Cape Town Port Congestion Worsens: What It Means for Global Logistics

The Port of Cape Town, a crucial hub for trade across Southern Africa and beyond, has been experiencing severe congestion issues since early 2025. As of April, vessels are experiencing average waiting times of over 6 days, with some ships delayed up to 10 days at anchorage before securing a berthing slot. Congestion is impacting every part of the supply chain, from missed ETAs and carrier delays to frustrated customers and logistics teams forced into reactive mode.

*The average waiting time at Cape Town is over 6 days (Source: Portcast)*

Several factors are driving the worsening situation: adverse weather conditions, particularly strong winds, have repeatedly disrupted port operations. Limited port infrastructure is struggling to handle the growing cargo volumes, and global disruptions, such as the Red Sea crisis, have diverted additional vessel traffic toward Cape Town, further adding to the strain.

The resulting delays are not just local headaches. They are estimated to be costing the South African economy millions of dollars daily and are impacting cargo flows on key global trade routes.

What Portcast's Data Shows

Our platform monitors thousands of shipments passing through Cape Town's port every month. Here's what our real-time data shows:

*Daily vessel traffic has been rising since mid-February 2025 (Source: Portcast)*‍

Average vessel dwell times have exceeded 10 days — a 60% increase compared to Q4 2024.
In March alone, over 40% of shipments in our network faced critical delays.
Drayage ETA accuracy has significantly declined due to unpredictable yard congestion and prolonged gate-in times.
The number of vessels waiting for berths in Q1 2025 has doubled compared to Q4 2024.

Historically, South African ports have been prone to heavy congestion. However, this time, the situation is different — other major South African ports are seeing less disruption, with Cape Town specifically bearing the brunt.

*Cape Town (ZACPT) is witnessing severe congestion compared to other South African ports (Source: Portcast)*

According to our platform, a few vessels that experienced exceptionally long wait times in recent weeks include:

ONE RESILIENCE (IMO 9952751) — waited 11 days before securing a berth on 17 April
MAERSK FLORENCE (IMO 9969053) — waited 11 days before securing a berth on 16 April

Major Carriers Adjust Cape Town Calls Amid Disruption

The persistent congestion has forced leading shipping lines to take decisive actions. In recent weeks, particularly from March through April 2025, several carriers have made significant schedule adjustments:

Maersk has notably omitted Cape Town calls for certain services. According to recent reports, some of Maersk's vessels have been turned around before calling at the port to avoid lengthy wait times.
Other shipping lines are increasingly blanking sailings to Cape Town or rerouting cargo via alternative hubs, such as Port Louis and Mauritius, to maintain service reliability.
Carriers are also exploring transshipment options and adjusting schedules across Southern African and Indian Ocean routes to minimise the knock-on effects of these delays.

How Cape Town's Port Congestion Is Impacting Global Supply Chains

The congestion at Cape Town isn't an isolated issue; it's amplifying existing global logistics challenges. Key impacts include:

Delivery delays: Extended vessel waiting times are pushing back cargo deliveries, affecting production schedules and inventory levels.
Increased freight costs: As shipping lines adjust routes and capacity becomes constrained, spot rates for affected services are rising.
Strain on alternative ports: With cargo being rerouted, ports like Port Louis are seeing increased volumes, potentially leading to congestion spillover.
Supply chain uncertainty: Frequent schedule changes and port omissions are making supply chain planning more difficult for shippers and freight forwarders.

Combined with ongoing pressures from the Red Sea crisis and persistent bottlenecks at other global ports, Cape Town's congestion adds yet another layer of complexity to already fragile supply chains.

Recommendations: How Shippers and Freight Forwarders Can Stay Ahead

While the Cape Town situation continues to unfold, shippers and logistics teams can take proactive steps to minimise disruption:

Track shipments closely: Use real-time visibility tools to monitor vessel locations, port statuses, and transit milestones. Early warnings about delays can enable faster contingency planning.

Plan alternative routes: Work with carriers and freight partners to explore bypass options, such as transshipment via Port Louis or even routing through Eastern or Northern South African ports when feasible.

Monitor blank sailings in an automated manner: Use automated updates from platforms like Portcast to stay informed about blank sailings on the trade lanes that matter most to you.

Stay updated on carrier advisories: Regularly monitor updates from shipping lines regarding schedule changes, port omissions, and new contingency plans.

At Portcast, we help our customers navigate dynamic supply chain risks with AI-powered visibility and predictive analytics, ensuring you're not caught off guard by delays, whether at Cape Town or anywhere across the globe. Contact us to learn more!