By 2030, Southern Africa’s logistics landscape is expected to undergo a major transformation, driven by infrastructure investments, deeper regional integration, and sustainability initiatives.
While challenges remain, current developments are laying a strong foundation for the region to capitalize on the growing global demand for its mineral resources, according to Reload Logistics’ 2025 Outlook Report: Unlocking Southern Africa’s Trade Potential in 2025 and Beyond.
Southern Africa’s logistics sector stands at a pivotal turning point, shaped by rising trade activity, large-scale infrastructure investments, and a growing emphasis on efficiency.
With the regional economy projected to grow by 4.2% over the next few years—fueled by commodity exports and improvements in transport networks—producers, traders, and manufacturers must adapt to a rapidly evolving and interconnected environment.
The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to boost intra-African trade by 52%, further accelerating economic growth.
This expansion is primarily being driven by mining sector development, increased demand for soft commodities, and rising levels of foreign investment.
Significant infrastructure projects are transforming the region’s logistics capacity, enhancing trade corridors and creating new opportunities within global markets. For example, in 2022, about 70% of Zambia and the DRC’s copper exports passed through Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam. The 184 km Kasomeno-Mwenda road project, set for completion in 2026, will shorten the Lubumbashi–Dar es Salaam route by 500 km, streamlining copper exports.
Additionally, the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project is expected to double port capacity from 15 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes by 2030, reducing vessel wait times and significantly improving efficiency.
Southern Africa is a vital source of minerals critical to electric vehicle production, providing around 30% of the world’s lithium, cobalt, and copper. Nearly 70% of the world’s cobalt and much of its copper come from the DRC.
To meet the growing global demand, investments in rail and port infrastructure are accelerating across the region.
Walvis Bay in Namibia is emerging as a key gateway for mining operations in the western DRC, offering transit routes between 1,500 km and 2,400 km and providing efficient connections to Europe. Following upgrades in 2019, the port can now handle nearly one million twenty-foot equivalent units annually.
Planned dredging in 2025 will further enhance its capacity by accommodating larger bulk carriers.
The Kasumbalesa Dry Port project is also improving customs clearance processes and increasing cargo handling capacity, streamlining trade flows, particularly for mining exports from the DRC.
Meanwhile, the Lobito Corridor—which connects Angola’s Lobito Port to the DRC and Zambia—is expected to offer a low-cost copper export alternative by 2028. Early trial shipments have already begun.
By 2030, the demand for green logistics solutions could reach $350 billion, representing about 15% of global logistics spending.
Companies are responding with initiatives such as optimized packaging, lower-carbon transport modes like rail and multimodal systems, and sustainable procurement practices aligned with international frameworks.
Technological advancements are reshaping the logistics sector, improving cost efficiency and reliability, particularly in bulk cargo transport.
These innovations are proving crucial in Africa, where infrastructure challenges require smart, predictive solutions to mitigate operational risks.
Reload Logistics projects that the African Continental Free Trade Area will boost intra-African trade by over 50% by 2030, creating new trade flows for bulk commodities across the continent.
Between 2025 and 2030, a wave of infrastructure development is expected to close critical gaps in regional transport networks.
Public and private sector initiatives are focusing heavily on port and rail enhancements to support bulk cargo handling.
A prime example of this trend is the 30-year concession awarded to a Trafigura-led consortium to operate the Lobito rail corridor, demonstrating how public-private partnerships are reshaping Southern Africa’s logistics backbone to better serve mineral exporters in the DRC and Zambia.
