Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is the custodian of the country’s primary trading hubs, managing the most vital conduits of the country’s imports and exports. Eight of the country’s major seaports are controlled and managed by the TNPA namely; Richards Bay, Durban, Saldanha, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, east London, Mossel Bay and Ngqura (Coega) in the Eastern Cape.

The TNPA offers a combination of port facilities and services which compliment each other. Each port has a natural hinterland with a defined market, which drives the nature of services, facilities and the types of cargo handled at each port. Consequently, each port operates and develops its own service, which in turn supports a defined customer base.

A fundamental factor that links all of these ports is that they all operate against the backdrop of a rapidly increasing trade resulting from the country's economic growth and globalisation. These operational issues include:

• rapidly changing technology
• the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers
• the emergence of global terminal operators
• ever-changing distribution patterns

Sustainability is emerging as a key issue, influencing new development, current operations and relationships with a wide range of national and international partners. Implicit in the concept of sustainability are the factors described below.

The efficiency of the country's ports and the sustainability of their operating methods are central to the country's larger economy. As the primary conduit for trade, the ports serve as gateways between South African and world economies.

Port Specialisation

Each of South Africa's major ports serves the market of its adjacent hinterland. To a large extent, these markets determine the nature and types of cargo handled by each port. In the country as a whole, the unique capabilities of each port are combined to offer a high level of facilities and services.

Bulk Cargoes: Richards Bay the Leader

Break-bulk and bulk cargoes (including petroleum and other liquid products) handled by the seven ports in the 2007 calendar year totaled 183.3 million tons. Richards Bay handled 46% of this total, with its tonnage comprising mainly bulk cargoes such as coal, wood-chips, ferro-alloys, chrome ore and alumina. Durban accounted for 23% of these cargoes, mainly petroleum and general cargo. Saldanha's 24% comprised mainly iron ore exports. Fruit and agricultural produce were the main commodities handled by Cape Town (2% of the total), while manganese ore was the main contributor to Port Elizabeth’s 3% share.

Most cargo is export-bound
The accompanying chart shows that of the 183.3 million tons of break-bulk and bulk cargoes handled in 2007, the export tonnage was nearly three times as large as the import tonnage.

Containers: Durban in the lead

The TNPA's ports handled a total of 3.7 million TEUs of containers in 22007. (The TEU measurement is derived from a 20-foot 6m equivalent container unit; containers usually have lengths of 20 or 40 feet - 6 or 12m.) Of this total Durban handled 2.5 million TEUs (nearly 67% of the total), while Cape Town handled 764 000 TEUs (21%) and Port Elizabeth 420 000 (11%). The small container terminals at East London and Richards Bay handled the balance.

 The Busiest Ports

Measured in terms of vessel arrivals, Durban is South Africa's busiest port. Of the 13 152 vessels handled in 2007, Durban handled 4608 (about 35%), followed by Cape Town 3025 (about 23%) and Richards Bay with 1648 (13%), each with just. Port Elizabeth handled some 1300 vessels (10%) while Saldanha, East London and Mossel Bay in total handled some 2562 vessels (19%).

For more information, go to Transnet National port Authority