Dear Colleagues
How the world has changed in one week!
Last Thurday we were still dwelling on bond rates coming down, perhaps a small upward adjustment to our fuel prices and inflation hovering around 3.5%!
Let’s not even talk about the exchange rate, which was making our cost of living a lot more affordable.
The world is now in turmoil and when will it end? This is all thanks to the obsession of one individual – which we shall not dwell on here!
We have witnessed a sharp rise in our fuel prices with immediate effect. Every shipping line on every trade route has implemented an EFS (Emergency Fuel Surcharge) for immediate implementation. How do we build this into our costs?
Out of all this, the Cape is still a beacon of Hope, providing the safest route for our seafarers. It might take longer, but safety is the prime concern nowadays.
As Kaapenaars we must be proud of this as we are the custodians. And if it weren’t for the foresight and vision of the VOC, who set up a refreshment station at the foot of Table Mountain in1652, would this still be the land of the Strandlopers?
Another beacon that stand proud and tall is Exporters Western Cape, a platform that is becoming more relevant in these trying times – 46 years and counting!
Reliable, strong and Western Cape focused we shall stay!
Let’s get down to our core business, which is, inter alia, the port stats.
Stats for Week 9: 23 February – 1 March
CTCT
• 19 945 TEU handled (target 13 373)
• 16 GCH (target 19)
• 32.2 SWH (target 40)
• 5 hours fog delay
• 39% night shift/61% day shift
• 722 rail moves
CTMPT
• 2 013 TEU handled (target 2 160)
• 16 GCH (target 16)
• 23 SWH (target 19)
• 43% night shift/57% day shift
FPT
• 80% Berth occupancy
• 8 vessels handled
• 3 multi cargo
• 2 container
• 1 Breakbulk
• 1 cement
• 1 dry bulk
• 3158 TEU
• 10 187.97 Dry Bulk
• Breakbulk cement: 15 248 MT
• Breakbulk general 4 583.17 MT
• 5852 pallets fruit
Fruit
We are coming to the end of the stone fruit season. Grape are still being exported and apple and pears are starting. Concerns have been raised regarding containers currently on the water on the Middle East trade lanes
It was noted that CTCT was closed for a total of 157 hours in February 2026, equivalent to almost 7 days. This represents a significant improvement from 2025’s 303 hours of downtime, so there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Please look out for invitation to our exciting evening which will see the launch of the Skytrain to the public – another first for EWC – and where we will unscramble the complexities of the AGOA extension, amongst others!
Kind Regards
Sincerely
Terry
