Container throughput at South Africa’s ports increased significantly by 18.6% last week, as measured by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity SA (Busa).
Whereas the previous week-on-week (w-o-w) measurement was 10 176, the most recent reading by the Container Movement Update was 12 013 TEUs per day.
This is despite the usual set of suspects disrupting operations: adverse weather, equipment breakdowns and shortages.
Saaff and Busa added that “a vacant berth” had contributed to movement not being what it should be.
At some ports the weather was particularly inclement.
“Operations were delayed in Cape Town for more than 30 hours due to poor weather conditions,” the update states.
The country’s biggest port wasn’t far behind.
“Adverse weather, accompanied by equipment breakdowns, ensured operational delays in Durban.”
In the Eastern Cape, “a vacant berth and inclement weather represented the main operational constraints”.
At the Port of Richards Bay, the majority of delays stemmed from the multipurpose terminal being unprepared, the update says.
In other ports news, Transnet National Ports Authority reported that it had appointed Zutari, a leading infrastructure and advisory firm, as the transaction advisor to validate the Island View Precinct Strategy and implementation plan for the Port of Durban.
