African Development Bank to Fund Ethiopia’s Future Largest Airport in Africa with $500 Million Investment The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged up to $500 million to help finance Ethiopia’s planned mega airport, set to become the largest in Africa once completed. State-owned Ethiopian Airlines has signed a design agreement for the four-runway facility, which will be located near Bishoftu, approximately 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa. The airline will
Author: Constance Makungu
South African Exporters Hit Hard as Maersk Ends Direct US Shipping Route
Maersk Cuts Direct South Africa–US Cargo Link, Driving Up Costs and Delays for Exporters South Africa, Africa’s largest economy, is facing a fresh blow to its trade sector as Danish shipping giant Maersk announced it will halt direct cargo services between South Africa and the United States from October 1. The decision, communicated to customers this week and reported by News24, will force South African exports to be rerouted through
Mercedes-Benz to Launch Truck Assembly Plant in Senegal
Mercedes-Benz Expands into Senegal with New Truck Assembly Plant to Power West Africa’s Automotive Growth Mercedes-Benz is set to expand its manufacturing presence in West Africa with the establishment of a truck assembly plant in Senegal. This landmark initiative marks a significant step forward for the region’s automotive industry and industrialization efforts. The project was formalized through a letter of intent signed by the Senegalese government, German automotive leader Mercedes-Benz,
Africa Advances Cross-Border Trade Amid Persistent Barriers
Africa Modernises Customs and Boosts Intra-Regional Trade Despite Ongoing Barriers Africa’s customs and cross-border trade landscape is undergoing significant transformation, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Africa Customs and Cross-Border Trade Guide 2025. Driven by modernisation, regional integration, and strategic incentives, ten key African economies—Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia, Rwanda, Egypt, and Nigeria—are reshaping trade to boost competitiveness and intra-African commerce. The report highlights growing momentum in streamlining customs processes,
Cape Town and Durban Emerge as Africa’s Top Logistics and Industrial Investment Hubs
Cape Town and Durban Lead Africa in Logistics Investment Amid Rising Demand and Low Vacancies Cape Town and Durban have been identified as two of Africa’s most attractive logistics and industrial property markets, thanks to their resilience, adaptability, and growing investor appeal. This is according to a recent report by Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL, which highlights how both cities are leveraging global trends while managing local challenges. The report
Cape Town Container Terminal Achieves Record-Breaking Performance
Cape Town Container Terminal Surpasses Targets by 62%, Marks Best Weekly Volume Since 2019 The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has achieved a record-breaking performance, exceeding its weekly target by 62% for the week ending 20 July, according to Transnet Port Terminals (TPT). This performance marks a major milestone for CTCT, a port historically challenged by severe weather and equipment breakdowns. TPT described the result as a “remarkable turnaround,” noting
MSC Launches Major Feeder Fleet Renewal with 120 New Vessels
MSC Replaces Ageing Feeder Fleet with 120 New Ships in Major Modernisation Push The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has embarked on a major feeder fleet renewal programme, ordering 120 new vessels with capacities of up to 5,000 TEUs, according to a report from Braemar Shipping Services. The large-scale investment is aimed at replacing MSC’s ageing short-sea fleet, many of which are over 22 years old. This move reflects MSC’s broader
Lloyd’s Register Enhances Fatigue Design Assessment with Real-World Vessel Data
Lloyd’s Register Boosts Vessel Fatigue Life Predictions with Updated AIS-Based Assessment Method Lloyd’s Register (LR) has significantly enhanced its Fatigue Design Assessment (FDA) methodology by incorporating up-to-date global trading patterns for containerships and gas carriers, based on over a decade of real-world vessel data. This marks the first major update to LR’s FDA trading routes in more than 12 years and follows an extensive analysis of Automatic Identification System (AIS)
Southern Africa’s Mining Boom Sparks Project Cargo Opportunities
Surging Mining Investment in Southern Africa Drives Demand for Project Cargo and Energy Infrastructure As global demand for critical minerals accelerates, Southern Africa is experiencing a surge in mining investment—opening up significant opportunities for project cargo operators across the region. “The project landscape in Southern Africa is fairly robust and showing steady momentum,” said Duncan Bonnett, a partner at strategic research consultancy Africa House. Bonnett noted that a wave of
X-Press Pearl Owners Ordered to Pay $1 Billion for Sri Lanka’s Worst Marine Pollution Incident
Sri Lankan Supreme Court Orders $1 Billion Compensation for X-Press Pearl Environmental Disaster The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered the owners and affiliated parties of the X-Press Pearl container ship to pay $1 billion in compensation for the catastrophic environmental damage caused by the vessel’s sinking off the country’s western coast in 2021. The Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl, operated by X-Press Feeders, was carrying a container of leaking nitric