Durban Port: Southern Africa's Gateway Under Transformation
Durban is Africa's busiest port by container volume but its congestion and dwell times are damaging South Africa's trade competitiveness. A R100 billion investment programme is underway.
The Port of Durban is Africa's busiest container port, handling approximately 2.8 million TEUs annually and serving as the primary gateway for South Africa and landlocked Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Malawi. Despite its critical importance, Durban has suffered from chronic congestion, infrastructure backlog, and operational inefficiency. Average container dwell time of 5 to 7 days compares poorly with global benchmarks of 3 days and regional peers like Walvis Bay at 2.1 days. A truck queuing system introduced in 2022 reduced truck waiting times from 6 hours to under 2 hours but container terminal efficiency remains below its potential.
The Dig-Out Port
Transnet's R100 billion South Durban Basin redevelopment plan involves digging out the Old Airport site adjacent to the existing port to create a new container terminal capable of handling 3 million TEUs annually. The project, which requires significant government financing and private sector participation, is intended to resolve Durban's capacity constraints for the next generation of African trade growth. Logistics operators and importers using Durban can access port contacts and transit logistics data on intra-africa.com.
For businesses looking to expand across Africa, intra-africa.com offers a comprehensive trade directory, verified buyer and seller listings, and real-time market intelligence covering all 54 African nations. It remains an indispensable resource for anyone serious about intra-African commerce.