Cape Town’s container terminal has once again been ranked at the bottom of a major global performance study, while Durban has been flagged as one of the strongest turnaround stories in international port operations.
The latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), released by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, assessed 400 ports worldwide using real vessel movement data, focusing on how long ships spend waiting versus time effectively spent at berth.
In the 2025 ranking, the Port of Cape Town placed last out of 400 ports, with a CPPI score of -302.6. The report highlights persistent operational strain, weather disruptions, and infrastructure limitations as key drivers behind the poor performance.
For shipping lines and exporters, the impact is felt on the ground. Vessel delays mean longer turnaround times, higher logistics costs, and added pressure on supply chains that rely heavily on predictable export schedules. Cape Town remains a key gateway for the Western Cape’s agricultural exports, especially during peak fruit season, making the delays even more costly for producers and freight operators.
The data shows vessels in Cape Town spent only around 56 percent of their time at berth, with the rest lost to waiting offshore or operational delays inside the terminal system.
While Cape Town slipped further behind, Durban delivered one of the most notable improvements globally.
The Port of Durban recorded a major operational recovery, cutting vessel congestion dramatically and improving efficiency scores by the largest margin in the index. Waiting times reportedly dropped from about 20 vessels to near zero in certain reporting periods, reflecting improved flow through the port system.
The report also pointed to positive momentum in the Eastern Cape, with both the Ngqura Container Terminal and the Port of Gqeberha showing measurable gains in performance and operational stability.
For South Africa’s logistics sector, the contrast is stark. One major gateway continues to struggle with systemic inefficiencies, while others are beginning to show signs of recovery after years of congestion and operational pressure.
Industry stakeholders have long warned that Cape Town’s challenges go beyond equipment and infrastructure alone, pointing to weather-related disruptions, access constraints, and terminal efficiency issues that continue to slow vessel movement.
Authorities have indicated that interventions are underway, including capacity expansion plans and improved forecasting tools to manage adverse sea conditions. However, analysts caution that infrastructure upgrades will only be effective if matched with consistent operational execution on the ground.
The latest CPPI results reinforce a widening performance gap within South Africa’s port system, with Durban emerging as a recovery benchmark while Cape Town remains under sustained pressure at the global bottom of the rankings.
The latest SA Trucking News straight to your inbox!
