Congestion at South African ports have had an unexpected bonus for Dube Tradeport.

The significant increase in airfreight through Dube TradePort’s cargo terminal over the past six months is attributed to the congestion and slow-throughput capacity at major ports which had caused ripples across supply chains.

Demand for airfreight spiked by 57% quarter-on-quarter from September to December, with a further significant increase in demand noticeable in January.

“This increase in airfreight has been observed across various industries, from perishables to the automotive sector, the latter traditionally being reliant on ocean freight,” said Dube Cargo terminal senior manager for cargo development and operations, Ricardo Isaac.

“From September through to December 2023, we saw fruit exports to the Middle East and European markets double in volume compared to the same period the previous year.

“On the automotive side, in November we saw volumes about 30% higher than normal being moved through our airfreight cargo terminal,” he said.

“This trend shows that for time-sensitive commodities and in cases where production stoppage risks are heightened, having an efficient air option such as the Dube Cargo Terminal has become invaluable and remains an important part of the supply chain.”

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