Cargo Movement Update – 27th September 2026

Containers are up by +13% this week; air cargo is up by +12%.

We are sharing the latest version of the cargo report.

The following highlights are worth noting:

1. DGT Current Update — as of 1 October:
   1. Throughput: Daily volumes increased +53% (w/w) to 4,388 TEUs, reaching approximately 88% of the comparable 2025 level. The recovery follows a weather-disrupted prior week; sustained performance at higher volumes remains essential.
   2. Vessel queues: The anchorage queue eased from 10 to eight vessels between 29 Sept & 1 Oct. Delays remain severe, averaging approximately 224 hours at anchorage and 81 hours at berth, with affected supply chains still facing 18–21 additional days.
   3. Reefer stacks: Occupancy declined to 36%, easing pressure as the citrus season winds down. General stack remained manageable at 56.7%. These developments indicate improving terminal conditions, although full normalisation remains some way off.
2. Cabinet: TNPA Corporatisation — Getting It Right:
   1. Cabinet’s endorsement of TNPA’s separation from Transnet makes the valuation, allocation of liabilities and governance arrangements critical to successful implementation.
   2. The reform must protect investment capacity, direct port revenues towards port development, and align tariffs with efficient costs and measurable service delivery.
   3. A coordinated approach across ports, terminals, rail, road and borders must support trade, investment, employment and broader socio-economic development. August exports of R181.8 billion, up +6.4% (y/y), illustrate the economic activity dependent on reliable logistics.
3. Global Landscape:
   1. Container shipping: Freight rates remain broadly stable, while August schedule reliability deteriorated to 49.9% and delays for late arrivals averaged 6.81 days. Congestion continues to absorb 10.9% of fleet capacity, despite improving Suez and Panama access.
   2. Air cargo: Demand remains firm. IATA reported August growth of +4.4% (y/y), against capacity declining -0.1%, while mid-September volumes increased by +8%. Elevated freight rates and fuel prices continue to sustain cost pressures.