Your month-end roundup for fulfillment, eCommerce, and logistics in South Africa. Staying ahead means tracking what’s changing from ports to payments to warehousing.
1. Durban Port Expansion Project Enters Next Phase
Transnet has kicked off phase two of the Durban Container Terminal upgrade, with an additional R4.5 billion allocated for expanding capacity and improving ship turnaround times. The move aims to raise annual throughput by 20% by 2027, directly benefiting eCommerce sellers and exporters relying on faster, more predictable delivery routes.
The project also includes AI-driven yard management systems to reduce dwell times, a step forward for South Africa’s goal of becoming a logistics hub for sub-Saharan trade.
2. South African eCommerce Grows 17% Year-on-Year
According to the latest PayFast report, South Africa’s eCommerce market grew by 17% YoY in Q3 2025, driven largely by festive-season prep, convenience shopping, and flexible payment options.
Top-performing categories include household essentials, electronics, and health & beauty. Interestingly, mobile transactions made up 72% of all online orders, showing how important mobile-optimized checkout and quick-pay options have become for online sellers.
3. Cross-Border Deliveries on the Rise
With several courier integrations expanding their networks, cross-border shipping into neighboring markets like Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia is becoming easier.
Merchants are now prioritizing “Africa-wide fulfillment” as consumers across borders increasingly prefer South African online stores for quality and reliability.
Experts predict that cross-border eCommerce could grow 25% YoY in 2026, making international delivery readiness a major competitive edge for local businesses.
4. Warehousing Tightens in Gauteng and Cape Town
Warehouse occupancy across major hubs remains above 85%, with prime logistics zones like Midrand, Ekurhuleni, and Montague Gardens facing limited availability.
Demand for shared or on-demand warehousing models is rising, allowing smaller merchants to scale during peak sales periods without locking into long-term leases.
Flexible warehousing combined with real-time inventory visibility is fast becoming a must for fast-moving online brands.
5. Payments Ecosystem Sees New Entrants
Fintech players like Stitch and Ozow have introduced enhanced API-based payment tools that simplify reconciliation and enable instant payouts to merchants.
This is particularly valuable for businesses that depend on cash flow to manage daily fulfillment costs and courier payments.
Expect more innovation in digital payments as banks and startups compete to offer frictionless, faster checkout experiences.
Shiprazor Insight of the Month
October shows a clear trend: logistics resilience and eCommerce agility are finally starting to converge.
Delivery efficiency: Faster port operations and new private freight routes mean shorter lead times but variability still exists. Businesses should build 2–3 day buffers into delivery promises to manage customer expectations.
Cross-border growth: Sellers expanding into SADC regions should focus on multi-courier integration and localized pricing to unlock growth opportunities.
Warehousing flexibility: Instead of investing in fixed storage, merchants can now leverage shared or modular fulfillment setups for cost efficiency during seasonal peaks.
Success in 2026 will depend not only on marketing or pricing but on how efficiently you move products from cart to customer.
