Keely Goodall7 August 2025 | 4:19
How will Maersk exit affect South African exports?
As of 1 October, Maersk will end direct shipping services between South Africa and the United States.
Picture: Pixabay
702 and CapeTalk’s Mandy Wiener speaks with Unathi Sonti, Chairperson of the Maritime Business Chamber.
Listen below:
The Danish shipping company Maersk announced that it would no longer carry direct cargo shipments between South Africa and the US.
This will come into effect on 1 October 2025.
South African exports will instead be rerouted through European transhipment hubs, which will lead to higher logistics costs and longer shipping times.
Sonti says this move will hit time-sensitive shipments particularly hard.
“Time-sensitive sectors will have issues.”
- Unathi Sonti, Chairperson - Maritime Business Chamber
RELATED: Maersk will no longer offer a direct shipping line to SA
However, Sonti says this shipping line is not closed and there is space for other companies to come in.
Scroll up to the audio player for more.