Container Terminal in Cape Town Delivers Remarkable 62% Over Target Results in Operational Performance
The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has made a remarkable comeback in the 2025/2026 financial year, setting a new benchmark for excellence in terminal operations. In a record-breaking week ending July 20, 2025, the terminal handled 19,931 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), surpassing its target by an impressive 62%.
The resurgence of the CTCT can be attributed to a combination of focused leadership, strategic investment, and a renewed commitment to operational excellence. Terminal Manager, Noxolo Thabatha, highlighted the emphasis on empowering people, clear communication of daily performance targets, and strengthened support structures on the ground, creating a people-first approach that has driven these gains.
One of the key factors behind the terminal's success is the strategic investment in infrastructure. Since April 2025, CTCT has invested heavily in new equipment, notably acquiring 18 new rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes. Nine of these cranes have already been commissioned for operations at the CTCT, improving container handling capacity and efficiency. This investment follows from a broader approach by Transnet Port Terminals, which allocated R3.4 billion to new equipment in 2024/2025, a 145% increase from the previous year.
The CTCT's operational excellence is also evident in its consistent monthly performance. The terminal closed the first quarter 32% above its targeted volumes and increased refrigerated container throughput by 64% year-on-year in June 2025. Despite ongoing challenges such as equipment reliability and weather, the focus has been on maximizing resources and empowering the team to deliver.
The CTCT's performance serves as a beacon of progress within Transnet Port Terminals (TPT). The growth in refrigerated container throughput reflects the terminal's improved reliability, and the weekly volume of 19,931 TEUs marks the highest since March 2019. This resurgence is significant, as the CTCT plays a critical role in supporting South Africa's export economy.
In summary, the CTCT's resurgence stems from empowered and engaged leadership, substantial capital investment in modern equipment, and a rigorous focus on operational performance metrics. These factors have elevated terminal throughput and reliability substantially during the 2025/2026 financial year. The terminal's performance not only demonstrates what is possible through strategic focus, investment, and empowered leadership but also contributes to reduced vessel delays and higher compliance with shipping agreements across South African container terminals.
The strategic investment in modern infrastructure, such as the acquisition and commissioning of new rubber-typed gantry cranes, has significantly improved the CTCT's container handling capacity and efficiency. Additionally, the focus on technology, exemplified by the use of performance metrics to drive operational excellence, has been instrumental in elevating terminal throughput and reliability during the 2025/2026 financial year.
