Optimism about improved efficiencies at the Port of Cape Town has faded as severe disruptions between late February and early March highlighted the inadequacy of measures intended to prevent delays.
Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape, said that during that period, extreme winds reaching speeds of 100 to 120 km/h, far exceeding the operational threshold of 80 km/h, brought cargo movement at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) to a near standstill.
He said twelve vessels were reported waiting at anchor, with over 200 operational hours lost, causing significant supply chain disruptions.
Pienaar said the impact on South Africa’s fresh produce exports has been substantial, citing that delays resulted in two weeks’ worth of apple shipments arriving simultaneously in multiple markets, leading to price fluctuations and logistical bottlenecks.
“The situation presents a major challenge for us; the delays in cargo handling have created a ripple effect, impacting container availability, trucking operations, and ultimately, market access,” Pienaar said.
Related stories
- SA pushes to strengthen fresh produce exports to India
- Tru-Cape strengthens apple & pear exports in Africa and Asia
- New Raisins SA CEO on a mission to boost production and exports
He explained that depots struggled to meet demand, making it increasingly difficult to secure empty containers.
Meanwhile, trucking operations have been thrown into disarray as scheduled pickups and deliveries remain delayed at the port or container depots. These challenges have forced exporters to adjust their schedules, often missing key market windows.
Productivity levels below international standards
“As a Western Cape-based export-driven company, we are highly dependent on the Port of Cape Town. Transporting apples and pears to Durban or Gqeberha is not a viable alternative, as the additional cost of up to $3 per carton (R55) cannot be absorbed by the market. The operational challenges are adding immense pressure to the supply chain, driving up costs, and creating bottlenecks that are not easily resolved in the short term,” Pienaar said.
While logistical hurdles were anticipated this year, Pienaar had hoped for an improvement over the past few seasons’ poor performance. However, productivity levels remain well below international standards.
“In recent weeks, the gross crane movements per hour (GCH), a key productivity indicator, have averaged around 15, whereas the globally accepted benchmark is between 26 and 30 GCH. For context, in 2012, the Port of Cape Town was operating at 33 GCH.”
Although the introduction of new port management and additional equipment has been a step in the right direction, significant inefficiencies persist.
Pienaar believes that private sector participation is the only viable long-term solution to the port’s ongoing inefficiencies.
“We hope to see strategies in this regard fast-tracked. Export volumes are set to increase as young orchards come into production, and if these logistical challenges persist, they will severely impact the industry’s growth. Addressing the problems at the port must be an urgent priority.”
ALSO READ: Agritourism: Boost profits with hiking trails on farms
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
