This week’s port operations were significantly hampered by unfavorable weather conditions as well as an increase in equipment failures and shortages. But in comparison to last week, the performance was far better. The main operational challenge faced by Cape Town this week was the heavy fog, and in Durban, bad weather combined with equipment failures and shortages resulted in significant delays. Shipping line officials voiced worries over NCT’s equipment issues, while strong winds and dense fog hindered operating performance at our Eastern Cape Ports. Furthermore, according to the most recent sources, TFR had network problems in the Durban complex between Tuesday and Wednesday for roughly six hours.
Key Notes:
- An average of ~8 281 containers was handled daily, with ~8 575 containers projected for next week.
- Cross-border queue: ↓2,4 hrs; transit: ↑7,7 hrs; SA borders: 11,5 hrs (↓11%); SADC: 17,1 hrs (↑106%).
- Rail cargo handled out of Durban was reported at 2 815 containers, markedly up (↑65%) from last week.
- Global container volume (dry & reefer) is down by ↓7,8% (m/m) but up by ↑7,2% (y/y) in February.
- Global freight rates have again decreased this week – by ↓2,7% (or $76) to $2 719 per 40-ft container.
- Global air cargo rates held steady at $2,52 per kg, with worldwide tonnages dropping by ↓3% this week.
Port operations – General:
- Port operations this week were again widely disrupted by adverse weather and increasing equipment breakdowns and shortages.
- However, performance was much better compared to last week.
- This week’s primary operational constraint in Cape Town stemmed from the dense fog, while adverse weather coupled with equipment breakdowns and shortages caused extensive delays in Durban.
- Strong winds and dense fog hampered operational performance at our Eastern Cape Ports while shipping line representatives raised concerns regarding NCT’s equipment challenges.
- Additionally, the latest reports suggest that TFR experienced network issues for about six hours in the Durban complex between Tuesday and Wednesday.