Another record container throughput – up by 15%; air cargo is up by 6%
We are sharing the latest version of the cargo report.
Some highlights discussed this week include the following:
1. Record container throughput at SA terminals:
a. South Africa’s commercial ports handled a record average of ~14 470 TEUs per day last week.
b. This is the highest since the 2017/18 peak – reflecting operational improvements, better equipment utilisation, and stronger inter-stakeholder collaboration.
2. Global container capacity expands, with Africa playing a key role:
a. Over the past 12 months, global containership capacity grew by 2,43 million TEU (↑8,1% y/y).
b. African trade has been a significant driver – absorbing 23% (~570 000 TEU) of this growth – driven notably by MSC’s deployment of 24 000 TEU vessels on the Far East–West Africa route.
3. US container trade contracts amid shifting trade policy:
a. US inbound container volumes fell by ↓7,9% y/y in June, signalling one of the sharpest trade reversals since the global financial crisis.
b. New tariffs and shifting trade deals (the latest include deals with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines) take effect and dampen import demand.
