Durban ships out more containers than it receives — but handles half of all South Africa's import value

Weekly container volumes at the Port of Durban (Pier 1 + Pier 2), thousand TEUs, May–November 2025

52.1%

of SA's total import value passes through Durban

13.1%

of SA's total export value — bulk minerals leave via Richards Bay

60%

of all South African container traffic handled at Durban

Exports

Imports

Exports have consistently outpaced imports at Durban's container terminals throughout 2025 — roughly 53 boxes shipped for every 47 received. Yet in value terms the picture inverts: the port dominates South Africa's import trade while punching well below its weight on exports, because the country's most lucrative bulk minerals bypass Durban entirely for Richards Bay.