Transnet can go from zero to hero

Cargo volumes across South Africa’s seaports have seen their biggest growth in over a decade as the country’s logistics sector shows signs of recovery.

In a statement released on 12 May 2026, Transnet reported a 9% year-on-year increase in vessel traffic across its port network.

The eight commercial seaports operated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) recorded 8,630 vessel arrivals during the 2025/26 financial year, up from 7,912 vessels the year before.

Alongside this, the TNPA said cargo volume throughput had increased by 4.2% to approximately 304 million tonnes, its highest growth since the 2011/12 financial year.

Transnet Group CEO Michelle Phillips said these growth figures reflected positively not only on the company’s recovery strategy, but also on restored confidence in South Africa’s logistics.

“The overall strong growth performance signals an improved domestic economic landscape, including gains from the Transnet recovery initiative and improvements in port and rail efficiencies,” Phillips said.

“This growth in vessel activity and cargo volumes signals that Transnet’s interventions are yielding measurable results.”

Three cargo types showed particularly strong growth, led by a double-digit growth of 13.3% in automotive cargo volumes, which the Port of Durban said exceeded its throughput targets.

Container volumes and dry bulk cargo also experienced strong growth at 7.1% and 4.2% respectively, while break bulk and liquid bulk cargo showed a more gradual recovery.

In its statement, Transnet highlighted infrastructure projects currently underway which it said will improve its operational efficiency even further.

Expansion plans for major ports such as Durban and Cape Town will seek to significantly increase container handling capacity, thereby reducing port congestion.

“Alongside this welcomed volume increase, Transnet remains focused on sustaining operational improvements,” Phillips said.

“We will accelerate port infrastructure investment and implement structural reforms to support trade growth and cargo movement through South Africa’s ports.”

Recovery is slow but steady

While some green shoots are starting to show in Transnet’s recovery strategy, the company still has much work to do before it has completely restored operationality.

Bowmans Head of Ports, Transport and Logistics Andrew Pike told 702 that the recent results reflect only the first positive signs of Transnet’s plan.

“Transnet launched a strategy last year called ‘Reinvent for Growth,” Pike said. “This is designed to transition Transnet from the mess they were in, and move onto a sustainable growth path.”

“I think we’re starting to see some dividends from this. The first phase was fixing and optimising what was broken, and that required a number of interventions. And there’s a long way to go.”

Part of this first phase of Transnet’s strategy involved an investment in newer, more modern equipment, which would replace ageing port equipment.

Public-private partnerships have formed a core focus of Transnet’s growth strategy, such as the 25-year joint venture agreement with Filipino port management company ICTSI.

Pike explained that the strategy also involved improving rail efficiency in South Africa, as this was critical for transporting cargo to and from the country’s ports.

The company announced on 13 May that it had granted 11 private companies access to operate across its railway network.

“There’s quite a lot happening, and it’s all happening together,” Pike said. “We’re not out of the woods by any means.”

“But definitely under Michelle Phillips’ watch, we’re starting to see things changing, and the results are speaking for themselves.”

While Pike said Transnet could see even higher growth percentages in future, he said this was somewhat dependent on an improvement in South Africa’s economic outlook as a whole.

Transnet have proposed a 20-hectare expansion of the Port of Durban, which they said will increase throughput from 3 million 20-foot containers per year to as much as 11 million.

“I don’t think it’s planned to happen overnight,” Pike said. “I think 2050 is probably realistic. But it does anticipate significant economic growth within the country.”