Progress on Paper, Pressure on the Ground

Over the past week the logistics landscape showed two very different stories. On one side we saw long-term investment finally starting to move. On the other we dealt with the same day-to-day pressure that traders face every peak season.

The headline development came from Transnet. The group secured a sustainability-linked loan of about R6 billion from the French Development Agency and the EU. This funding supports infrastructure renewal, rail rehabilitation and a shift toward cleaner energy. It is a meaningful step toward long-term reliability across our ports and rail network.

Operational performance told a different story. Cape Town faced repeated weather closures as winds passed 100 km/h on several days. The terminals worked under pressure with older equipment and congestion adding to delays. Durban held steady but continued to operate close to capacity. Exporters and importers spent most of the week navigating these operational swings.

Airfreight performed well. Seasonal demand continued to climb and perishables drove strong uplift. Capacity remains tight for temperature-sensitive cargo so air remains a key pressure valve while sea freight deals with weather-related delays. It is another reminder that while structural investment is important, traders still need to plan around the practical challenges in front of them.

What We Saw on the Frontline

• Cape Town closures pushed vessel waiting times higher and added rollover risk
• Durban recorded steadier movement although crane constraints remain
• Airfreight saw strong demand and predictable uplift on the main lanes
• Global container pricing split with Asia–Europe strengthening and Trans-Pacific softening
• Border congestion increased across the SADC region with longer queues and slower processing

The Story Making Headlines

Transnet’s partnership with the French Development Agency is a milestone. The proposed €300 million loan will support their decarbonisation programme, rail rehabilitation and green energy targets. It also ties into the broader green hydrogen roadmap and France’s Just Energy Transition commitment to South Africa.

The goal is simple. More rail. Stronger ports. Better energy mix. A more reliable network for traders. The challenge is that these improvements take time while businesses still need to move cargo today.

Port Performance This Week

Peak season is in full swing and the ports are feeling it.

Durban
Pier 1: 4 days
Pier 2: 4 days
Point: 4 days

Cape Town
CTCT: 4 days

Eastern Cape
Port Elizabeth: 0 days
Coega: 18 days

Weekly TEU volumes fell 6 percent. Severe weather dominated the coastal ports and equipment shortages affected productivity across Durban and the Eastern Cape. Cape Town lost more than 20 operational hours to wind.

Air Cargo: Strong but Slowed by Infrastructure Failures

Airfreight volumes eased off last week but still sit above 2023 and 2019 levels. ORTIA faced its own challenges with power outages, water disruptions, fuelling delays and baggage failures ahead of the G20. It remains a high-performing sector but infrastructure reliability is becoming a concern.

Road Freight and Borders

Queues lengthened across several regional borders. Lebombo averaged 1,451 trucks per day with queue and processing times both above six hours. Median crossing time across South African borders rose to 12.7 hours. The estimated indirect cost for the week sits at roughly R507 million.

Global Ocean Freight

Drewry’s WCI dropped 5.1 percent to 1,859 dollars per FEU. Trans-Pacific rates declined for a second week while Asia–Europe gained for a sixth straight week. Carriers have issued December GRI notices as they try to support rate levels heading into contract season.

Knowledge Corner: Why Wind Still Controls Cape Town’s Flow

Cape Town had another difficult week of wind stoppages. Gusts over 100 km/h halted crane operations and forced multiple closures. Each closure pushes stack dates, increases rollover risk and disrupts inland planning. The city is entering the peak of its wind season so traders should expect more disruptions.

What to do now
• Deliver earlier to stacks
• Build buffers for exports
• Track port updates daily
• Consider routing alternatives when cut-offs are tight