Market Research and Feasibility Study for Storage Terminals in Africa

Introduction

Market Research and Feasibility Study for Storage Terminals in Africa helps investors assess demand, capacity needs, location, operating costs, regulations, and financial viability before investing in terminal infrastructure.

Storage terminals support the movement of fuel, LPG, crude oil, chemicals, agricultural products, containers, and other bulk commodities. They connect ports, refineries, manufacturers, distributors, traders, and inland markets.

The opportunity varies across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Botswana. Each market has different trade flows, infrastructure, regulations, energy demand, logistics networks, and investment conditions.

Africa is also seeing new storage infrastructure. For example, an IFC-supported LPG expansion includes four greenfield storage terminals in Sub-Saharan Africa. The wider program has an estimated capital cost of US$218–347 million.

Aviaan supports investors through Market Research and Feasibility Study services. Its approach combines market intelligence, financial analysis, infrastructure assessment, and strategic planning.

Market Overview & Industry Insights

Storage terminals are becoming more important as African countries expand energy infrastructure, industrial activity, imports, exports, and regional trade.

Oil and gas storage remains a major opportunity. The Middle East and Africa accounted for 34.5% of the global oil storage market by revenue in 2025, according to Grand View Research.

Liquid storage capacity is also expected to expand. Africa is forecast to account for about 12% of global liquids storage capacity additions by 2030. Uganda is expected to be a major contributor, supported by the planned Buloba terminal.

Port infrastructure is another important factor. In 2024, developing Africa handled about 5% of global container port traffic. This highlights the role of ports and connected storage infrastructure in regional supply chains.

Storage terminals can support multiple customer groups. These include fuel distributors, energy traders, manufacturers, mining companies, agricultural businesses, chemical companies, shipping operators, and logistics providers.

Key Market Intelligence

• Demand exists for fuel storage, LPG storage, crude oil terminals, chemical storage, bulk liquid terminals, agricultural storage, container yards, and industrial storage facilities.
• Storage terminals can serve importers, exporters, traders, refineries, manufacturers, distributors, mining companies, logistics firms, and government agencies, creating multiple customer segments.
• Revenue can come from storage fees, throughput charges, handling fees, loading and unloading services, blending, tank rental, product transfer, and ancillary logistics services.
• Illustrative Revenue Calculation: A terminal with 100,000 tonnes of annual throughput charging an average handling and storage value of USD 20 per tonne could generate approximately USD 2 million in annual revenue. Actual revenue depends on storage duration, utilization, product type, pricing, and service mix.
• Energy storage is attracting new investment. An IFC-supported program in Sub-Saharan Africa includes LPG terminals with planned capacities such as 6,000 MT in Tema, Ghana, and 15,000 MT in Apapa, Nigeria.
• Storage projects can benefit from locations near ports, refineries, pipelines, industrial zones, highways, rail corridors, and major consumption centres.
• Terminal investors must consider land availability, tank design, fire protection, environmental controls, pipeline connections, loading systems, security, utilities, and emergency response systems.
• Port efficiency can directly affect terminal economics. The World Bank notes that delays at ports and multimodal facilities can be major sources of international trade delays.

Go-To-Market Strategy for Storage Terminals in Africa

Aviaan develops market-entry strategies based on terminal demand, customer requirements, infrastructure access, and commercial potential.

• Location Screening: Compare ports, industrial zones, inland logistics hubs, and consumption centres.
• Customer Segmentation: Identify traders, distributors, manufacturers, refineries, mining companies, and logistics operators.
• Competitor Benchmarking: Compare existing terminal capacity, tariffs, services, locations, and utilization.
• Pricing Strategy: Assess storage fees, throughput charges, handling fees, and long-term contract pricing.
• Contract Strategy: Evaluate short-term storage, long-term capacity agreements, take-or-pay contracts, and dedicated capacity models.
• Market Positioning: Identify capacity gaps and underserved customer groups.
• Expansion Planning: Assess opportunities for additional tanks, product categories, pipelines, and connected logistics services.

Feasibility Study for Storage Terminals

Aviaan evaluates terminal projects through commercial, technical, operational, and financial analysis.

• Demand Assessment: Analyse current and projected demand for storage capacity.
• Capacity Assessment: Estimate required tank capacity based on throughput, inventory cycles, and customer demand.
• Location Feasibility: Compare land, ports, roads, railways, pipelines, utilities, and market access.
• Technical Feasibility: Assess tank systems, loading facilities, pipelines, pumps, safety systems, automation, and monitoring equipment.
• Operational Feasibility: Review staffing, maintenance, security, handling procedures, and terminal workflows.
• Regulatory Assessment: Review permits, environmental requirements, safety standards, land approvals, and sector regulations.
• Financial Feasibility: Develop CAPEX, OPEX, revenue, cash-flow, break-even, and profitability models.
• Risk Assessment: Test risks linked to demand, construction costs, commodity volumes, currency, regulations, and utilization.
• Investment Decision: Compare scenarios and provide a practical recommendation on project viability.

Market Research for Storage Terminals

Aviaan conducts market research to identify the strongest terminal opportunities and validate demand assumptions.

• Demand Research: Study fuel, LPG, chemical, agricultural, container, and industrial storage requirements.
• Trade Flow Analysis: Examine import, export, transit, and domestic distribution patterns.
• Customer Research: Identify companies that require third-party storage and understand their capacity needs.
• Competitor Intelligence: Map existing terminals and compare capacity, services, pricing, location, and customer segments.
• Capacity Gap Analysis: Identify markets where current storage capacity may not meet future demand.
• Pricing Research: Benchmark storage tariffs, handling charges, throughput fees, and related services.
• Supply Chain Research: Analyse ports, pipelines, roads, rail networks, warehouses, and distribution routes.
• Opportunity Assessment: Rank locations based on demand, competition, infrastructure, investment requirements, and commercial potential.

Business Plan for Storage Terminals

Aviaan develops business plans that connect market demand with terminal economics and implementation requirements.

• Business Model: Define storage services, customer segments, revenue streams, and operating structure.
• Capacity Planning: Establish tank capacity, utilization targets, throughput assumptions, and expansion stages.
• Financial Modelling: Build CAPEX, OPEX, revenue, cash-flow, debt, break-even, and profitability projections.
• Revenue Planning: Model storage fees, throughput charges, handling income, and additional service revenue.
• Funding Strategy: Estimate equity, debt, working capital, construction funding, and contingency requirements.
• Operating Plan: Define staffing, maintenance, safety, security, technology, and management requirements.
• Implementation Roadmap: Set project milestones for land, approvals, design, construction, commissioning, and operations.
• Scenario Planning: Test different utilization, pricing, CAPEX, and demand assumptions.

How Aviaan Uses Primary Research for Storage Terminals in Africa

Aviaan uses primary research to validate terminal demand and operating assumptions.

• Customer Interviews: Speak with importers, traders, distributors, manufacturers, and industrial buyers.
• Supplier Discussions: Assess tanks, pumps, pipelines, automation, safety systems, construction, and maintenance costs.
• Port Interviews: Gather information about cargo flows, congestion, handling practices, and infrastructure access.
• Industry Expert Consultations: Validate demand, regulatory conditions, technology requirements, and investment risks.
• Competitor Research: Review terminal services, pricing, capacity, customer mix, and expansion plans.
• Field Research: Assess proposed locations, transport connections, industrial activity, utilities, and surrounding infrastructure.
• Contract Research: Study customer preferences for dedicated capacity, long-term contracts, and flexible storage.
• Data Validation: Compare primary findings with trade data, industry reports, government sources, and financial assumptions.

Our Experience & Credentials

Aviaan supports infrastructure and industrial businesses through market research, feasibility studies, business planning, financial modelling, commercial due diligence, and investment advisory. Its approach combines market intelligence with financial analysis to support terminal development and investment decisions.

• Feasibility Study – South Africa – Assessed storage demand, location options, infrastructure requirements, CAPEX, operating costs, and financial viability for a bulk storage terminal.
• Market Research – Nigeria – Analysed customer demand, competitor capacity, pricing structures, trade flows, and expansion opportunities for a petroleum storage project.
• Business Plan & Financial Modeling – Ghana – Developed capacity assumptions, revenue projections, operating costs, funding requirements, and cash-flow scenarios for a storage terminal.
• Commercial Due Diligence – Kenya – Evaluated market demand, customer concentration, competitive capacity, logistics connectivity, and commercial risks for a terminal investment.
• Investment Advisory – Tanzania – Assessed location alternatives, infrastructure requirements, investment needs, profitability scenarios, and expansion opportunities for a storage infrastructure project.

Conclusion

A Market Research and Feasibility Study for Storage Terminals in Africa helps investors make better decisions before committing significant capital.

Storage demand is linked to energy consumption, industrial activity, trade flows, imports, exports, and regional distribution. New LPG and liquid storage projects also show continued infrastructure activity across the continent.

The opportunity exists across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Botswana. However, each market requires separate assessment.

Location is especially important. A terminal near a major port or industrial cluster can improve access to customers and reduce logistics costs. Capacity utilization is equally important because low utilization can weaken project returns.

A detailed feasibility study can help investors select the right location, capacity, customer segments, pricing model, technology, and investment structure.

If you are planning to develop, expand, or invest in a storage terminal in Africa, contact Aviaan for market research, feasibility analysis, financial modelling, and strategic business planning.

FAQs

1. Why is a feasibility study important for storage terminals in Africa?

It helps assess demand, location, capacity, infrastructure, investment costs, operating expenses, regulations, profitability, and project risks.

2. Which African countries offer storage terminal opportunities?

Opportunities can exist in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Botswana, depending on the terminal type and target market.

3. What does a storage terminal feasibility study include?

It can include demand analysis, location assessment, capacity planning, technical feasibility, regulatory review, CAPEX and OPEX analysis, financial modelling, and risk assessment.

4. How can Aviaan help with storage terminal projects?

Aviaan can support market research, feasibility studies, business plans, financial modelling, commercial due diligence, investment analysis, and strategic planning.

5. Can Aviaan prepare financial projections for a storage terminal?

Yes. The financial model can include CAPEX, OPEX, storage revenue, throughput revenue, utilization, cash flow, break-even, profitability, ROI, and sensitivity analysis.

Related Service Pages

• Feasibility Study Services
• Business Plan Services
• Market Research Services

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