Logistical challenges and bottlenecks continue at South Africa’s ports, specifically the Port of Cape Town, with the situation currently being exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Jacques du Preez, Hortgro’s general manager for trade and markets, said the situation at the Port of Cape Town had not improved much after the difficulties encountered between December 2021 and February this year, and he expected the situation to remain difficult for the next 12 to 24 months.
Rina Hertog, country manager for South Africa at international shipping company Hillebrand, told delegates at a recent Vinpro workshop that the Port of Cape Town had lost 96 operating days during the 2021/22 financial year.
This had resulted in a backlog of more than 1 000 trucks awaiting processing of their loads, putting pressure on workers during cargo-loading onto ships. The long turn-around times also resulted in many cargo vessels bypassing Cape Town altogether.
Hertog said she did not expect the situation to improve soon: “A lack of space and containers globally, disruptions due to [geopolitical] and civil instability, and high ocean freight rates will remain in 2022, with the next few months [expected to be] very volatile.
Source: farmersweekly.co.za