Logistics
Logistics is the sector concerned with the planning, implementation and control of the efficient movement and storage of goods, services and information from point of origin to point of consumption. The industry encompasses transportation, warehousing, inventory management, materials handling, packaging, supply chain coordination and distribution network design. Logistics activities span multiple modes of transport including road freight, rail, maritime shipping, air cargo and intermodal operations. The sector plays a critical role in manufacturing, mining, agriculture, retail and e-commerce by ensuring that raw materials, components and finished products reach their destinations on time and in good condition. Key players include third-party logistics providers, freight forwarders, courier services, port operators and integrated supply chain specialists. In Africa, logistics faces particular challenges including infrastructure deficits, border delays, regulatory complexity and the need to serve dispersed markets across vast distances. Technology adoption is transforming the industry through warehouse automation, fleet telematics, route optimisation software and digital freight platforms. The sector is a significant employer and contributor to GDP in most economies, with performance directly affecting trade competitiveness and the cost of doing business. Logistics efficiency is measured by metrics such as on-time delivery rates, inventory turnover, transport costs as a percentage of sales and order fulfilment cycle times. Environmental concerns are driving interest in green logistics practices including fuel-efficient vehicles, route consolidation and reverse logistics for product returns and recycling.
Logistics Updates
Businesses not yet feeling the effect of reforms, as confidence drops – BLSA 
By: Schalk Burger 7th September 2026 Businesses are unfortunately not yet feeling the impact of structural reforms on the ground, with felt progress important in the move toward a new... →
South African exporters now able to pursue markets together under new policy – dtic
By: Schalk Burger 2nd September 2026 South African exporters must collaborate to pursue international markets under the Block Exemption for Promotion of Exports, which provides for... →
Brazil deal underscores need to strengthen country’s trade agreements – BLSA
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st August 2026 The announcement last week that South Africa had reaffirmed its strategic partnership with Brazil, with ambitions to deepen economic ties, was... →
The Presidency on launch of Phase 3 of Government Business Partnership for Growth and Jobs
21st August 2026 Phase 3 is focused on urgently addressing the societal crisis of low growth and unemployment. It adds additional sectors to the partnership... →
Intelligent Industrial Ecosystems: Turning Proximity into Intelligence
18th August 2026 In the European Union alone, around 80% of industrial data remains unused, limiting competitiveness, resilience and sustainability – a pattern... →
Mozambique: Southern Africa's emerging industrial platform
14th August 2026 Mozambique has spent a decade being defined by one story. It may be time to pay attention to another. The first is well known. The discovery of... →
Kenya private sector activity rises in July, PMI shows
By: Reuters 5th August 2026 Kenya's private sector activity expanded in July, though inflation pressures and logistics bottlenecks limited the pace of growth, a survey showed... →
BLSA reform tracker warns against complacency in energy, logistics reform
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 27th July 2026 Business organisation Business Leadership South Africa’s Reform Tracker quarterly update, released last week, shows real progress in home affairs... →
City welcomes Transnet's call for private partners for the Port of Cape Town
By: Schalk Burger 20th July 2026 The City of Cape Town welcomes State-owned Transnet's call for private sector partners to upgrade and operate the multipurpose terminal at the Port... →
Phillips questions need for middlemen, slams practice of overcharging Transnet
By: Irma Venter 20th July 2026 Transnet group CEO Michelle Phillips says the State-owned rail, ports and pipeline logistics group is putting measures in place to ensure that it... →
