Weekly container volumes are down by 1%; air cargo is down by 10%
Colleagues and interested parties
We are sharing the latest version of the cargo report.
Some highlights discussed this week include the following:
Africa’s load factor fell to 37,1%, despite a sharp capacity increase.
Encouraging progress on port equipment upgrades signals a turning point:
New RTGs and STS cranes are being rolled out nationally; however, operational challenges remain, as Durban and Cape Town face continued weather and system-related delays.
Rail volumes out of Durban dropped 32%, and the upcoming N3 closure may add further pressure.
Global trade lanes are shifting as US tariffs trigger capacity cuts and falling rates.
Around 8,6% of China-US capacity has been withdrawn, with bookings down up to 30% and surplus tonnage redeployed to Europe.
These developments reinforce the urgency of building a flexible, resilient logistics system in South Africa.
IATA Air Cargo- March:
Global air cargo demand rose by 4,4% (y/y) in March, reversing February’s dip.
African airlines saw a -13,4% (y/y) drop, with Africa–Asia volumes down 40%.
