Transnet Port Terminals, the state-run operator that manages South Africa’s major ports, says its operations have started to stabilise after hitting a low point in the export seasons of 2022 and 2023. After years of bottlenecks, equipment problems and backlogs that hurt cargo flows and the broader economy, the organisation began showing signs of improvement in 2025 with better handling performance and more reliable terminal activity.

This turnaround comes amid wider efforts to revamp South Africa’s logistics infrastructure, including investment in new equipment, partnerships with private terminal operators, and strategic reforms to boost efficiency. Port volumes and operational benchmarks have started to recover as Transnet works through its recovery strategy, aiming to make the nation’s ports more competitive and less prone to delays that previously snarled trade.