The Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has publicly welcomed the marked improvement in container volumes and throughput performance at key Transnet terminals, citing “steady progress” and signs of renewed capacity across the system. “This performance underscores the steady progress being made,” says Dr Jacob van Rensburg, SAAFF’s head of R&D.
After years of headline anxiety over port backlogs and logistics inefficiencies, it’s genuinely encouraging to see Transnet finally gaining traction. For the South African economy, the knock-on benefits are significant – but for road freight operators, it’s a lifeline. Smoother port flows mean fewer delays, better truck cycle times and restored confidence in the national logistics chain. In a sector where time is quite literally money, this latest data is more than just good news – it’s movement in the right direction.
Performance on the up
According to the latest BUSA/SAAFF Cargo Movement Updates (22 and 29 June), South African ports handled over 97 000 and 87 000 TEUs respectively – 13% and 2% above weekly targets. Daily throughput on Saturday and Sunday surged to an average of 16 359 containers, far exceeding recent benchmarks.
Crucially, the gains were not isolated. “The load has been shared across the board – including smaller and multi-purpose terminals not dedicated to containerised cargo – epitomising a team effort,” notes Dr van Rensburg.
SAAFF CEO Dr Juanita Maree praised the collaborative momentum: “We are seeing meaningful progress and renewed operational capacity from Transnet. The hard work across the board by all involved – from TPT personnel to logistics partners – combined with the deployment of new equipment, improved cargo evacuation processes and on-going terminal refurbishments is clearly traction under this cross-collaborative approach.”
Investor confidence follows suit
The improved logistics throughput coincides with broader positive economic signals. The South African Reserve Bank’s latest Quarterly Bulletin cites R11.7-billion in FDI inflows – up from R7.5-billion the previous quarter. Significantly, SARS’ May 2025 trade statistics reveal a preliminary trade surplus of R21.7-billion.
SAAFF believes these trends are linked. “Continued focus on performance improvement within the national logistics network will go a long way in boosting global investor confidence in South Africa’s markets,” adds Dr Maree.
Editor’s comment: For the trucking industry, every container cleared on time is a job better done, a route run more efficiently (and safely) and a port that becomes a gateway rather than a bottleneck. Let’s hope this momentum becomes the new normal – not just a brief spike in the data.
