We are sharing the latest version of the cargo report.
The following highlights are worth noting:
- DGT Current Update — as of 29 October:
Yard conditions remain relatively stable: stack occupancy increased to 65%, with 2,845 road-import containers on hand, while waterside volumes improved by +9% (w/w).
Vessel congestion remains the principal concern:13 vessels remain at anchorage, with waiting times reaching 314 hours and approximately 35,083 outstanding vessel moves.
Current throughput remains insufficient to clear the backlog: at ~3,300 moves/day, DGT remains more than 1,200 moves/day short of SAAFF’s estimated recovery requirement (to clear the backlog in a month). The 3,400-move target is inadequate, pointing towards prolonged congestion without substantial productivity improvements.
- State of Logistics™ 2026 – Synchro-modal Integration and Rail Recovery:
South Africa’s freight demand requires an integrated, synchro-modal approach, with road, rail and ports operating as complementary components of one logistics system.
Rail volumes recovered from 149.5 million tonnes (2022/23) to 167.9 million tonnes (2025/26), supported by ongoing reforms and access agreements with eleven private train operators.
The priority remains rebuilding competitive general freight rail services, improving modal allocation and reducing avoidable logistics costs across the supply chain.
- International Shipping – Reliability, Capacity and Market Conditions:
Global schedule reliability improved marginally to 50.6% (+0.9 percentage points) in September, with late vessels still averaging 6.65 days of delays.
Drewry forecasts container throughput growth of +3.1% in 2026 and +6.2% in 2027, although the vessel orderbook (45% of the active fleet) raises substantial overcapacity concerns. LNG charter markets show diverging rate trends.
The return to Suez has released approximately 470,000 TEU from Far East–Mediterranean services, while global port congestion eased below 10% of fleet capacity. Freight rates remain relatively stable, although downward pressures are mounting.
