PORTS ON THE RISE

South African ports among world’s most improved in global rankings

Durban, Ngqura and Gqeberha have been recognised among the world’s most improved ports in the latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), highlighting encouraging progress in Transnet’s efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen operations and support South Africa’s trade competitiveness.

Three South African ports have earned international recognition after being named among the world’s most improved ports in the latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), produced by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The Port of Durban led the way, achieving the highest year-on-year improvement in the rankings. The Port of Ngqura (Coega) and the Port of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) also featured among the world’s top 10 most improved ports.

The achievement marks a significant turnaround from the previous year’s report, which placed several South African ports among the world’s poorest performers. According to the latest report, Durban recorded notable improvements in vessel turnaround times during 2025, despite ongoing challenges in global supply chains.

One of the most encouraging developments was the reduction in vessel waiting times. The number of vessels waiting outside the Port of Durban decreased from 20 to zero, while berth utilisation improved significantly, indicating more productive operations and reduced delays.

The report attributes these gains to gradual operational stabilisation, equipment recovery initiatives and management reforms. Increased investment and greater private-sector participation have also supported improvements across the port system.

The positive rankings reflect broader progress across Transnet’s ports network. In May, Transnet announced that its ports handled more than 300 million tonnes of cargo during the 2025/26 financial year, the best performance recorded in 15 years. Cargo volumes across the country’s eight commercial seaports increased by 4.2%, while vessel traffic rose by 9%.

While the report notes that there is still work to be done, particularly in maintaining momentum and addressing ongoing challenges, the latest rankings provide encouraging evidence that recovery efforts are beginning to deliver results.

For Transnet employees across the business, the recognition reflects the collective efforts of teams working every day to improve operational performance, strengthen customer confidence and support South Africa’s economic growth through more efficient ports.