As we progress through the final quarter of 2025, the global logistics and supply chain landscape remains in constant motion, shaped by fluctuating freight rates, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological advancement. Freight markets are adapting to shifts in demand and capacity limits, while adopting digital solutions have become key parts of long-term business strategy. Companies are re-evaluating where they source products, how they move goods, and how they manage stock levels as global trade rules and regulations become more complex. In this Global Logistics Update, we provide an overview of the trends and developments defining international trade today and the opportunities that lie ahead as we move into 2026.
South African Trade
Local ports, continue to serve as vital gateways for South Africa’s trade, linking domestic industries to global markets and enabling the flow of critical imports such as fuel, machinery, and consumer goods. Recent business reports and data indicate a cautiously positive trend throughout local ports, though persistent structural challenges remain.
- In August, container volumes hit a milestone, with South Africa’s major container terminals reporting their highest daily throughput since the pandemic: 18,689 TEUs in one day across the network. By the end of August, year-on-year container volumes were up 7.2 % for the period June–August.
- For containerised trade in September- 484,228 TEUs were handled across the major ports (Durban 284,355; Cape Town 84,599; Ngqura 88,320). By early October, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) reported that September marked its highest-ever monthly container throughput, handling 477,119 TEUs, and a three-month total of 1.292 million TEUs. The strongest consecutive months result since 2019.
- Between mid-2024 and August 2025, vessel anchorage (waiting/berthing) times reportedly dropped by approx. 75%, gross crane moves per hour improved by roughly 13%, and ship-working moves increased by about 25%. An overall improvement in port efficiency.
Performance improvements remain uneven, with delays still influenced by weather and terminal conditions. Despite ongoing upgrades, key challenges persist including ageing infrastructure, frequent equipment failures (cranes and straddle carriers), and congestion across gate, road, and rail links. Port bookings also remain a challenge at certain Durban terminals, further affecting scheduling efficiency. Recent reports also show container throughput at specific terminals falling by about 13% in the past month, largely due to weather disruptions, dredging work, and equipment breakdowns.
We expand below on the most recent field challenges at our key ports namely Durban, Cape Town and Ngqura.
*Notification received from Transnet on 26 October – challenges with RTG availability and terminal reliability was experienced in Durban. A high number of trucks resulted in reduced booking slots to ensure terminal fluidity thus resulting in multiple delivery delays.
The following images illustrate vessels currently at anchorage awaiting berth at South Africa’s three key ports:
Road / Rail Update: According to statistic reports from Sept-Oct 2025, over 85% of land-freight tonnage was carried by road (i.e. Trucks) rather than rail.
Border/cross-border trucking data from early October show mixed trends:
*At the Lebombo border post truck volumes rose but queue and processing times increased significantly.
*Median crossing times at South African borders were approx. 9 hours; SADC-region borders improved at 7 hours, but SA internal corridor queues remain a challenge.
Kindly click on the below articles for further S.A. news:
For every tonne of freight moved by rail, six tonnes are transported on SA’s roads
South African port improvements a certainty – MSC
Conformity requirements demand verification experts October 2025
Ports record ‘defining moment of excellence’ – TPT
Transnet PSP – the carrot dangles but uncertainties remain
OPINION: Is CCPI a fair measure for SA ports?
South Africa’s ports are gradually recovering, supported by stronger commodity volumes and steady improvements in efficiency. However, real challenges persist on the ground — from limited booking availability to sudden disruptions and ongoing landside congestion. When assessing port performance, it’s important to recognise that measured efficiency doesn’t always reflect true capability or effort. Meaningful progress should not be judged by global rankings alone, but by how effectively ports overcome daily operational constraints and continue enhancing reliability and service across the logistics sector.
Global Trade
Global ports are the lifeblood of international trade, linking producers and consumers across continents and enabling the flow of goods that sustain economies worldwide. As gateways to global markets, they handle an immense volume of cargo, from essential raw materials and fuel to finished products and consumer goods. In 2025, ports continue to face challenges, with congestion, operational disruptions, and evolving regulatory requirements shaping the global logistics landscape. Whether you are a logistics professional, importer, exporter, or simply interested in global trade, understanding these dynamics is essential in navigating today’s complex maritime environment.
PORT UPDATES (Ports not mentioned under each region, experience minor berthing delays of 2 days or less)
AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
Terminal performance in S.A. has improved, however landside challenges remain challenging.
Angola/Namibia/Ghana/Nigeria – Berthing delays of 3-5 days experienced at main ports
Ivory Coast– Berthing delays of 3 days at Abidjan port due to yard congestion
Kenya – Berthing delays of 4-5 days at Mombasa showing slow productivity due to equipment shortages and high transhipment volumes.
Tanzania– Berthing delays of 5-8 days at Dar Es Salaam due to terminal gate and road congestion
Mozambique– Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Maputo and 11 days at Beira port
*Vessels are delayed in Mozambique which has a ripple effect on the transit times and delays into East Africa.
Mauritius– Berthing delays of 1-7 days experienced at Port Louis due to adverse weather conditions and operational challenges
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
Toronto/ Montreal/ Vancouver – Berthing delays of 2-6 days experienced at main ports.
USA
Schedule adjustments and delays continue with carrier amendments last minute. USWASA Express now offers a direct connection between the USA – West and South Africa, with new direct port calls.
New York/New Jersey/Long Beach – Berthing delays of 2-4 days experienced at these terminals.
Savannah/Charleston – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at main terminals.
Article: Hurricane Melissa: From Formation To Devastation
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil/Argentina – Berthing delays of 3-6 days experienced at main ports
Mexico – Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Veracruz
NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN
Belgium/Germany/Italy – Berthing delays of 4-7 days experienced at main ports.
Netherlands – Berthing delays of 11 days experienced at Rotterdam- RWG levels are critical with 80%-85% utilization
UK – Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at London Gateway Port.
INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & MIDDLE EAST
India – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Nhava Sheva and 2 days at Chennai due to adverse weather
Sri Lanka – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Colombo port with high transhipment volumes and adverse weather
UAE – No major berthing delays at Jebel Ali, operational challenges due to ongoing crane breakdowns
Israel – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Haifa. Otherwise, ports operate as usual.
APAC (Including Oceania)
Hong Kong/Nansha/Ningbo/Qingdao/Shanghai/Shekou/Shenzhen – Berthing delay of 2-3 days experienced at main ports with stricter customs control at various ports, mainly Shenzhen.
*Capacity in this region is tightening, according to carriers, with delays expected from key export ports.
Taiwan – Berthing delay of 6 days experienced at Kaohsiung and 2 days at Keelung
Korea – Berthing delay of 3 days experienced at Busan port
Singapore– Berthing delay of 2 days experienced, however container transshipments may be delayed due to vessel capacity constraints.
Kindly click on the below articles for latest global news:
Trump lowers tariffs on China and announces end to ‘rare earths roadblock’ after Xi meeting
With China Truce, U.S. National Security Controls Now Appear Up for Negotiation
Major focus on smarter packaging
Container Freight Indices Diverge Sharply Ahead of November GRIs
Record highs expected – Barring major shocks in the final months of the year, global trade is on track to surpass its 2024 record.
Looking ahead for the rest of 2025
Shippers should prepare for ongoing volatility by staying flexible and responsive to sudden booking opportunities. Balancing spot and contract rates will be key as carriers prioritize consistent volumes. Companies should focus on total landed costs instead of just freight rates, while also planning for continued port congestion and infrastructure constraints linked to larger vessels and longer turnaround times.
Airfreight
The global air freight volumes are still growing with the key drivers being trade-policy and supply chain shifts rather than a broad economic increase. Air freight rates are mostly stable but starting to weaken, with only small gains in load factors and lower profits (IATA). However, regional volatility persists— for example, China–US rates rose above US $7.50/kg in October because of tariff concerns and limited capacity.
Article: African airlines record 14.7% cargo demand growth
Digital adoption gains momentum
The article points out several ongoing problems slowing down digital change in Southern Africa’s logistics industry. Many companies still use old systems and infrastructure, which makes it hard to modernise. Complicated rules and red tape also delay the use of new technology. Compared to other parts of the world, S.A. is still behind in digital growth, with too many manual processes and poor data sharing. This leads to high logistics costs and weak connections between customer, port, and trade systems. These challenges show why supply chain visibility is so important. Having clear, real-time information on goods as they move through the supply chain, helps companies make faster decisions, manage risks better, and run their operations more efficiently.
At SCT Supply Chain Solutions, we use advanced digital platforms to provide this transparency for all customers. Combined with our customer experience division that provides proactive updates, exception handling, and data-driven insights, SCT acts as more than a freight forwarder – we partner with clients to deliver supply chain control, clarity, and improved performance.
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. Kindly ctrl + click on each topic to read further:
Trade with neighbouring countries on the rise
Ocean rates recover as cargo demand ticks up
A South African ‘national treasure’ making a comeback after 15 years
120 trucks queue on N11 at Copperbelt border
Rates surge as Trump’s Asia tour triggers shipping truce
Xeneta: U.S.–China Truce Offers Relief, But Container Rates Set to Sink Deeper Into 2026
Port of Cape Town braces for deciduous fruit season
Panama Canal Begins Process to Select Operator for New Terminals
DP World Commits $5 Billion to India’s Maritime Infrastructure
Amid Trans-Pacific Rate Rebound, Carriers Push Rate Increases
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.