Airfreight import and export figures recorded a remarkable week last week by rising 16%, a stark contrast increase compared to global volume that was down 5%.
Imports were up 12% and exports 23%, said British supply chain portal, The Loadstar.
At the same time rates are also curving up, as has been confirmed by bookings and payments platform, Freightos.
The Freightos Air Index recorded that rates for airfreight from Africa to Europe were up 19% in the first two weeks the month, although rates in the opposite direction remained flat.
The steepest increase in rates ex-Africa was experienced on flights to the US – 147%.
In comparison, rates from the US to Africa were up 19%.
Jacob van Rensburg, head of research and development at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, told the publication that strong uptake on the airfreight side is partly because of poor performance at the country’s ports.
“There are instances of modal shift, as SA’s ports have continued to struggle with efficiency and reliability – our port volume throughput is desperately low,” he said.
According to The Loadstar report port throughput is currently down 8% week-on-week.
