As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt key global trade routes, Exporters Western Cape (EWC) says the Cape of Good Hope is once again becoming a viable alternative for international shipping, but warns that South Africa must act quickly to turn this into a sustained advantage.
When global trade routes come under pressure, the impact does not stop at logistics. It moves quickly through supply chains and lands, repeatedly, in packaging. As tensions in the Middle East continue to affect key corridors like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, carriers are already rerouting and timelines are shifting.
Archie Vermeulen is an industry veteran who previously headed national logistics operations for Vodacom as well as Cell C. During our visit to record a video tour of RAM’s new facility (view it here), we spent some extra time chatting to Archie and he shared some insights on people, process & equipment in warehousing. There were some real nuggets in the 9 minutes that we recorded and if you’re involved in warehousing operations, we encourage you to listen to it.
One of the key topics of discussion to be explored and debated at the 2026 Manufacturing Indaba will focus on how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be translated from policy into practical industrial growth through the development of Pan-African manufacturing value chains.
