event.
We warmly invite partners, collaborators, and anyone interested in Africa’s future to visit our booth and seminars at TICAD9. Our representatives will be available to answer questions, explore opportunities, and discuss ways to work together.
Read the full feature on the MOL Service blog
