Transnet Port Terminals has deployed senior management and additional equipment operators to Cape Town to strengthen terminal performance
Senior executives and specialist teams from within the Transnet group have been deployed to Cape Town to take hands-on responsibility in addressing systemic operational issues and improving terminal performance.
According to a statement by Transnet Port Terminals CEO Jabu Mdaki, both Cape Town Container Terminal and Cape Town Multi-Purpose Terminal will report to Earl Peters – previously managing executive of Durban Terminals – to strengthen leadership support and improve operational performance.
Additional staff who can operate RTGs and STS cranes have also been deployed to the Port of Cape Town from other terminals to facilitate increased productivity.
The South African Table Grape Industry (Sati) said that multi-stakeholder meetings are being conducted twice a week by Transnet to update the industry on progress made with recovery plans at Cape Town.
“The Cape Town Container Terminal recorded 40 hours of wind delays in Week 2 (2026) compared to 20.5 hours in Week 2 last year,” Sati stated.
This comes as the table grape industry moves into its peak export weeks.
National inspection volumes up to week 2 totalled 38.65mn cartons, up 19 per cent from 32.36mn cartons inspected at the same time last year.
This is close to half of the total grape export forecast.
The apple and pear export season is now also ramping up with stone fruit in its peak.
What will be of some concern is that up to week 2 a total of 20.25mn cartons were exported, some 19 per cent less than the 25mn cartons exported at the same time last year.
There were still 3.48mn cartons in cold stores, while 10.74mn cartons were exported on vessels which sailed in week 3.
As far as production is concerned, the biggest early season export region, the Orange River, already packed 24.1mn cartons, which is 13 per cent more than the same time last year.
The total South African export estimate remains close to 80mn cartons.
Namibia packed 9.7mn cartons for export, which was 13 per cent more than at the same time last year.
The Namibian season is now winding down with the last volumes being exported at present.
