Logistics News Update – 26th March 2026

Welcome to another Logistics News Update. 

In this week’s update we focus on a shift taking place across global logistics. While supply chains remain operational and South African ports are performing well, the main pressure is moving away from congestion and into cost.

South African ports showed improved throughput this week, with Durban operating efficiently and minimal delays, while Cape Town has recovered from earlier weather disruptions but remains sensitive to wind conditions. Globally, disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is pushing oil prices higher, which is now feeding directly into fuel, shipping, and inland transport costs. The result is a clear change in the market.

Logistics risk is no longer driven by lack of capacity, but by rising costs that are starting to move through the supply chain. For importers and exporters, the focus now shifts to planning ahead and managing cost exposure as conditions continue to evolve.

Agri & Transport Summary

South Africa’s agricultural exports are starting to gain momentum as the citrus season ramps up. Port performance has improved this week, with Durban operating efficiently and minimal delays, while Cape Town has recovered from earlier weather disruptions but remains sensitive to wind conditions. The key pressure point is shifting inland. With diesel price increases likely in the next adjustment cycle, trucking and transport costs are expected to rise. For exporters, the focus now needs to be on securing reliable transport capacity and planning shipments early to avoid cost pressure and potential delays as volumes increase.

Fuel costs becoming the next pressure point in global logistics

Oil prices have moved above $100 per barrel due to the situation in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global oil, so when there is disruption, energy prices go up. That is already starting to impact logistics. Shipping lines are paying more for fuel, airlines are adding surcharges, and transporters are facing higher diesel costs.

For South Africa, the impact is straightforward. We are expecting a fuel price increase in April, with petrol likely up around R4 per litre and diesel potentially above R6/R7 depending on how the oil price and rand move. This means the next cost pressure in logistics is not coming from space or delays, but from fuel.

What to expect:

The main risk over the next few weeks is higher costs, not disruption. South African ports are running, and cargo is still moving. However, fuel increases will start feeding into shipping surcharges, airfreight costs, and especially inland transport. For importers and exporters, the focus now needs to be on managing these cost increases rather than worrying about capacity constraints.

Disclaimer: Fuel price estimates are indicative only and are based on current market conditions and available Central Energy Fund data. Final fuel prices are determined by the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and may change depending on movements in the oil price and the rand before the official adjustment date.

Let’s Learn – Why planning cycles matter more than pricing right now

Many importers focus on getting the best rate at the time of booking. In the current environment, timing is becoming just as important as pricing. Even small delays in planning or booking can result in higher costs as fuel, transport rates and surcharges adjust week by week.

Why this matters now:
Logistics costs are no longer moving in stable cycles. Fuel price changes, surcharges and inland transport rates are adjusting quickly, which means the cost of the same shipment can change within a short period. Waiting for final production or documentation before planning logistics can result in missed opportunities to secure better pricing and capacity.

Where the risk shows up:
• Higher transport rates due to late booking
• Increased exposure to fuel adjustments and surcharges
• Limited availability of reliable transport capacity
• Delays caused by reactive rather than planned movements

Here is your weekly logistics news.

Logistics & Trade Headlines

• Oil prices remain above $100, driving global cost pressure: Brent crude has pushed above $100 per barrel, with markets reacting to ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and wider Middle East conflict. This is feeding directly into higher bunker fuel and transport costs globally.
• Strait of Hormuz disruption is now a real constraint on global supply: Vessel traffic through the strait remains heavily restricted, with only limited tanker movement and a significant portion of global oil flows impacted, confirming this is no longer a risk scenario but an active disruption.
• Shipping costs are rising rapidly across multiple legs: CMA CGM has confirmed new fuel surcharges across both sea and inland transport, showing that rising energy costs are now impacting the full logistics chain, not just ocean freight.
• Global container shipping is becoming highly volatile: Industry reports describe the current market as a “wild west” environment, with rates increasing sharply, cargo being rerouted unpredictably, and some lanes seeing costs multiply due to war risk, fuel, and congestion.
• More vessels are being rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope: Major carriers including Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd are continuing to divert vessels away from traditional routes, increasing transit times and tightening effective global capacity.
• Africa is seeing increased vessel traffic but limited local benefit: While rerouting is driving higher demand for bunkering along the African coastline, South Africa is not fully benefiting, with some volumes shifting to alternative ports like Walvis Bay and Port Louis.
• Container freight rates have started rising again: Drewry’s World Container Index increased 2% to $2,172 per 40ft container, marking a third consecutive weekly increase, with further upward pressure expected.
• Global supply chains are tightening due to energy and routing shocks: Analysts are warning that higher fuel costs, rerouting, and congestion are reducing effective capacity, even without a full collapse in vessel availability.
• Airfreight markets remain under pressure: Ongoing Middle East instability and airspace disruptions are increasing jet fuel costs and routing complexity, creating volatility in air cargo pricing and capacity.
• South African impact is cost-driven rather than disruption-driven: For local importers and exporters, the biggest immediate effect remains higher fuel, trucking, and distribution costs, with indirect pressure from global freight and energy markets rather than direct port disruption.

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NEWS

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Port Operations Summary: – Port Update:

Durban Avr 2 days
Cape Town 2 Days
Port Elizabeth 2 days
Coega 3 Days Source: Various

Please check with your service provider as reports differ  

Key Highlights from Last Week’s Discussions – 15^th March 2026
Source: BUSA, SAAFF, and global logistics data

Port Operations

Port activity rebounded strongly this week following the post-Chinese New Year slowdown.
• Total container volumes increased around 16% week on week to approximately 64,876 TEUs handled across South African ports
• An average of 9,268 TEUs were handled per day, significantly higher than the previous week
• Cape Town volumes increased around 20% week on week, supported by improved weather conditions
• Ngqura volumes declined around 7% week on week, with some vessels omitting the port due to weather
• Rail cargo handled out of Durban increased around 19% week on week to approximately 2,902 containers

Takeaway:
South African ports showed a strong recovery this week with improved throughput, although weather and operational constraints remain factors in certain terminals.

Air Cargo

Air cargo volumes recovered after last week’s disruption.
• Total air cargo volumes through OR Tambo increased around 18% week on week to approximately 7,088 tons
• Inbound volumes increased around 12% week on week
• Outbound cargo increased around 27% week on week
• Volumes are now above March last year levels and pre-pandemic levels, showing resilience despite disruptions

Takeaway:
Airfreight has stabilised and recovered strongly, although capacity remains sensitive to geopolitical disruptions, particularly in the Middle East.

Road and Border Crossings

Regional corridors showed improvement but remain volatile.
• South African border crossing times averaged around 8.2 hours, improving roughly 20% week on week
• SADC regional crossings averaged around 4.3 hours, improving roughly 28% week on week
• Average queue times decreased by around 1.7 hours week on week
• Severe disruptions were still reported at key borders including Kazungula (up to 17km queues and delays up to 7 days) and Beitbridge (power outages impacting processing)

Takeaway:
Border performance improved overall, but structural issues and system outages continue to create unpredictable delays across key corridors.

Ocean Freight and Global Shipping

Global shipping remains under pressure from geopolitical risk.
• The Strait of Hormuz disruption continues to expose dependence on a key global chokepoint
• Global shipping networks remain unstable with rate volatility and tightening bunker supply
• Initial congestion impacts across Asia have eased, but network instability persists
• Global trade is increasingly shifting toward South–South trade flows, particularly across Asia, Africa, and Latin America

Takeaway:
The main global risk remains energy volatility and network instability rather than a full breakdown of container flows.

Strategic Outlook

South Africa is seeing improved port performance but risks missing a larger global opportunity created by shifting shipping routes. While container volumes are growing, inefficiencies in port operations and supporting infrastructure may limit the country’s ability to benefit from increased global rerouting and trade reconfiguration.

Global Freight Rates

Drewry’s World Container Index increased 2% this week to $2,172 per 40ft container, marking a third consecutive weekly increase. The pace of rate growth has slowed compared to the sharp increases seen earlier in March, but the overall trend remains upward as carriers continue to manage capacity and recover margins.

On the Asia – Europe trade, rates continue to firm although at a more moderate pace. Shanghai to Rotterdam and Shanghai to Genoa both recorded smaller increases compared to the previous week, indicating that the initial rate push has taken hold and carriers are now focusing on maintaining pricing levels rather than aggressively increasing them further. Capacity remains controlled, with blank sailings still being used selectively to support rates.

On the Transpacific trade, rate increases have stabilised. Shanghai to Los Angeles and Shanghai to New York both showed marginal upward movement, reflecting a more balanced market where demand is steady but not surging. Carriers continue to manage capacity through selective blank sailings, but the urgency seen earlier in the month has eased.

Geopolitical risk remains a key underlying driver. Ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with higher fuel costs and rising insurance premiums, continues to support freight rates globally. While demand is not significantly increasing, cost pressures and operational risk are keeping rates firm, with Drewry expecting a continued gradual upward trend in the near term.

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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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