Containers are down by 11% this week; air cargo is down by 15%
Hello colleagues and interested parties
We are sharing the latest version of the cargo report for distribution.
The following highlights are worth noting:
1. TNPA Consolidated Update for March – excellent returns:
a. Container throughput totalled 452,125 TEUs, which is up by +17% (m/m) and +14% (y/y).
b. Total bulk cargo totalled 21,7 million tonnes, which is up by +13% (m/m) and +2% (y/y).
c. Vehicle throughput totalled 93,128 units, which is up by +72% (m/m) and +11% (y/y).
d. For Durban post PSP: Q1 2026 overall container throughput is up by +6.2%, with throughput at DGT up by slightly more, at +6.6%.
2. Strait of Hormuz/Iran crisis:
a. Global shipping remains constrained by the Strait of Hormuz disruption (day 9 of a two-week ceasefire), with Gulf-bound capacity down -48%, transit times extended by 10–14 days, and fuel prices (mid-$90/bbl) sustaining elevated BAFs and rate volatility.
b. . Systemic impact is contained (<5% of global throughput), but second-order effects persist, with global container growth projected at +1.8% in 2026, with downside risk to 0.5–1.3%.
c. Shippers should standardise bunker cost management, evaluate alternative routings, leverage overcapacity in contracting, and build flexibility into supply chains amid prolonged disruption.
