Durban port’s struggles laid bare in World Bank report

Rankings reveal urgent need for improvements in South Africa’s key shipping hub

- THAMI MAGUBANE

THE latest World Bank report on the efficiency of container ports worldwide has again painted a troubling picture of the Port of Durban's performance.

The fifth edition of the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) for 2024, released recently, ranks Durban as the 403rd busiest port globally, placing it among the worst performers in the world.

So grim is the picture, South Africa could not take advantage of the shipping crises in other parts of the world because of the inefficiencies in its port.

Despite this dismal ranking, the report indicates that investments have been made to improve the situation, with some positive signs emerging.

Logistics and labour experts have expressed concern, stating that the findings reveal a dire state of the ports, which continue to act as a stumbling block for the economy.

Transnet, the state-owned company responsible for South Africa's transport and logistics infrastructure, has pushed back against these findings, highlighting that the report also noted several improvements in the performance of their ports.

The CPPI, prepared jointly by the Transport Global Practice of the Infrastructure Vice-Presidency at the World Bank and the Global Insight division of S&P Global Market Intelligence, serves as a diagnostic and planning tool. Its aim is not to benchmark ports against one another but to help port authorities, governments, and private stakeholders identify areas for improvement and the conditions necessary for such advancements.

The CPPI measures the time container ships spend in port, making it a crucial reference point for stakeholders in the global economy and for the sustainable development of ports.