South Africa is facing a new trade setback as Danish shipping giant Maersk has announced it will end direct cargo shipments between South Africa and the United States starting October 1.
The decision, reported by News24 and communicated to customers this week, will reroute South African exports through European transshipment hubs.
This change is expected to extend shipping times and drive up logistics costs for businesses already under economic pressure.
Maersk has linked the move to operational restructuring and adjustments in global supply chains.
However, the timing has intensified concerns within South Africa’s export sector, especially amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between Pretoria and President Donald Trump’s administration.
The U.S. recently indicated it may review South Africa’s eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade agreement that allows duty-free access for many African exports to the American market.
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Dr Ernst van Biljon, Head Lecturer at IMM Graduate School, told IOL South Africa that losing one of only two direct links to the U.S. is a significant blow.
He warned that relying on Europe’s already congested ports adds “time, cost, and uncertainty.”
“But this is more than just a shipping reshuffle,” he added.
“It exposes South Africa’s strategic vulnerability in global supply chains. Tariffs and transport constraints now combine to erode margins and undermine long-standing commercial relationships.”
Previously, direct shipping routes from South Africa to the U.S. took four to six weeks.
With the rerouting through European ports, transit times are expected to increase by two to three weeks, stretching total delivery periods to as much as six to eight weeks or more during port congestion.
The financial impact is expected to be just as serious.
Shipping through Europe will add fuel and handling costs, with freight rates projected to rise by 20% to 40%.
Exporters will also face transshipment fees of $200 to $250 per container, along with Maersk’s peak season surcharges that can reach up to $1,000 for a 40-foot container.
South African exporters are now left to navigate a more uncertain, expensive, and less efficient supply chain.
The change highlights how trade isolation can take shape not only through shifting policies but also through the shipping routes that support global trade.
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Image Credit: Supply Chain Brain
