Asia to Southern Africa container trade rebounded in 2017 and has started 2018 with gusto.
Asian exports to Southern Africa grew by 5.6% in 2017, although the resulting annual count of 772,000 teu is still below the 807,000 teu which moved in 2013.
Broken down by Asian sub-region, according to Container Trade Statistics (CTS) last year’s exports grew fastest from North Asia, which rose by 6.8% to 175,000 teu, closely followed by Southeast Asia (up 6.3% to 133,000 teu) and Greater China (up 4.9% to 464,000 teu).
Last year’s recovery put an end to a miserable run of three years of either declining or flat volumes. Based on the start to this year and brighter economic prospects for the inbound region, Drewry expects 2018 to see southbound Asia to Southern Africa volume surpass that of 2013.
