South Africa is stepping up preparations at the Port of Cape Town ahead of the new deciduous fruit export season, as Transnet works to improve port efficiency and prevent a repeat of costly delays that affected fruit exporters last year.

Delays during the previous export season reportedly cost South African fruit producers more than R4 billion, with the table grape industry accounting for an estimated R3.2 billion of the losses. The figures have increased pressure on port authorities and the broader logistics sector to ensure that fresh produce can move efficiently during the upcoming peak export period.

Transnet has reported improvements in several areas of port performance. Container volumes at the Cape Town Container Terminal increased by 16% year-on-year during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.

Average truck turnaround time improved to 39.9 minutes, while year-to-date performance was 35% higher. Rail performance also improved significantly, recording an 82% increase.

These improvements will be particularly important as export volumes rise during the peak deciduous fruit season, when large quantities of temperature-sensitive products must move through the port within tightly controlled timeframes.

Planning For the Peak Fruit Season

Transnet Port Terminals is working with exporters, shipping lines, fruit industry organisations and other stakeholders to prepare for the expected increase in cargo volumes.

The planning process covers vessel scheduling, cargo deliveries, refrigerated container capacity, terminal stack management and recovery measures for weather-related disruptions.

Refrigerated, or reefer, containers are particularly important to the fruit export industry because fresh produce must be kept within strict temperature ranges throughout the logistics chain. Any delays in moving or loading these containers can affect product quality, shelf life and ultimately export revenues.

Weather conditions are another major consideration at the Port of Cape Town. Strong winds can restrict port operations and cause vessel delays, creating a backlog that can take considerable time to clear during peak periods.

Transnet said it is therefore incorporating measures to manage extended windbound conditions, including reviewing vessel and berth schedules and coordinating cargo deliveries with revised operating windows.

Temporary Storage to Support Export Flows

Transnet is also exploring the use of Belcon or another suitable intermediary facility to temporarily store export reefer containers before they are moved by rail into the Cape Town Container Terminal.

Such an arrangement could provide additional flexibility when terminal capacity is under pressure and help prevent large volumes of refrigerated containers from arriving at the port before they can be processed.

Improved coordination between the various participants in the logistics chain will also be critical.

A forum involving Transnet, the Department of Transport, shipping lines and shipping agents is planned to strengthen coordination during the export season and improve the industry’s ability to respond to operational disruptions.

Private Investment in Port Infrastructure

Transnet National Ports Authority is also turning to greater private-sector participation as part of efforts to modernise port infrastructure and expand capacity.

Nine of the Port of Cape Town’s 11 terminals are currently privately operated, reflecting the growing role of private investment and partnerships in improving South Africa’s port infrastructure.

For the deciduous fruit industry, efficient port operations are not simply a logistics issue. Fruit exports are highly time-sensitive, and delays can result in lost market opportunities, additional storage costs, reduced product quality and significant financial losses for producers.

The upcoming season will therefore provide an important test of whether recent improvements in truck, rail and container-terminal performance can translate into more reliable export flows.

With South Africa’s deciduous fruit producers competing in international markets, maintaining predictable shipping schedules and efficient cold-chain logistics will be essential to protecting the industry’s competitiveness.

If the planned measures are implemented effectively, improved coordination, stronger rail performance, additional reefer capacity and better contingency planning could help the Port of Cape Town handle peak-season demand more efficiently and reduce the risk of another costly disruption to South Africa’s fruit exports.