The South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM 2035) has set ambitious targets for production growth, localisation, competitiveness and exports. Whether those targets are achieved will depend in no small part on the country's ports.
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 such as vessel turnaround times, operational productivity and the time ships spend in port.
The automotive industry depends on the uninterrupted flow of components and finished vehicles. Delays at ports disrupt production planning, inventory management and export schedules, leaving manufacturers with far less room for error than they had a decade ago.
Equipment breakdowns, ageing infrastructure, delayed maintenance, vessel scheduling challenges, and shortages of technical and operational skills continue to slow cargo movement through South Africa's ports. Ships spend longer waiting to berth, containers remain in terminals for longer and supply chains absorb the resulting costs.
The obstacles facing SA
SAAM 2035 aims to increase local manufacturing, deepen localisation and strengthen South Africa's position as a globally competitive automotive hub. Yet industry stakeholders continue to identify 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, these challenges become even harder to overcome.
In the Eastern Cape, where much of South Africa's automotive manufacturing is concentrated, logistics inefficiencies and infrastructure bottlenecks are eroding competitiveness. Freight congestion and port delays have extended export lead times 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 across the logistics network. At the same time, 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 matters
South Africa remains one of Africa's most important logistics hubs, and investment is being directed towards infrastructure improvements. While progress has been made, the gap between South Africa's ports and leading global competitors remains substantial.
The automotive industry contributes around 5.2% of GDP, supports more than 110 000 jobs and accounts for 22.6% of manufacturing value addition. Achieving the objectives of SAAM 2035 will depend on investment, production capacity, localisation and skills development – but it will also depend on how efficiently South Africa moves components and finished vehicles through its ports.
Until port performance improves, logistics will remain one of the biggest constraints for the country's automotive ambitions and its ability to compete in global markets.
