This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/14/2019

Overview                                                                                                                    

 20172018
 		2019 (estimated)2020
(projected)
Total Market Size980,000995,000995,000998,000
Total Local Production125,000130,000130,000140,000
Total Exports51,00054,00054,00055,000
Total Imports1,110,0001,120,0001,000,0001,000,000
Imports from the U.S.420,000430,000420,000420,000
Exchange Rate: 1 USD    
                 Unit: USD thousands
Total Market Size = (Total Local Production + Total Imports) – (Total Exports)
Note:      Above figures exclude the value of the independent Richards Bay coal terminal consortium upgrades and multi-year diesel and electric locomotives roll-out confirmed in 2010 and 2014.  Figures also exclude related road, highway and port/maritime investments.
Date Source:         Figures are unofficial estimates obtained from press and industry sources.

South Africa has the best rail infrastructure in Africa. However, rail (freight and passenger) and port capacity shortages remain a severe constraint in domestic and regional trade, even in the currently slower business environment. The South African Government has announced plans to spend R900 billion by 2027 on transportation infrastructure, although project implementation has been slow and may be reviewed to ensure good governance and sustainability. The authorities seem intent on addressing failings in the rail environment and have made progress in streamlining the freight and passenger network on the 3’6” Cape gauge with new tractive systems, carriages, hoppers, signaling and fare collection systems, but internal inefficiencies and administered rail tariffs have made competing against road freight difficult. Feasibility studies to expand the 4’8” gauge Gautrain high speed passenger rail project in Pretoria and Johannesburg across Gautrain Province have been completed but implementation may only start over the medium term.

Opportunities                                                                                                                     

The Tambo Springs Project, Gauteng Province, greenfield multimodal rail, road and air hub, due to be fully commissioned by 2022, is valued at $15 billion.  Implementation announcements around the Tambo Springs inland container terminal to be built in Ekurhuleni to the east of Johannesburg have been made: http://www.tambosprings.co.za/hub-areas/rail-road-and-intermodal/?id=13.

In view of declining bulk exports, the state-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and others are reviewing logistic (mostly rail, but also ports) projects such as upgrading the Sishen-Saldanha Bay ore line, the Richard Bay coal line and other new coal line networks in the north-west. Transnet’s rail and port projects were set to cost around R300 billion over seven years and include augmenting the tractive and bulk car fleet, signaling, maintenance, advanced train management systems and network expansion/concession models.

A multibillion-Rand deal with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to provide funding and expertise for Transnet’s private sector participation program was formalized in 2015.  The agreement will pave the way for DBSA to co-fund preparatory and strategic support for Transnet projects, including the manganese common user loading facility in the Northern Cape and the Grootvlei coal loading structure in Mpumalanga Province.

Sub-Sector Best Prospects                                                                                                              

Transportation equipment and infrastructure:
  • Strategic Route Design and Network Planning
  • Business Model Analysis and Project Management
  • New and Refurbished Locomotives for African Railroad Operators
  • New Bulk Car and Other Dedicated Rolling Fleets
  • Smart Signaling and Operations Automation
  • Automatic Fare Collection Systems
  • Rolling Stock Depot Design

Web Resources                                                                                                                  

Tambo-Springs
http://www.tambosprings.co.za/hub-areas/rail-road-and-intermodal/?id=13
http://www.l2b.co.za/Projects/Project/View/5f7d2b48-ed10-4daa-b1f2-f2b7a2592a72

Transnet
http://www.transnet.co.za

Rail-Road Association
http://www.rra.co.za
Richard Bay Coal Terminal Consortium
http://www.rbct.co.za

Transnet Ports Authority
http://www.transnetnationalportsauthority.net/

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa
http://www.prasa.com/contactdetails.aspx

Africa Rail 2020 Conference and Exhibition
June 19-20, 2020
Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg
https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/africa-rail/index.stm

For More Information, the U.S. Commercial Service in Johannesburg, South Africa can be contacted via e-mail at:
Johan.vanRensburg@trade.gov
Phone: +27 11 290 3208; Fax: +27 11 884 0253, or visit our Website:
http://export.gov/southafrica/index.asp.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.