African ports miss out as Hormuz disruption reroutes shipping via Cape routes

African ports are capturing a small share of global shipping traffic diverted by disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting how rerouted trade is bypassing the continent’s maritime hubs even as vessels take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope as security concerns reshape global shipping patterns and increase transit times for carriers.

The strait was effectively closed on Feb. 28 amid heightened tensions in the US–Israel conflict with Iran, forcing shipping lines to abandon one of the world’s busiest energy corridors. The passage normally handles about a quarter of global seaborne oil, along with large volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers. With that route disrupted, carriers redirected ships around southern Africa, pushing traffic along the Cape route higher by as much as 90 percent.

Despite that increase in vessel movement, African ports have not seen a matching rise in cargo handling or container throughput. Rhenus Logistics said most of the additional sailings are tied to Asia–Europe and Asia–Mediterranean services, along with crude oil and bulk cargo flows that pass through without significantly lifting port calls across the continent.

Durban, Cape Town capacity constrained

Operational constraints are also shaping outcomes. Durban and Cape Town, two of South Africa’s busiest ports, have faced weather disruptions, congestion, and equipment delays that limit how much additional traffic they can absorb. Industry officials say the issue is less about short-term demand and more about how global shipping networks are structured, with carriers showing little financial incentive to adjust established port rotations toward African hubs.

In East Africa, ports such as Djibouti and Port Sudan remain heavily linked to Red Sea trade routes but are losing ground to larger hubs in the Gulf and South Asia, including Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Sohar in Oman, which offer deeper capacity and faster turnaround times. Gains in Africa have been concentrated in service locations rather than container gateways.

Port Louis in Mauritius, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz in Namibia, bunkering points in West Africa have recorded demand linked to fuel stops for voyages. At Port Louis, bunker calls rose 42 percent to 294 vessels in March from previous month, while fuel volumes climbed to more than 109,000 tons, according to Mauritius Ports Authority. No dollar value was disclosed. 

Freight routes extended up to two weeks 

Shipping costs and transit times have increased. Routes between Asia, Europe and the Gulf now take up to two weeks longer in some cases, logistics firms say, adding pressure on carriers managing higher fuel use and scheduling disruptions. Some operators have suspended services into parts of the Persian Gulf, citing security risks. Africa, 2 percent of maritime exports and 5 percent of imports, has seen no trade gains, remaining a transit corridor not destination. 

Security concerns remain a key factor shaping shipping decisions. Attempts by some container lines to test a return to the Red Sea and Suez route in late 2025 and early 2026 were paused after renewed tensions in the Gulf. At the same time, maritime security officials have reported a resurgence in piracy incidents off Somalia, adding another layer of uncertainty for carriers weighing route options.