News / South African port productivity 'stagnating', despite gowing volumes

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South African port terminals operated by government-owned Transnet are celebrating a near-return to pre-Covid productivity, but this “shows stagnation, not progress”, claims one forwarder. 

Last month, Transnet Port Terminals handled nearly 100,000 teu more than in July 2024, marking a year-on-year container throughput increase of 0.3%. – but now only 2.1% below figures seen pre-Covid, in 2019. 

“It is evident that South Africa’s container ports are finally turning a corner,” said the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), attributing the gains to improved equipment reliability, operational coordination, and stakeholder alignment. 

“The system is working better, and that matters. These green shoots of progress should be celebrated as hard-won victories after a long period of disruption,” said SAAFF. 

But it warned that this had bought major South African ports, such as Cape Town and Durban, closer to their capacity limits. 

And Cindy Luyt, general manager South Africa for forwarder 1UpCargo, told The Loadstar that, while volumes may have increased and productivity “appears” to be improved, “this is relative”.  

“In pre-pandemic times this [productivity] was sadly lacking against global comparatives, and remains problematic,” Ms Luyt explained.  

“A comparison is being made on a situation that existed, essentially, five years ago; this definitely does not show progress, but stagnation,” she claimed.  

Ms Luyt added that there was still a “lack of maintenance” of port handling equipment, continuing labour issues and “general apathy” among  the port authorities. 

“No parties are taking ownership or doing anything to look forward and make substantial changes that would be long-term fixes, rather trying to put temporary patches over already suppurating wounds.” 

Indeed, The Loadstar has previously reported on government-owned port and railway operator Transnet’s shortcomings when it comes to investing in the country’s logistics infrastructure.  

The government recently announced its intention to encourage private sector investment and launched a request for information portal in March – with an early-May deadline – to gauge market interest. But there has been no news of this since.  

“Without structural reform, infrastructure upgrades, and a stable policy environment, momentum may stall,” said SAAFF. 

It urged: “South Africa must seize the opportunity to invest meaningfully and unlock long-term growth. As a globally integrated, trade-dependent economy, we must remain competitive, agile, and open for business – with ports that reflect those ambitions.”