South Africa’s commercial ports have recorded their strongest performance since before the Covid-19 pandemic, marking a notable recovery in ship arrivals after years of disruption.
In 2025, a total of 9,342 vessels docked at the country’s eight main seaports, Cape Town, Durban, Richards Bay, Gqeberha, Ngqura, Saldanha Bay, East London and Mossel Bay, signalling renewed activity at the country’s key trade gateways.
The figures, published by BusinessTech drawing on data from The Outlier and research by GroundUp, reflect a steady climb from the pandemic slump that saw ship arrivals fall sharply between 2019 and 2021.
Between 2019 and 2021, ship dockings dropped from 9,882 to 8,453 as global trade slowed and local operational pressures intensified.
Research referenced by GroundUp linked the downturn not only to Covid-19 restrictions but also to ageing infrastructure and operational inefficiencies.
While 2025’s figures remain slightly below 2018 levels, the upward trajectory suggests a stabilising environment across major harbours.
Durban Harbour continues to dominate in volume. Despite a marginal dip from 3,061 arrivals in 2018 to 2,939 in 2025, it remains the busiest port in the country across the measured period.
Handling over 86 million tons of cargo annually and facilitating around 60% of South Africa’s imports and exports, Durban serves as one of Africa’s primary maritime trade hubs. Its infrastructure includes 58 berths and a dedicated cruise terminal.
Cape Town Harbour stands out as the only major port to show significant growth over the period. Arrivals climbed from 1,604 in 2018 to 2,235 in 2025, allowing it to overtake Richards Bay as the country’s second busiest port.
Positioned along one of the world’s historic trade routes since 1652, Cape Town’s port supports cargo operations, fishing industries and tourism linked to the V&A Waterfront, alongside its modern container and bulk handling facilities.
Richards Bay, established in 1976 primarily for coal exports, recorded a decline from 1,922 ship dockings in 2018 to 1,438 in 2025.
GroundUp’s reporting attributes part of the slowdown to coal shortages linked to inefficiencies in Transnet’s rail network.
However, improvements in rail operations and infrastructure upgrades have reportedly begun to stabilise activity at the KwaZulu-Natal harbour, which still handles roughly 60% of South Africa’s annual seaborne cargo.
Beyond the three largest harbours, South Africa’s port system plays varied strategic roles:
- Ngqura, operational since 2009 near Gqeberha, functions as a deep-water transhipment hub within the Coega Industrial Development Zone and features the country’s longest breakwater.
- Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) operates 12 berths and manages mixed cargo through facilities in Algoa Bay.
- East London, located at the mouth of the Buffalo River, remains South Africa’s only river port with 11 commercial berths.
- Mossel Bay, the smallest commercial harbour, supports fishing operations and retains historical maritime significance.
- Saldanha Bay continues to serve as a bulk export hub along the West Coast.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Picture: Getty Images
