The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has dismissed as “misleading” a global port index that ranked Cape Town Port as one of the world’s worst-performing container ports. The report, co-authored by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, ranks the world’s container facilities based on vessel turnaround times over the course of the previous year.
However, SAAFF believes the ranking methodology produces an inaccurate representation of overall port performance, evidenced by Cape Town’s improved performance last year in terms of volume and port productivity.
“SAAFF notes the release of the latest World Bank and S&P Global Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), which again offers a useful – but limited – view of container-port performance,” commented SAAFF’s research head, Dr Jacob van Rensburg. “The CPPI is a vessel-time-in-port indicator, adjusted for vessel and call size; it is not a whole-system measure of port or logistics performance and does not, on its own, measure port throughput, cost, cargo dwell time, landside evacuation, hinterland connectivity, service reliability, or cargo-owner outcomes.”
“The rankings therefore do not tell the full story. While Durban, Ngqura and Port Elizabeth recorded material year-on-year improvements in the latest index, South Africa’s real challenge is to move beyond isolated indicators and build an integrated, transparent view of the full port-logistics system,” Van Rensburg said.
Cape Town Port remains the main exit point for South African boat exports, and a vital hub space for new build commissioning. Occasional cargo delays due largely to weather and vessel congestion have eased in recent months as a result of ongoing infrastructure investment.