Turning the tide: SA’s ports show renewed momentum

South African importers are contending with “compound delays” – when a Chinese factory holiday, a tariff announcement in Washington, and a Cape coastal storm collide to disrupt the same supply chain in a week. Yet, even amid this turbulence, the country’s ports are showing signs of a long-awaited turnaround, hinting at renewed momentum beneath the global chaos.

Tariff storms on the horizon

In 2025, global trade policy casts a long shadow. The US has revived aggressive tariffs under the Trump doctrine, with new import levies reshaping freight flows. For South Africa, the effects are multi-faceted: the lapse of AGOA threatens preferential US access, diminishing trade volumes and weakening backhaul demand for carriers. South African exporters face 30% duties on select goods, further pressuring margins and reliability.

As US–China tensions escalate, shipping lines adjust capacity, forcing Chinese exporters to reroute cargo, overloading alternative transhipment hubs.

For South African importers, this results in longer transit times, higher spot rates, and unpredictable space allocation as carriers prioritise US and European lanes. The trade war’s ripple effects are felt across every container waiting to berth in Durban.

China's golden week: delays and implications

Each October, China’s Golden Week (a national holiday starting 1 October) brings manufacturing and logistics to a standstill. This year, the holiday overlapped with peak shipping demand and a constrained global vessel network, resulting in factory backlogs, congested yards, and vessel bunching likely to impact schedules through November.

South African importers can expect arrivals between late October and mid-November possibly delayed by 5–10 days, depending on the carrier and route.

Major shipping lines have implemented Peak Season Surcharges (PSS), and further rate increases are anticipated as demand pressures persist following the Golden Week delays.

A system finding its rhythm again

Momentum is building across South Africa’s ports: 

• Durban Pier 1 is seeing tangible gains from the gradual implementation of 16 new Liebherr Rubber-Tyred Gantry Crane (RTGs) used for handling containers. 
• This winter, Cape Town’s nine new RTGs, nicknamed “the red ladies”, supported the port's best weekly throughput since 2019.
• Ngqura in Algoa Bay continues to provide stable operations as a key transhipment hub. 

While weather and infrastructure challenges persist, the prevailing narrative is one of progress and optimism. Piece by piece, South Africa’s port network is looking forward rather than backward.

Yes, weather still halts operations. Yes, infrastructure takes time. But for the first time in years, the horizon shows momentum rather than maintenance.

Durban’s Pier 2: from bottleneck to benchmark

A single court ruling in October 2025 has redefined South Africa’s logistics outlook. The High Court has upheld ICTSI’s $640 million, 25-year concession to transform Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 (DCT2), our busiest container hub. For years, Pier 2 represented the sector’s challenges: outdated infrastructure, congestion, and lengthy berthing delays. Now, it stands for renewal and competitive ambition.

ICTSI’s involvement brings more than capital investment; it introduces global best practices, the kind found in Manila, Mexico and Melbourne. Digital yard management, modernised ship-to-shore cranes, predictive maintenance, and a performance-driven approach.

Within Transnet, a new sense of optimism is emerging, with measurable operational improvements and technology-driven planning in focus. For importers, especially those sourcing from Asia, this means hope for more reliable, efficient supply chains.

From crisis management to confidence

Despite years of disruption from pandemics, strikes and storms, South African trade has demonstrated resilience. Now, with Transnet’s renewed leadership and private investment from ICTSI, the country stands on the edge of a new era. Delays in Shanghai may persist, but Durban is transforming into a port defined by investment, accountability and readiness.

While global headlines debate tariffs and supply chain wars, South Africa is quietly building throughput, trust and momentum. The tide is turning. With strategic foresight, operational buffers and partnership, local businesses can move from crisis management to confidence – helping you stay ahead as the world’s trade machinery restarts.

We understand that these developments may present challenges, and we are here to support you in navigating them. Our team is committed to providing you with the best possible solutions available and will keep you updated on any further changes in the logistics landscape. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.