Wesgro, the official economic development agency for the Western Cape, recently celebrated a remarkable achievement, a record-breaking 25% growth in air cargo trade volumes via Cape Town International Airport, reports Cape {town} Etc.
With 2025 set to see 75 000 tonnes of goods transported by air, this surge is a testament to the region’s expanding international connectivity and reinforces Cape Town’s role as a pivotal trade hub.
Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander has attributed the impressive growth to the airport’s expanded international flight offerings, now boasting 217 international flights per week this season.
‘We need to focus on what we can control attracting investment, leveraging technology, and strengthening global partnerships,’ Stander asserted, highlighting the importance of strategic economic initiatives.
In addition to positive air cargo trends, passenger numbers at Cape Town International Airport have also seen a significant uptick, with a 10% increase anticipated in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Stander explained, ‘This growth in connectivity means increased belly-freight cargo capacity and more opportunities to move goods by air.’
CEO of Naspers Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, has underscored the crucial role of e-commerce in propelling air cargo expansion.
‘E-commerce growth in South Africa presents huge opportunities for air cargo,’ she stated, stressing the need to integrate digital and physical supply chains to meet consumer expectations for prompt and reliable delivery.
Another focal point of the conference was the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which confers a competitive advantage for South African products in the US market, particularly benefiting Western Cape agricultural exports.
Wesgro emphasised the importance of maintaining and growing market share in the US, while also addressing supply-side competitiveness challenges and striving for diversified market access through trade agreements and reduced trade barriers.
Echoing this sentiment, Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, Alderman James Vos, remarked on the region’s 57% increase in air cargo growth since 2018.
Vos called for ongoing collaboration to enhance logistics and streamline the movement of goods: ‘We need to secure more flight routes and improve connectivity to drive economic growth.’
Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism, provided further insights into the broader economic implications of air cargo. He asserted that modern infrastructure is vital for supporting trade and attracting investment.
‘If we want to attract investment, we need the right infrastructure to support air cargo growth,’ he stated.
Meyer emphasised the province’s commitment to studying growth potential across different towns and regions to drive targeted investment, concluding that expanding air cargo capacity will strengthen the logistics network, open new trade opportunities, and position the Western Cape as a competitive player on the global stage.
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Picture: Wesgro Facebook
