Airfreight volumes through Dube TradePort’s Cargo Terminal have risen significantly over the past six months as the effects of congestion and slow-throughput capacity at South Africa’s major sea ports ripples across the supply chain.
Durban's air cargo operations, handled through the Dube Cargo Terminal at King Shaka International Airport, have been on the rise over the financial years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
However, demand for airfreight spiked over the past four months leading into 2024 with cargo throughput rising by 57% quarter-on-quarter from September to December 2023 as sea port challenges continued to drive significant demand towards airfreight in January 2024.
“This significant increase in airfreight has been observed across various industries, from perishables to automotive, the latter traditionally being reliant on ocean freight,” said Ricardo Isaac, Dube Cargo Terminal senior manager: cargo development and operations.
“This emphasises the need of these industries to ensure uninterrupted production and timely delivery to export markets.”
Fruit exports to the Middle East and European markets doubled in volume from September to December 2023 compared to the same period last year, Isaac said.
“On the automotive side, in November we saw volumes approximately 30% higher than normal being moved through our airfreight cargo terminal,” he said.
Isaac added that trend showed that for time-sensitive commodities and in cases where production stoppage risks are heightened, having an efficient air option has become an invaluable part of the supply chain.
