South Africa Rail Freight Rises to 17.9% in 2024 as Road Transport Contracts by 8.3% South Africa’s freight transport landscape is undergoing a gradual shift, with rail freight beginning to recover while road freight shows signs of contraction, according to independent economist Elize Kruger. After reaching nearly 90% of total freight payload in November 2022, the volume of goods transported by road has steadily declined, now accounting for approximately 82.1%.
Author: Constance Makungu
Grindrod Reports Slight Dip in Terminal Volumes, Maintains Positive Outlook
Grindrod Terminal Volumes Dip to 6.7 Million Tonnes in H1 2025, Eyes Growth Through Infrastructure Investment Grindrod, the Southern Africa-based logistics and infrastructure multinational, has reported a slight decline in terminal volumes for the first half of 2025, with figures falling to 6.7 million tonnes, compared to 6.9 million tonnes during the same period in 2024. The company shared the update in a trading statement released on Wednesday, without providing
Zambia Sets 2026 Date for Construction of Lobito Corridor Railway
Zambia to Begin Lobito Corridor Railway Construction in Q3 2026, Boosting Copper Exports and Trade Links with Angola Zambia plans to begin construction of the Lobito Corridor railway—a key cross-border infrastructure project connecting its Copperbelt region to Angola’s Atlantic coast—by the third quarter of 2026, according to Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali. The railway will span approximately 530 kilometres, linking Chingola in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province to Luacano in Angola.
Global Shipping Alliances and MSC Now Control Over 80% of Container Market
Shipping Industry Consolidates: Alliances and MSC Dominate 82% of Global Container Capacity in 2025 The global container shipping industry is becoming increasingly concentrated, with the latest figures showing that major shipping alliances, along with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), now control over 80% of the world’s total container capacity. According to updated data from maritime consultancy Alphaliner, carriers affiliated with formal alliances hold a combined market share of 82.1%. While not
US-Brokered Peace Deal Between DRC and Rwanda Paves Way for Mineral Investment via Lobito Corridor
US Secures Access to DRC Minerals After Landmark Peace Agreement with Rwanda Boosts Lobito Corridor Plans The United States has secured a major diplomatic and strategic win in its push to access mineral-rich ore deposits from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), just days after Zambia confirmed it will proceed with construction on a key rail link to the Lobito Corridor. In a landmark development, the US—working alongside Qatar
Transnet Makes History as MSC Nicola Mastro Becomes Largest Ship to Call at Ngqura Container Terminal
Ngqura Container Terminal to Welcome Its Largest-Ever Vessel, MSC Nicola Mastro Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is set to mark a historic milestone this week with the arrival of the ultra-large container vessel MSC Nicola Mastro at the Ngqura Container Terminal (NCT), located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. This event represents a significant step forward for both the terminal and the region. Measuring 400 metres in overall length and 61 metres
Container Losses Double in 2024 as Red Sea Crisis Forces Global Shipping to Riskier Cape Route
Cape Route Chaos: Surge in Containers Lost at Sea as Global Shipping Reroutes Around Africa Global shipping has entered a period of heightened operational risk, with the number of containers lost at sea more than doubling in 2024 compared to the previous year. New data from the World Shipping Council (WSC) and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) attributes the increase to a surge in vessels rerouting around the
S&P Downgrades Transnet Amid Mounting Debt and Reliance on State Support
S&P Lowers Transnet’s Credit Rating to B+ as Financial Struggles Deepen Despite R51 Billion Government Guarantee Transnet has suffered a major financial setback, with S&P Global Ratings downgrading its long-term issuer credit rating and senior unsecured debt from ‘BB-’ to ‘B+’. The move underscores the state-owned logistics company’s fragile financial position, exacerbated by years of bailouts and growing reliance on government guarantees. Over the past five years, Transnet has received
Panama Canal Strengthens Fleet with Two New High-Performance Tugboats
Panama Canal Expands Fleet with Energy-Efficient Z-Tech Tugboats to Enhance Transit Safety and Efficiency As part of its ongoing strategy to boost operational efficiency and ensure safe, reliable, and competitive services, the Panama Canal has added two advanced tugboats to its fleet. Named Isla Carenero and Isla Parida, the new vessels each measure 27 meters in length and 12 meters in beam. These tugboats will play a vital role in
Liberia Signs $1.8 Billion Deal with Ivanhoe Atlantic to Revamp Railway for Guinea Iron Ore Exports
Liberia, Ivanhoe Atlantic Ink $1.8B Railway Deal to Export Guinea Iron Ore via Revamped Corridor The Government of Liberia has signed a $1.8 billion infrastructure agreement with U.S.-based Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc., enabling the mining company to rehabilitate and utilize Liberia’s railway network for transporting iron ore from neighboring Guinea to export markets. The U.S. Embassy in Liberia described the deal as “a crucial step” in advancing President Joseph Boakai’s agenda