14,000-Ton Manganese Delivery Highlights Growth of Lobito Atlantic Railway Operations Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) has successfully received and handled a shipment of approximately 14,000 tons of manganese at the Port of Lobito Mining Terminal, marking a significant step in strengthening its regional logistics and mineral transportation capabilities. The operation required close coordination between multiple operational teams and logistics partners to ensure safe, efficient, and well-controlled unloading and handling processes. According
Category: Southern Africa
South Africa Opens Freight Rail Network to Private Operators in Landmark Logistics Reform
Transnet Signs 11 Private Operators to Run Freight Rail as South Africa Launches Major Logistics Reform to Boost Exports Transnet has opened its freight rail network to private operators in the country’s most significant rail reform in decades, aiming to restore efficiency to a logistics system that has long constrained exports and economic growth. The state-owned logistics group has concluded agreements with 11 private rail operators who will begin running
Transnet Reports Strong Growth Across South African Ports as Cargo Volumes Reach Multi-Year High
South Africa’s Transnet Records 9% Rise in Vessel Arrivals and Strongest Port Cargo Growth Since 2011 South Africa’s state-owned logistics company, Transnet, has reported strong growth across the country’s port system for the 2025/26 financial year, signaling improving trade activity and growing confidence in the country’s logistics sector. The company announced a 9% year-on-year increase in vessel arrivals, alongside notable gains in cargo volumes across several major categories. According to
Namibian Ports Handle 8.4 Million Tonnes in 2025 as South Africa and Zambia Dominate Cargo Flows
South Africa and Zambia Account for Nearly 70% of Namibia’s Cross-Border Port Cargo in 2025 Amid 19% Trade Growth Surge In 2025, 35% of all cross-border cargo processed at Namibian ports came from South Africa, with Zambia contributing 34%, collectively accounting for almost 70% of the total. Botswana’s share was 18%, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at 10%, and Malawi at 8%. This data is sourced
Severe Groblersbrug Congestion Slows Cross-Border Trade and Raises Trucking Costs in Southern Africa
SARS Approves Diversion of Cargo as Groblersbrug Border Congestion Drives Up Transport Costs and Delays The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has approved the diversion of pre-cleared cross-border cargo to alternative entry points into Botswana in an effort to ease severe congestion at the Groblersbrug Border Post (GRB). The intervention comes after ongoing bottlenecks along the N11 corridor, which has become a major choke point for regional freight movement, significantly
UAE’s African Rail Company Targets South Africa Freight Rail Market Under Transnet Reform
ARC Plans $170M Entry into South Africa Rail Sector as Transnet Opens Network to Private Operators A United Arab Emirates–based rail logistics company, African Rail Company (ARC), is preparing to enter South Africa’s freight rail market as Transnet opens its network to private operators under its third-party access framework. ARC is aiming to raise approximately $170 million (about R2.8 billion) to fund the acquisition of locomotives and wagons for operations
Zambia to Begin Construction of Lobito Corridor Railway Link in 2026
Zambia to Launch Lobito Corridor Rail Construction in 2026 to Boost Copper and Cobalt Exports Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has confirmed that construction of a key railway link connecting the country’s mining regions to Angola’s Port of Lobito will begin later this year, marking significant progress on the Lobito Corridor project. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference after a meeting with the African Finance Corporation the project’s main promoter
Zambia and Zimbabwe Plan New Zambezi Bridge to Boost Trade and Protect Victoria Falls Landmark
Zambia and Zimbabwe to Build New Zambezi Bridge for Freight as Victoria Falls Bridge Shifts to Tourism Use Zambia and Zimbabwe have announced plans to construct a new road and rail bridge across the Zambezi River, aiming to improve freight movement while preserving the historic Victoria Falls Bridge. The new structure will be built a few kilometers downstream and is designed to handle heavy cargo traffic, including freight trains and
Namibia Expands Walvis Bay Port to Position Itself as Southern Africa’s Logistics Gateway
Namibia Invests $126.5M in Walvis Bay Port Upgrade to Rival South Africa’s Congested Trade Routes Namibia is accelerating its push to become a regional logistics hub with a $126.5 million upgrade of Walvis Bay Port, aimed at improving trade efficiency for landlocked neighbors. The project includes the addition of six rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, which will significantly boost container handling capacity and reduce vessel turnaround times. It is being implemented
$1.32 Billion Secured for Lobito Corridor Railway to Link Zambia’s Copperbelt to Global Markets via Angola
Africa Finance Corporation and AfDB Back $5 Billion Lobito Corridor Railway to Connect Zambia Copper Mines to Angola Port The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have each committed $500 million toward the development of the Lobito Corridor railway project, a strategic infrastructure link designed to connect Zambia’s copper-rich regions to global markets through the Angolan port of Lobito. In addition, Italy will contribute approximately $320