Transnet Port Terminals stabilises operations and positions for future expansion

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is shifting into a growth trajectory following the recent stabilisation of its business operations, as CEO Jabu Mdaki revealed at the Transport Forum in Durban on Tuesday.

This rally comes after the terminal operator adopted a multifaceted approach, which is now beginning to yield significant results in the freight and logistics sector.

TPT has earmarked a substantial R3.4 billion for new equipment acquisitions in the 2025/2026 financial year, demonstrating its commitment to modernising infrastructure and enhancing operational efficiencies.

Key initiatives include a thorough review of loading cycles in the container sector, upgrading rail infrastructure and agricultural capacity at the Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal, and the anticipated delivery of a third tippler to Saldanha’s Bulk Terminal operations by October 2025.

Historically, underinvestment in equipment alongside adverse weather conditions and strict policies has hampered TPT's operational efficiency.

However, the company has embarked on an ambitious plan to refurbish its current fleet across 16 terminals, which handle various cargo types including agricultural, mineral bulk, breakbulk, containers, and automotive.

“We have also had to employ newtechnologies, automate some of our processes and maximise data analytics in order to predictmaintenance and obtain business intelligence for effective planning and performance,” saidMdaki.

To further drive recovery, TPT has introduced new technologies, automated key processes, and leveraged data analytics to predict maintenance needs and derive business intelligence for effective planning and performance improvement.

Recent preliminary figures for the 2024/2025 financial year indicate that TPT has surpassed volume targets at five of its 16 terminals, including remarkable achievements at the Richards Bay Terminals, Durban Container Terminal Pier 1, Durban Multipurpose Terminal, and the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal.

Despite these successes, Mdaki emphasised the operator’s ongoing focus on improved efficiencies, increasing volume growth across sectors, and expanding its market share.

While TPT faces challenges such as the impact of US tariffs on South African exports, Mdaki reassured stakeholders of ongoing collaborations within the industry aimed at mitigating potential repercussions on operational plans and annual forecasts.

The citrus fruit season, which commenced in April, has further spotlighted TPT's initiatives. New equipment, including ship-to-shore cranes at the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, straddle carriers, rail-mounted gantry cranes, haulers, forklifts, trailers, reach stackers, and additional cranes at the Durban and Cape Town container terminals, have been commissioned and deployed, amplifying the terminal's operational capabilities.

BUSINESS REPORT