TRANSNET is reporting a 9% year-on-year increase in vessel traffic; a trend it says is a strong indicator of the organisation’s ongoing recovery and growing operational momentum.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) experienced 8,630 vessel arrivals for the 2025/26 financial year, increasing from 7,912 recorded in the previous year (2024/25).
The increase in vessel calls reflects an improved operational coordination across the port system, driven by TNPA’s closer collaboration with terminal operators and improved port efficiencies. Cargo volume throughput at TNPA’s eight commercial seaports increased by 4.2% to approximately 304 million tonnes, representing the strongest growth since 2011/12 financial year. This performance saw three of five main cargo type categories registering strong growth, while break bulk and liquid bulk segments are showing signs of gradual recovery.
Automotive volumes led the recovery with a double-digit growth of 13.3%, with the Port of Durban exceeding its throughput targets. Container volumes also grew 7.1%, surpassing annual budget expectations by 3.6%, largely driven by a 22% increase in citrus fruit volumes. Dry bulk cargo volumes increased by 4.2%, driven mainly by export demand in chrome ore, magnetite and manganese commodities.
Transnet Group Chief Executive, Michelle Phillips said: “The overall strong growth performance signals an improved domestic economic landscape, including gains from the Transnet recovery initiatives and improvements in port and rail efficiencies. This growth in vessel activity and cargo volumes signals that Transnet’s interventions are yielding measurable results. Alongside this welcomed volume increase, Transnet remains focused on sustaining operational improvements, accelerating port infrastructure investment, and implementing structural reforms to support trade growth and cargo movement through South Africa’s ports.”
Transnet says key infrastructure projects across the port system are gaining momentum to support future demand and improve operational resilience. At the Port of Durban, expansion plans are aimed at significantly increasing container handling capacity, while upgrades at the Port of Cape Town, including container stack improvements and truck staging facilities, are expected to improve efficiency and reduce congestion.
