Welcome to another Logistics News Update.
This coming week the roads will be disrupted as we host the G20. Some of the major role players are not attending, but we can still hope for a successful congress.
This week brought a mix of positive movement and ongoing pressure across our logistics network. Citrus exporters received a welcome boost with the US granting a tariff exemption for oranges, and our ports continued to show real improvement with shorter vessel waits and better crane performance compared to the ten-day delays we faced earlier in the year. We are in the heat of peak season, which means we are moving at full steam.
Rail is slowly stabilising which supports export flow into the summer season. At the same time inland logistics remain under strain. Road freight is still affected by congestion, infrastructure issues and higher operating costs. Border delays across the region also worsened which adds risk to supply chain timing and cost planning. Global shipping remains volatile with rates softening again on key trades as demand tapers off.
The overall picture is one of progress in some areas and pressure in others. The businesses that plan early, manage costs carefully and keep tight visibility across the supply chain will continue to move with the least disruption.
Trade
- Exporters Gain from Citrus Momentum: South African citrus exports remain strong. Growers are leveraging improved logistics, port handling and export market access to push volumes, particularly for oranges. The sector is benefiting but must stay alert to export-chain cost pressures.
- Rail-Corridor Bottlenecks Pose Trade Risks: A major inland-logistics initiative (the proposed inland hub for the Durban-Gauteng corridor) is facing delays due to a lack of government commitment. This compromises the shift of freight from road to rail and elevates costs for exporters and importers moving bulk goods.
- Port Efficiency Improvements Support Export Flow: Reported data show that vessel waiting times at major South African ports are down by 75% and container handling is faster. These gains help protect export schedules and improve reliability for trade.
- Road Logistics Still Under Pressure: While ports and rail are seeing gains, road freight continues to be challenged by congestion, infrastructure constraints and cost increases. This impacts inland links for both imports and exports and adds risk to trade margins.
- Infrastructure Reform Signals Longer-Term Trade Opportunity: Announcements around infrastructure investment and logistics reform indicate a push to strengthen South Africa’s trade competitiveness over the next few years. Exporters can position themselves now for improved efficiency and market reach. Source: Various
What is the news
- Citrus exports to the United States get a boost: South African oranges have been granted a tariff exemption by the US. This strengthens competitiveness for local growers and supports export growth. Soft citrus varieties remain excluded, which means exporters are pushing for a broader exemption.
- SA ports record ongoing improvement: New operational data shows a continued decline in vessel waiting times at Durban and Cape Town. Crane productivity has improved and weather-related downtime was lower than earlier in the year. Exporters with time-sensitive cargo will feel the benefit as reliability continues to recover.
- Rail performance is slowly stabilising: Transnet’s freight rail volumes show early signs of recovery as rehabilitation work progresses. Private sector interest in rail corridors also remains strong, with bids and partnerships expected before the year’s end.
- Cold chain exporters welcome stability ahead of summer: Citrus, table grape and stone fruit exporters report better flow through Cape Town and Ngqura compared to last season. Improved equipment availability is helping reduce delays, although monitoring remains critical as volumes rise.
- Fuel prices hold steady after recent cuts: The price reductions announced on 5 November have provided some relief for road freight operators. The stability this week is supporting more predictable transport costs for importers and exporters.
- Food security risk highlighted by Foot and Mouth Disease control zones: Following last week’s FMD case near Gouda, authorities have continued enforcement of the quarantine area. Livestock movements in the region remain restricted while testing continues.
- Global shipping shows mixed signals: Spot freight rates on major East–West trades remain volatile. Some lanes softened again this week while structural overcapacity continues to pressure long-term rates. Importers should expect short-lived swings as carriers adjust capacity.
- Macadamia and nut exporters face rising competition: Industry bodies note growing pressure from China’s expanding production. This could affect pricing and volumes for South African growers in the next export cycle.
- Skills gap in freight forwarding flagged again: Industry commentators warn that current training pipelines are not meeting digital and technical requirements in customs, forwarding and warehousing. This remains a long-term challenge for the sector. Source: FreightNews & SA News
Let’s Learn: Understanding Port Congestion and Its Real Impact**
Port congestion is a constant challenge for importers and exporters in South Africa. Even when the ships are available and rates are stable, delays at the terminal can disrupt planning, drive up costs, and damage customer relationships. Congestion is not only about vessels waiting at anchorage. It affects storage, transport schedules, free time, and cargo release.
Why Congestion Happens
• Weather delays stop crane operations and slow the entire terminal
• Equipment breakdowns reduce productivity and extend ship working times
• Labour shortages affect yard operations and truck turnaround
• High cargo volumes overload storage areas and slow container movement
Why It Matters
Congestion creates longer dwell times and higher storage costs. Truckers queue longer which affects delivery planning. Exporters can miss cut offs and importers may face last minute demurrage or detention bills.
What You Can Do
• Track vessel ETAs daily and confirm stack dates early
• Move import containers as soon as they ground
• Pre-clear all shipments to avoid delays at release
• Keep customers updated with realistic timelines
Key Point: Congestion is manageable when you plan around it. Small steps in timing, visibility, and communication protect your costs and keep your supply chain moving.
NEWS
Citrus growers’ welcome US tariff exemption
Source: FreightNews
South Africa’s Supply Chain Faces Mixed Signals This Week
This week brought another set of mixed signals for global and local logistics. On the global side, rates continue to soften, which gives importers some short-term relief. At the same time, it raises concerns about how long carriers can maintain service levels at these price points. The balance between affordability and stability remains delicate and every importer is watching the trend closely.
In South Africa, the focus is shifting to inland logistics again. The pressure on ports has reminded industry players that resilience comes from more than cranes and berths. It comes from the entire chain between the factory, warehouse, and port. Stronger inland planning and multimodal flexibility are becoming essential. We see more clients asking for alternative routing and scenario planning so they can move quickly when congestion flares up.
Warehousing demand continues to rise, and space is becoming increasingly scarce. Many facilities across the country are operating near full capacity which puts upward pressure on storage rates and creates less room for error during peak periods. Businesses that rely on overflow space will need to commit earlier or risk paying higher premiums. This is a trend we follow closely because warehousing stability is directly tied to cargo flow reliability.
Across the continent, investment momentum is picking up. Several large operators are expanding their footprint which signals confidence in Africa’s trade potential. For South African importers and exporters, this opens opportunities for better connections and faster transit times. It also raises expectations on service consistency. Clients want reliability and visibility and that is exactly where we continue to focus our own efforts.
Overall, the theme this week is cautious optimism. The market is opening in some areas and tightening in others. For our clients, the message is clear. Plan early, keep communication tight, and stay flexible. The businesses that adapt fastest will navigate the uncertainty with less disruption and more control. We always keep a close eye on the shifts so we can support our clients with accurate guidance in real time.
–Source: Adapted from FreightNews
Key Highlights from Last Week’s Discussions – 9th November 2025
Source: BUSA, SAAFF, and global logistics data Source: BUSA, SAFF, and global logistics data
1. Port Operations
South African ports handled 78 049 TEUs, down 5% from last week. The daily average was 11 150 TEUs, below the projected 11 610.
Breakdown:
- Durban Pier 2: 34 671 TEUs (↓4%)
- Durban Pier 1: 14 889 TEUs (↓9%)
- Cape Town: 9 311 TEUs (↓28%) with more than 40 hours lost to weather
- Ngqura: 13 989 TEUs (↑16%)
- Port Elizabeth: 242 TEUs (↓63%)
- Rail out of Durban: 3 573 containers (↓12%)
Main issues:
- Durban Pier 1 operating with only one berth for 16 days due to crane repairs
- Weather disruptions in Cape Town, Durban, Richards Bay and Eastern Cape
- Equipment shortages across most terminals
Summary: Another weather-affected week with reduced throughput. Durban stable but constrained by equipment and rail congestion. Cape Town remains the most heavily impacted.
2. Air Cargo
Strong week with a 16% rise in total international airfreight.
- Inbound: 818 000 kg/day (↑19%)
- Outbound: 471 000 kg/day (↑10%)
- Weekly total: 9 025 tons (↑16%)
Monthly picture for October:
- Johannesburg: ↑9% m/m, ↑6% y/y
- Cape Town: ↑42% m/m, ↑12% y/y
- Durban: ↓1% m/m, ↓15% y/y
- October recorded over 44 million kg, the highest ever recorded.
Summary: Airfreight remains a strong outperformer, with record volumes for October and double-digit weekly gains. The sector is running around 31% above last year.
3. Road and Border Crossings
Lebombo and regional borders tightened again.
- Lebombo traffic: 1 316 trucks/day (↓11%)
- Queue time: 6.5 hours (↑ marginally)
- Processing time: 6.3 hours (↑ slightly)
- SA border median time: 11.3 hours (↑11%)
- SADC border time: 5.2 hours (↑4%)
Regional issues:
- Beitbridge: Heavy congestion due to ZIMRA inspections
- Kazungula: Backlogs from new ZRA compliance system and parking shortages
Estimated indirect cost of delays this week:
- Total: $29.9 million (about R515 million)
- Summary: Border performance weakened again with higher queue and crossing times. Beitbridge and Kazungula were the main hotspots.
4. Ocean Freight and Global Shipping
- Drewry World Container Index: $1 959/FEU (↑7.5%), fourth weekly increase
- Global container throughput down 5.6% m/m, but still 5% up y/y
- Sub-Saharan Africa:
- Imports ↑1.4%
- Exports ↓11.6%
- MSC now holds 7 million TEU fleet capacity, about 21% global share
- VLCC tanker rates above $100 000/day
- Red Sea tensions easing leading to cautious service restoration
Summary: Rates continue to firm although the uptick is fragile. Global demand is softer but Europe’s congestion is supporting higher pricing. Fleet expansion by MSC continues to reshape global capacity.
5. Global Air Cargo
- Global airfreight volumes ↑4% y/y and ↑8% m/m
- Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas leading the growth
- Global rates ↑1% m/m to $2.48/kg
- Rates still ↓5% below last year but trending upward
- Capacity growth remains stable
Summary: The global air cargo market continues to strengthen with rising demand and modest rate recovery. Asia-driven momentum remains the main support.
Port Operations Summary: – Port Update:
Weather disruptions: Strong winds and rain forecast for Cape Town and Durban this week.
Equipment shortages: Durban is still facing crane replacement delays; Cape Town suffers from aging infrastructure.
Booking system issues: Durban’s Navis platform is causing truck slot bottlenecks and demurrage costs.
Transnet upgrades: New hybrid straddle carriers and shore tension units are being deployed, but full impact expected only in 2026. Source: GoComet & Other
Global Freight Rates
Weekly Container Rate Update – 13th November 2025
Global Freight Rates Reverse After Four Weeks of Gains: Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 5% this week to 1,859 dollars per 40ft container. This marks the first weekly decline after a month of steady increases. The drop reflects softer demand as peak season cargo for the United States has already moved, reducing pressure on major eastbound lanes.
Trans-Pacific Rates Slide Sharply: Spot rates from Shanghai to New York fell 15% to 3,254 dollars and rates to Los Angeles dropped 12% to 2,328 dollars. The GRIs introduced earlier in the month briefly lifted prices but the effect has been short lived. With retailers already stocked for the holiday season, demand on the trans-Pacific is weaker, which is pulling rates down.
Asia–Europe Rates Hold Firm Despite Market Weakness: Unlike the trans-Pacific, rates on the Asia to Europe trade lane increased. Shanghai to Genoa climbed 4% to 2,193 dollars and Shanghai to Rotterdam rose 3% to 2,028 dollars. Carriers are attempting to strengthen their position ahead of the contract season by introducing higher FAK levels between 3,000 and 3,650 dollars, effective 15 November. These increases are aimed at preventing further erosion on a route that continues to face structural overcapacity.
Outlook Points to Softer Conditions Ahead: Drewry’s Container Forecaster expects the supply and demand balance to weaken through the next few quarters. If normal routing resumes through the Suez Canal, additional capacity will return to the market which may place further downward pressure on spot rates. Carriers will need to continue managing capacity closely to hold pricing.
Key Takeaway
The brief recovery in global freight rates has paused. Trans-Pacific pricing has turned sharply lower while Asia–Europe remains more stable for now. Importers and exporters should expect further volatility as carriers balance GRIs with uneven demand. Monitoring rate validity and planning shipments early remain essential as year-end approaches. Source: Drewrey
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This week’s news was brought to you by:
FNB First Trade 360 – a digital logistics platform and Exporters Western Cape
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