South African Ports Record 8% Weekly Growth, Signaling Strong Recovery Momentum
South Africa’s ports are showing a clear upward recovery trend, according to the latest Cargo Movement Update (CMU) compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity South Africa (Busa).
For the week of August 11–17, ports handled an average of 14 168 TEUs per day, up from 13 121 TEUs reported the previous week.
This 7.98% week-on-week (w-o-w) increase by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) was achieved despite recurring challenges, including inclement weather, vacant berths, equipment breakdowns, and shortages.
Dr Jacob van Rensburg, Head of Research and Development at Saaff, praised the improvement:
“We’ve seen better equipment reliability, stronger operational coordination, and improved fleet performance.
Across the port system, there’s much better alignment — from the waterside to the landside to terminal evacuation. These shifts are making a noticeable difference.”
The positive trajectory extends beyond Durban and Cape Town. The Port of Ngqura at Coega SEZ recorded standout daily figures, while container volumes have been trending higher on a year-to-date basis.
Van Rensburg noted that in recent weeks, weekly container volumes have reached nearly 100 000 units, marking one of the strongest performances since Covid-era disruptions.
While encouraged, he emphasized that the system still has greater capacity:
“The key is to push through the reform agenda — not just to return to the 2018 highs we are now approaching, but to surpass them and sustain momentum.”
The data signals that, despite structural challenges, South Africa’s ports are on a recovery path, with efficiency and throughput steadily improving.
