An average of 11 631 TEUs were handled every day at our container terminals, which is a considerable drop from the 13 426 TEUs handled the week before. It is anticipated that a higher average of about 12,026 TEUs (↑3%) will be handled over the next week. This week’s operational limitations were mostly brought on by bad weather, empty berths, and dredging and sounding activities. While equipment failures, dredging, and congestion hindered ideal operating performance in Durban, unfavorable weather and large swells guaranteed operational challenges in Cape Town. Operations in our Eastern Cape Ports were hampered by bad weather and empty berths, but the Port of Richards Bay had just minor delays. Furthermore, according to the most recent TFR reports, locomotive problems led to slow-moving trains on the line between City Deep and Mafikeng this week, and sporadic wire theft caused operating delays on the Central Corridor near Pretoria.
Some highlights discussed this week include the following:
1. Global ocean trade continues to remain uneven:
- Setbacks from the Red Sea crisis and Panama Canal restrictions remain; however, terminals have responded through shorter anchorage times and stronger productivity.
- Drewry reported a robust rebound in global terminal throughput, up +7,2% (y/y) to 928 million TEU, led by major operators and the growing influence of carrier-owned terminals.
2. Air cargo operations:
- ACSA revising the completion date for the Runway 03L threshold works to 30 November 2025, following extended downtime and postponements.
3. International air cargo:
- IATA this week highlights how biomass feedstocks are key to scaling up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
- Cargo-wise, international air cargo volumes stabilised in mid-September, with worldwide tonnages up +2% (w/w).
Key Notes:
- An average of ~11 631 TEUs was handled per day, with ~12 026 TEUs projected for next week.
- Rail cargo handled out of Durban was reported at 3 579 containers, up by ↑3% from last week.
- Cross-border queue: ↓0,1 hrs; transit: ↓0,1 hrs; SA borders: ~11,4 hrs (↓6%); SADC: ~6,3 hrs (↓2%).
- In 2024, global port throughput rebounded sharply, increasing ↑7,2% (y/y) to ~928 million TEU.
- Global air cargo is up by ↑2% (w/w) in mid-September, as Africa to Europe increased by ↑10% (2w/2w).
Port operations – General:
- At our container terminals, an average of 11 631 TEUs was handled daily, a significant decrease from 13 426 TEUs the previous week.
- For the coming week, an increased average of ~12 026 TEUs (↑3%) is predicted to be handled.
- Operational constraints this week were primarily due to inclement weather, vacant berths, and dredging and sounding operations.
- Adverse weather and high swells ensured operational difficulties in Cape Town, as equipment breakdowns, dredging, and congestion prevented optimal operational performance in Durban.
- Inclement weather, accompanied by vacant berths, disrupted operations at our Eastern Cape Ports, while minimal delays were reported at the Port of Richards Bay.
- Additionally, the latest reports from TFR suggest that intermittent cable theft caused operational delays on the Central Corridor near Pretoria this week, while locomotive issues resulted in slow-moving trains on the line between City Deep and Mafikeng.
Read more:
Cargo Movement Report – Full Report
Cargo Movement Report – Summary Report