The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) says its ready for a bumper deciduous fruit export season.

The facility says it has deployed a range of operational improvements, additional capacity and new industry-agreed business rules aimed at supporting efficient cargo movement.

The season, which will run from November to April, is expected to record a 13% increase in export volumes compared with the previous year.

South Africa’s deciduous fruit exports, including table grapes, plums, peaches and apricots, originate from production regions across the Western Cape, before being exported primarily to European markets through Cape Town.

Following engagements between customers, fresh produce industry stakeholders, Transnet leadership and Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy in August, the terminal says a series of measures have been implemented that will strengthen planning, protect the cold chain, reduce landside congestion and support the efficient flow of exports through the terminal.

Key initiatives for the 2026/27 season include the recruitment of additional fixed-term employees to support seasonal demand; enhanced leave management measures to ensure workforce continuity during the festive season; the deployment of backup resources from other terminals where required; and the activation of a dedicated 24-hour operational hotline.

A fixed weekly vessel schedule will also be published, supported by a 21-day berthing plan, providing customers with greater visibility and planning certainty.

Other measures include a structured refrigerated container management process, including clearly defined stack opening and closure periods; the daily monitoring and publication of cargo delivery performance against plan; the implementation of a formal process to manage exceptional late-arriving cargo; as well as coordinated protocols to manage weather-related disruptions and minimise supply chain impacts.

To further improve planning certainty, changes to vessel calls will be communicated at least seven days ahead of allocated berthing slots and managed through Transnet’s national planning process.

The new operating framework also introduces cargo-readiness requirements.

At least 95% of planned refrigerated container volumes must be delivered by stack closure to ensure vessels can start cargo operations as scheduled.

Also, any weather disruption lasting six hours or longer will trigger engagement with affected shipping lines and a review of the 14-day berth sequence.

Revised berthing arrangements will be aligned with vessel readiness and cargo availability to minimise delays across the supply chain, says the CTCT.

These measures are being supported by significant investments in terminal capacity, notes the terminal.

This include the introduction of 28 new rubber-tyred gantry cranes and four straddle carriers.

CTCT forms part of a network of 19 terminals operated by Transnet Port Terminals.