Quarter 3 2026

Quarterly Report | Published October 2026

SOUTH AFRICA’S LOGISTICS SECTOR IMPROVED MARGINALLY IN Q3 2026

The Ctrack Transport & Freight Index (TFI) recouped some of its Q2 losses in Q3 2026, rising by a marginal 0.2% quarter-on-quarter to reach a level of 122.2, and remaining 1.8% higher than a year earlier. Recovery was broad-based, with storage and handling up 7.3%, sea freight 6.3%, rail freight 3.1%, pipeline transport 3.0% and air freight 2.4%. Road freight, the heaviest-weighted sub-sector, was the exception, contracting by 2.7% as high fuel and capital costs weighed on demand. The ongoing Middle East conflict continues to keep fuel prices elevated, with Brent crude at around $114/bbl. Government relief for November and December, capped at R10bn, is welcome, but petrol and diesel are still expected to be up by roughly R10 and R12 per litre respectively between March and November. This raises the risk of further inflation and higher supply-chain costs. Even so, continued structural reforms at South Africa’s ports and rail network provide a more positive medium-term outlook for improved efficiency, lower logistics costs and stronger export capacity.