As the season shifts, so too does the global supply chain landscape. The Spring edition of our Global Logistics Update brings you the latest insights into the shipping and trade environment, highlighting the key developments shaping international logistics. These insights include evolving freight rates and capacity challenges, persistent port congestion impacting vessel schedules and cargo flows, to sustainability initiatives, digital transformation, and shifting trade policies. We unpack the current trends that matter most to businesses navigating complex global networks.
South African Ports
South Africa’s ports, managed by Transnet National Ports Authority, are critical gateways for the country’s trade, linking mineral, vehicle, agricultural, and manufactured exports with global markets, while facilitating key imports such as fuel, machinery, and consumer goods. Strategically located on both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, they provide direct access to major international shipping routes. Each port has developed its own area of specialisation and despite their importance, South African ports face mounting challenges.
Congestion and vessel delays, particularly in Durban and Cape Town, continue to disrupt supply chains. Ageing infrastructure, maintenance backlogs, and operational inefficiencies within Transnet have compounded these challenges, leaving South Africa vulnerable to competition from more agile ports in neighbouring countries such as Mozambique and Namibia. These issues pose risks to South Africa’s competitiveness and its position as a regional trade hub, making investment and operational reform critical.
We expand below on the most recent field challenges at our key ports namely Durban, Cape Town and Ngqura (Coega):
The following images illustrate vessels currently at anchorage awaiting berth at South Africa’s three key ports. Berthing delays are presently estimated between 2-5 days, with Coega and Durban experiencing higher-than-usual volumes compared to recent months.
Steel Imports – Importers in South Africa’s manufacturing sector are actively opposing proposed steel import tariffs introduced by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC). These tariffs, aimed at stimulating local steel production, would impose duties of up to 10% on certain steel products, primarily to counteract the influx of cheaper imports from China. While some local producers support the tariffs to boost domestic supply and reduce reliance on cheaper Chinese steel, importers warn the higher costs could lead to steel shortages, contract issues, and job losses in manufacturing. The final decision is pending, with importers having until 3 September to present their case.
Itac proposes steel import tariff reforms
The International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) has proposed a series of tariff reforms aimed at bolstering South Africa’s struggling steel industry amid global overcapacity and low-priced imports.
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/itac-proposes-steel-import-tariff-reforms
Importers state case against steel tariffs
Importers have until September 3 to make a presentation to Itac about the potential fall-out of the import duties that are currently under review. If Itac proceeds with all the duties they are proposing to the bound rate, it would add R1.54 billion to the country’s annual tariff bill, XA Global Trade Advisors (Xagta) has revealed.
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/importers-state-case-against-steel-tariffs
Exporters stay the course despite US tariff volatility
South African exporters to the United States remain resolute in the face of fluctuating tariff developments, sustaining shipment volumes to America’s East Coast despite a 30% increase in duties since August 7.
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/exporters-stay-the-course-despite-us-tariff-volatility
Airfreight – Global air cargo demand increased by 3% in the first half of 2025, with capacity keeping pace. However, some experts anticipate that capacity may soon surpass demand, potentially leading to rate adjustments.
Road / Rail Update – South African government has initiated several measures to bolster the logistics sector. A significant development is the approval of licenses for 11 new private operators to run trains and logistics services across the national rail network. This move aims to alleviate pressure on road freight by enhancing rail capacity and efficiency.
https://african-miningweek.com/news/south-africas-rail-reforms-bolster-mineral-trade
Bayhead Road Rehabilitation Project – A pivotal infrastructure endeavour at the Port of Durban, is making notable strides as it advances into its second phase. Transporters have however reported that congestion is creating delays in getting in and out of port, missing booking slots as traffic builds to reroute.
Improved performance at SA ports irrefutable – Saaff
A distinct upward data curve of week-on-week (w-o-w) recovery at South Africa’s ports is emerging through the weekly Cargo Movement Update (CMU) reports compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity SA (Busa).
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/improved-performance-at-sa-ports-irrefutable-saaff
South Africa’s container terminals have recorded some of their strongest volumes since the pandemic, with a series of new performance benchmarks set in August 2025 –
https://africaports.co.za/2025/08/30/africa-ports-ships-maritime-news-24-25-august-2025/#10304
South Africa’s ports are showing signs of recovery in throughput, yet inconsistent communication and unexpected operational changes continue to pose risks not to mention evolving compliance requirements SARS adding further uncertainty. For businesses, the imperative is to stay agile and partner with service providers that deliver transparency and control.
Global Ports
Global ports serve as the vital arteries of international trade, facilitating the movement of goods that sustain economies worldwide. As of mid-2025, critical hubs are grappling with severe congestion and operational disruptions that threaten to destabilize the global supply chain. Recent reports indicate that port delays have surged with 96% of global shipping terminals experiencing significant disruptions. On the positive, the global logistics sector is experiencing a series of developments that are enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and positioning the industry for future growth.
PORT UPDATES:
Ports not mentioned under each region, experience minor berthing delays of 2 days or less.
AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
Terminal performance has improved in SA; however vessel schedule changes and carrier rotations persist at last minute.
Angola – Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Luanda with high volumes causing congestion
Ivory Coast– Berthing delays of 6 days at Abidjan port due to yard congestion and berthing delays
Kenya– Berthing delays of 4 days at Mombasa port due to equipment shortages and high volumes in transhipments. This has a major effect on vessel rotation and schedules.
Tanzania– Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Dar es Salaam
Mozambique– Berthing delays of 13 days experienced at Beira and Maputo
*Vessels are delayed in Mozambique which has a ripple effect on the transit times and delays into East Africa
Mauritius– Berthing delays of 7 days experienced at Port Louis. Adverse weather conditions have delayed port operations and vessel berthing. Capacity constraints remain limited and erratic vessel schedules experienced.
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
Toronto/ Montreal/ Vancouver – Berthing delays of 2-3 days experienced at these ports.
USA
Schedule adjustments and delays continue with carrier amendments last minute. From 1 October, Maersk will change their service moving over Europe and MSC will maintain the direct USA service. New service rotations are to follow.
New York/New Jersey- Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at these terminals. New York is currently facing high demands for gate appointments resulting in containers not being loaded
Norfolk- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced with high volume of export out of Norfolk terminals
Los Angeles/Long Beach/Norfolk- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced with no major congestion
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil/Mexico – Berthing delays of 2-3 days experienced at main ports with yard congestion at certain terminals
Argentina – Berthing delays of 18 days experienced at Buenos Aires with major yard congestion
Upswing in LatAm-Africa traffic, but capacity may be a challenge
The LatAm-Africa corridor is clearly developing into a growth lane, and we see consistent demand, especially from Brazil into southern Africa,” he continued.
https://theloadstar.com/upswing-in-latam-africa-traffic-but-capacity-may-be-a-challenge
NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN
Belgium/France/Germany/Spain/Turkey – Berthing delays of 3-5 days experienced at main ports.
Italy – Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at main ports
Netherlands – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Rotterdam with delays in yard utilization
UK – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at London Gateway Port. Delays mainly due to container transhipments through LHR into Hamburg.
* Haz / Dangerous Goods cargo will see tighter controls imposed by carriers and bookings will be limited with containers being subject to roll over.
*Main delays are due to terminal yards being at elevated levels.
*Congestion remains a concern at transhipment hubs Algeciras and Las Palmas, some improvement however in vessel waiting time.
INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & MIDDLE EAST
India/UAE/Sri Lanka – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at main ports with capacity constraints in India.
*Carriers are advising that they are booked up to end September subject to cancellations.
Port improvement strategy emerges as game-changer for India’s economy – https://indiaseatradenews.com/port-improvement-strategy-emerges-as-game-changer-for-indias-economy/
Israel – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Ashdod port. Port operations are guided by relevant authorities and function as normal for essential services
APAC (Including Oceania)
*Minor berthing details at all major ports. Vessel bunching and congestion mainly experienced at Qingdao and Shanghai.
Shenzhen– Due to stricter Customs controls, containers are currently being detained for inspection by Chinese Customs. Inspection and release process may take 1–2 weeks.
*Capacity remains tight, and bookings anticipated to reduce due to the upcoming Golden Week Holiday*
Golden Week Blank Sailings Loom as Carriers Warn of Last-Minute Cuts
As China’s Golden Week approaches, container carriers are preparing to pull departures with little or no warning, leaving shippers bracing for volatile rates and shrinking capacity on both Asia–Europe and Transpacific lanes.
https://ean-network.com/golden-week-blank-sailings-loom-as-carriers-warn-of-last-minute-cuts/
Singapore– Berthing delays of 10 days experienced. Container transshipments through Singapore are heavily delayed with last minute schedule amendments.
Cargo Chaos in Asia: Shippers Face Weeks-Long Delays Amid Feeder Shortage
https://gava.com/cargo-chaos-in-asia-shippers-face-weeks-long-delays-amid-feeder-shortage/
Limited feeder vessel capacity between Asia’s secondary ports and major transshipment hubs is creating significant disruptions
Trump to appeal court ruling striking down tariffs
The ruling, issued on Friday by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a 7-4 decision, targets Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on nearly every US trading partner and additional levies on China, Canada and Mexico.
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/trump-to-appeal-court-ruling-striking-down-tariffs
Gemini Cooperation – The Gemini Cooperation between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk is off to a strong start, achieving schedule reliability above 90% in its first month—well ahead of the industry average of 50%. Gemini is already setting a new benchmark for consistency, with the full network expected to strengthen global connectivity, reliability, and sustainability.
Supply Chain Visibility – Real-time visibility has become a top priority for logistics leaders managing complex global supply chains. Emerging technologies are transforming supply chain management by providing actionable insights on shipment locations, estimated arrival times, and potential disruptions. These tools enable companies to optimize operations and respond proactively to challenges. At SCT Supply Chain Solutions, we are actively integrating digital platforms into our operations to ensure importers and exporters benefit from the same real-time visibility and transparency across their shipments.
Global Logistics Trends (August 2025)
These developments underscore a logistics landscape marked by transformation: public systems being restructured, geopolitical turmoil reshaping trade flows, and technology-driven innovation redefining operational resilience. For shippers, staying informed, embracing innovation, and diversifying strategies remain critical to maintaining competitiveness in this dynamic global network.
Freight News
We understand the importance of staying up to date with the latest trends, challenges, and advancements in our industry and we wish to highlight just a few articles which you might find of interest.
Is our response to cargo disruption adequate? – ICFF
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/is-our-response-to-cargo-disruption-adequate-icff
Transnet appoints new Port of PE harbour master
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/transnet-appoints-new-port-of-pe-harbour-master
Trade talks ongoing between SA and US
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/trade-talks-ongoing-between-sa-and-us
Reconfiguring trading relations a priority
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/reconfiguring-trading-relations-a-priority
S.Africa preliminarily increases steel import duties to protect local industry
Trump to appeal court ruling striking down tariffs
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/trump-to-appeal-court-ruling-striking-down-tariffs
ITAC imposes 52.34% duty on corrosion-resistant steel coil, raises transformer core customs duty
Trump says furniture tariffs coming in next 50 days
https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/trump-furniture-tariffs-investigation/758491/?
Air cargo demand rises steadily
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/air-cargo-demand-rises-steadily
Sources & References
Seatrade Maritime / Loadstar / Freight News / GoComet / Maersk / Openpr / Transnet / WeFreight / MSC / AfricaPorts / Container Statistics+News / Flexport / SACO / Hellenic Shipping / Worldcargonews/ Maritime Executive / GCaptain/ Linerlytica / Sea Intelligence / Splash247 / Freight Waves / Xeneta / JOC / DHL / African Mining / Ean Network / Hapag Lloyd.