Port performance and competitiveness: Evidence from the Port of Durban

Background: Efficient port systems are fundamental to facilitating trade and supporting economic growth within increasingly competitive global markets. However, persistent operational inefficiencies within the Port of Durban have raised concerns regarding its ability to sustain this role and maintain competitiveness. These inefficiencies have extended beyond operational boundaries, affecting trade reliability, logistics systems and broader economic outcomes, thereby necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of port performance within a global comparative context. Objectives: This study examined the operational performance of the Port of Durban and evaluated how infrastructure, governance, logistics integration and operational efficiency influence its competitiveness and broader economic contribution. The study further benchmarked the Port of Durban against leading regional and international ports to identify best practices for improving operational performance. Method: A secondary qualitative research design was adopted using academic literature, policy documents, institutional reports and industry publications. The evidence was analysed through thematic and comparative analysis to identify the key factors influencing port performance and competitiveness. Results: The findings indicate that the interaction of infrastructure quality, operational efficiency, governance effectiveness and logistics integration shapes port performance. Persistent congestion, equipment failures, declining rail performance and weak institutional coordination reduced operational efficiency, increased logistic costs and weakened the Port of Durban’s competitiveness relative to regional and global ports. Comparative benchmarking further demonstrated that sustained competitiveness depends on integrated governance, efficient operations and coordinated logistics systems rather than infrastructure capacity alone. Conclusion: The study concludes that improving the Port of Durban’s competitiveness requires coordinated interventions that strengthen operational efficiency, governance implementation, infrastructure maintenance and logistics integration. Contribution: By providing an integrated assessment of the factors influencing port performance, the study contributes to the literature on port competitiveness. It offers practical evidence to support policy and operational decision-making aimed at enhancing South Africa’s trade competitiveness.