The CMA CGM Foundation has shipped two additional PharmaBox units from the port of Dunkirk to Africa, highlighting how modified containers and port-led logistics can support specialised supply chains in challenging environments.
Departing on 6 January 2026, the two units are bound for Sudan and Chad, transiting via the port of Kribi in Cameroon, which will serve as a regional logistics hub before onward overland transport.
The routing underlines the role of ports as multimodal gateways for complex, time-sensitive cargo.
PharmaBox units are converted 40-foot containers designed to function as mobile, energy-autonomous medical storage facilities.
Each unit is temperature- and humidity-controlled, powered by integrated solar panels, and capable of operating independently of grid infrastructure.
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The containers are designed for rapid deployment by sea, road or rail, allowing them to be repositioned as operational needs change.
The units are developed and delivered by the CMA CGM Foundation in partnership with Action Against Hunger, drawing on the CMA CGM Group’s container conversion, maritime transport and logistics capabilities.
Beyond shipping, the programme covers port handling, inland transport and on-site installation.
A first PharmaBox has been operational in Bangui, Central African Republic, since February 2025, where it has been used to store and distribute medical supplies under difficult climatic and security conditions.
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According to the partners, the facility supports treatment programmes for around 50,000 children and pregnant women annually.
The Foundation has committed to supplying 10 PharmaBox units across Africa, expanding the use of adapted container technology for healthcare logistics.
The initiative reflects growing interest in container-based solutions that can be integrated into existing port and transport networks while operating in locations with limited infrastructure.
For more information:
CMA CGM – https://www.cma-cgm.com/
