South Africa's automotive ambitions are being held back at the port

By Mignon Fishburn, Automotive Vertical Lead at C Steinweg

The South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM 2035) sets ambitious targets for production growth, localisation, competitiveness and exports. Ports will play a major role in determining whether those targets are achieved.

However, according to the World Bank's 2024 Container Port Performance Index, Durban ranked last out of 403 ports globally for operational efficiency. Cape Town ranked around 400th, while Ngqura and Gqeberha were also among the lowest-performing ports measured. These rankings assess factors like vessel turnaround times, operational productivity and the time ships spend in port.

The automotive industry relies on a constant flow of components and finished products. Delays at ports affect production planning, inventory management and export schedules. Manufacturers have less room for disruption than they did a decade ago.

Equipment breakdowns, ageing infrastructure, delayed maintenance cycles, vessel scheduling challenges and shortages of technical and operational skills slow cargo movement through South Africa's ports. Ships spend longer waiting to berth, and containers spend longer in terminals and supply chains absorb the cost.

The obstacles SA faces

SAAM 2035 aims to increase local manufacturing, deepen localisation and strengthen South Africa's position as a globally competitive automotive hub. Industry stakeholders continue to identify infrastructure, particularly ports, rail and freight networks, as the biggest obstacles to achieving those goals. Production volumes have fallen short of SAAM targets, localisation has stalled and competitiveness has come under pressure. Without reliable logistics infrastructure, those challenges become harder to overcome.

In the Eastern Cape, where a large share of South Africa's automotive manufacturing activity is concentrated, logistics inefficiencies and infrastructure bottlenecks are eroding competitiveness. Freight congestion and port delays have extended lead times for some exports and placed additional pressure on manufacturers operating on just-in-time principles.

In 2016, transhipment cargo accounted for approximately 23% of South Africa's container volumes. By 2024 and 2025, that figure had fallen to around 13%, representing a decline of roughly 40% to 45% in market share.

Transhipment cargo attracts major shipping lines, strengthens trade connections and generates revenue for ports. Lower volumes reduce connectivity and flexibility within the logistics network. Manufacturers are sourcing from a wider range of markets, particularly in Asia, while localisation initiatives are creating opportunities for more South African suppliers to participate in automotive value chains.

Reliability becomes more important as supply chains become more complex

South Africa is one of Africa's most important logistics hubs, and investment is being directed towards infrastructure improvements. Progress has been made, but the gap between South Africa's ports and leading global competitors is still substantial.

South Africa's automotive industry contributes around 5.2% of GDP, supports more than 110,000 jobs and accounts for 22.6% of manufacturing value addition.

Automotive manufacturers cannot wait for infrastructure reform before managing risk within their own supply chains. Visibility, contingency planning and industry expertise are vital. When disruptions occur, manufacturers need options; they need logistics partners who understand the demands of automotive logistics and can respond quickly when conditions change.

SAAM 2035 provides a roadmap for the industry's future. Achieving its goals will depend on investment, production capacity, localisation and skills development. It will also depend on how efficiently South Africa moves components and finished vehicles through its ports.