Industry related headlines to keep you in the know.
Maersk has removed the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal from its X4A (ASAS) service with immediate effect, citing persistent weather disruptions and prolonged berth delays that have undermined schedule reliability for months.
Shipping and Logistics
8 July 2026 • 3 min read
When a major carrier removes a port from its rotation, the cargo does not disappear -- it moves by road, rail and transhipment instead. Maersk's decision to cut Port Elizabeth from the X4A service shifts real volumes onto alternative routings and puts Eastern Cape exporters on notice.
The shipping line said ongoing operational challenges at the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal had significantly affected the X4A schedule over recent months and continued to undermine reliability across the wider service. Maersk had already built additional operational buffers into the rotation in an effort to keep the call, but recurring delays and last-minute omissions kept creating uncertainty for customers.
The carrier says removing Port Elizabeth will support improved schedule reliability and service consistency across the rest of the X4A loop. Export cargo from the port may now be routed through alternative Maersk services and transhipment options, subject to capacity, and affected customers with existing bookings are being contacted directly with updated routings.
Port pressure: Port Elizabeth recorded average vessel waiting times of around six days in early July -- the longest in the South African port system -- with crane breakdowns cutting productivity to roughly 12 moves per hour and backlogs expected to persist for months. (Source: Kuehne+Nagel port operational update, 2026)
The timing is uncomfortable. Eastern Cape ports carried a rising share of South Africa's fruit exports last season when Cape Town struggled, and the region's automotive industry depends on reliable container connections. A skipped call means longer lead times, transhipment risk and, for time-sensitive cargo, a road leg to Durban, Coega or Cape Town that adds cost per container.
Carrier omissions also tend to be sticky. Once a service settles into a leaner rotation and reliability improves, lines are slow to reinstate marginal calls. The Eastern Cape now has to prove it can turn vessels around consistently before the call is likely to return.
In the short term, expect more feeder and transhipment moves, more trucking between the Eastern Cape and alternative load ports, and tighter space on services that still call the region. Freight forwarders will be re-quoting routings, and exporters with fixed sailing commitments will need contingency plans for the balance of the season.
For road transporters, the omission creates demand: containers that previously loaded at Port Elizabeth must reach vessels elsewhere. Cross-haul work between Gqeberha, Coega and Durban is likely to increase while the situation lasts.
If you move Eastern Cape cargo, confirm your carrier's current rotation before quoting and build the possible road leg to an alternative port into your rates. Transporters should position for extra cross-haul demand between Gqeberha, Coega and Durban, and forwarders should lock in transhipment space early -- capacity on the remaining services will tighten first.
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Andre Klynsmith Entrepreneur & Technology Enthusiast Andre's expertise spans technology, blockchain, transport, and logistics -- with a passion for innovation and driving positive change across industries. |
| Source: Freight News View source › | 8 July 2026 |
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