Maersk hopes to make its first call to Ivory Coast's Abidjan port this week since sanctions were lifted by the European Union, the company said.

"For exports, we were scheduling for the first call on April 13," said Sonny Dahl, director of West Africa services at Maersk Line.

Dahl said the latest update from the unit's local official indicated customers were having some difficulties getting cargo to the port area, without giving further details.

"It's more a case of customers bringing the cargo to the port rather than port safety issues. So if it does not happen on the 13th or 14th we have another vessel coming in the following week," he told Reuters.

Dahl said the cargo for export included cocoa but could also include cotton or timber.

"From a safety point of view, there does not seem to be any problem in Abidjan," he said. "The port area in San Pedro also seems to be fine from a safety point of view."

The EU lifted sanctions on Friday on Abidjan and San Pedro ports, as well as on the Ivorian Refining Company and the Coffee and Cocoa Trade Management Committee, following a request from presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara.

However, fighting between forces loyal to Ouattara and incumbent Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo continued in the commercial capital Abidjan.

Maersk Line vessels export cocoa, cotton, cashew nuts and timber from Ivory Coast. They also import consumer related products including flour, milk powder and rice as well as some electronic goods into Ivory Coast.

"When looking at imports of cargo into Ivory Coast we have reopened our services and we are now able to take bookings from shippers around the world," Dahl said. "Of course it will take some time for it to get going." (Reuters)