Market
US Section 122 tariff surcharge on Africa lapses, restoring AGOA duty-free access
Following the US Supreme Court's February 2026 ruling against the administration, the White House imposed new across-the-board rates of 10 percent, but these were limited by statute to 150 days and automatically lapsed on 24 July, restoring duty-free access under AGOA. Reporting notes AGOA countries' exports to the US fell by roughly 10 percent after tariffs were imposed in August 2025 versus the 2023–2024 average, with front-loading of exports ahead of tariff dates, and that AGOA was reauthorized through 2026 after expiring in September 2025.
ITG interpretation: This is a US-market development but it reshapes African exporters' incentives: restored AGOA access reduces pressure to divert goods toward alternative buyers, while lingering uncertainty over US policy strengthens the case for diversification toward China and Türkiye-linked value chains. ITG can position sourcing/logistics services around exporters hedging US-market volatility.
Sources: Center for Global Development – Tariff Whiplash in Africa: What Happened and What's to Come
Market
Türkiye's exports to Africa up 12.6% to $13.3bn in first seven months of 2026
Türkiye's exports to Africa reached $13.3 billion in the first seven months of 2026, a 12.6% year-on-year increase, with July alone rising 16.3% to $2.3 billion, per figures cited by Türkiye-Africa Business Council Chairman Osman Aksoy. Egypt was among the strongest markets with Turkish exports up 26.1% to $2.3 billion (Jan–Jul); exports to South Africa rose 31.3% to $479 million and to Nigeria rose 52.1% to $453.2 million. Trade press notes advantages including the Türkiye-Egypt Free Trade Agreement and Egypt's COMESA access.
ITG interpretation: The steep growth into Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa confirms these as ITG's highest-momentum lanes; Egypt in particular offers a compounding advantage as a re-export and joint-production base via the FTA and COMESA. Nigeria's growth is real but shadowed by currency volatility flagged in the same reporting.
Sources: MyJoyOnline (AA figures) · Daily Sabah
Logistics
Maersk sharply raises China/Hong Kong → Dar es Salaam peak season surcharge
Maersk revised its Peak Season Surcharge from China and Hong Kong to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. From 1 August 2026 the surcharge is US$1,200 per 20-foot container and US$1,800 per 40-foot and 45-foot container. The change is part of a broader run of Maersk PSS revisions across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America with effective dates on 22 July, 1 August and 15 August 2026.
ITG interpretation: The China→Tanzania lane just became materially more expensive per box, which erodes margins on price-sensitive goods and strengthens the case for consolidation or shifting some East Africa volume through Mombasa. Surcharge levels this high signal carriers expect tight capacity into Q4.
Sources: Container News
Market
Africa container capacity to stay tight and rates elevated through H2 2026
Per DHL Global Forwarding's August 2026 Ocean Freight Market Update, global container fleet capacity is expected to grow about 4% this year, below the roughly 6% historical average, while congestion, geopolitical disruption, rerouting and strong Asian export demand absorb much of the added capacity. The assessment concludes African importers should prepare for a shipping market that remains expensive, selective and unpredictable through much of 2026, with elevated freight rates, tighter container availability and less reliable schedules.
ITG interpretation: Effective capacity for Africa is not improving despite newbuild deliveries, so ITG should treat 2026 as a structurally tight year and plan procurement and inventory around unreliable transit rather than optimistic ETAs. Shippers competing purely on the lowest freight rate will likely absorb the most disruption.
Sources: The Africa Logistics (citing DHL Aug 2026 update)
Logistics
Durban and West African ports remain congested; Cape Town stabilises
Per Kuehne+Nagel's 12–18 August 2026 port update, Durban remains under significant pressure, particularly at Pier 2 (DGT) where delays of 5–9 days persist due to congestion, NAVIS system implementation and increased waterside waiting times. Guinea Conakry's 7-day average vessel waiting time was around 19.0 days due to limited dry, reefer and empty container storage capacity, while Ghana Tema showed severe terminal congestion (around 6.83 days) amid a crane outage and restricted berth availability. Cape Town operations stabilised with waiting times of 0 days, though elevated citrus and reefer export volumes continue to pressure yard capacity and cause occasional rollovers.
ITG interpretation: Persistent Durban and West African congestion raises the effective transit-time risk and rollover probability for both China→Africa and Türkiye→Africa boxes, especially reefer and hazardous cargo. Conakry's ~19-day wait makes it a lane to avoid or heavily buffer for time-sensitive procurement.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (12–18 August 2026)
Tariffs
China reports record H1 China-Africa trade three months into zero-tariff regime
According to China's Consul-General in Lagos, three-and-a-half months after implementing the zero-tariff policy (effective 1 May 2026), China-Africa two-way trade in the first half of 2026 totalled US$207.4 billion, a record high for the first half of a year. The policy grants zero-tariff treatment to imports from the 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China (all except Eswatini), and for non-LDCs it runs from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028. The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria outlined priorities including continuous improvement of product quality and supply chain stability, meeting Chinese market standards, and ensuring reliable supply volumes.
ITG interpretation: The regime is asymmetric — it lowers barriers for African exports into China but does not reduce African duties on Chinese goods — so the near-term commercial opportunity for ITG is in structuring African-origin exports (agri-food, minerals) into China rather than expecting cheaper China→Africa inbound. Correct Certificate of Origin referencing China's zero-tariff framework is the key compliance gate.
Sources: The Guardian (Nigeria) – China urges Africa to leverage zero tariff regime
LogisticsHigh urgency
Durban port congestion persists with 5–9 day delays at Pier 2 amid NAVIS rollout
As of the 12–18 August 2026 reporting week, Durban's Pier 2 (DGT) continued to experience delays of 5–9 days driven by congestion, NAVIS system implementation and increased waterside waiting times, with 7-day average vessel waiting around 4.25 days and anchorage delays of 80–166 hours. Mombasa waiting times had eased to about 1.63 days but equipment shortages, high transhipment volumes and vessel bunching still impacted productivity. Beira in Mozambique showed a 7-day average vessel waiting time of about 16.11 days, with recovery expected later in the year.
ITG interpretation: South African routings for Türkiye/China cargo into the Gauteng industrial hinterland remain exposed to multi-day berthing delays and rollover risk, while Beira should be avoided for time-sensitive shipments; Mombasa is the relatively healthier East African gateway right now.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel Port Operational Updates (12–18 Aug 2026)
RegulatoryHigh urgency
Kenya's mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) now live for all containerized imports; carrier validation begins 1 September
The Kenya Revenue Authority implemented a mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration platform for all containerized cargo destined for Kenyan ports, effective 3 August 2026, requiring a valid ACD reference number to be obtained before cargo is loaded and endorsed on the Bill of Lading. From 1 September 2026, vessel carriers will be required to validate the ACD reference number prior to loading and only load containers at origin when a valid reference has been obtained. Exporters must upload four documents (commercial invoice, freight invoice, export declaration, and draft Bill of Lading) to the KRA portal to generate the code. Failure to comply exposes the Kenyan importer, not the foreign supplier, to customs-imposed fines.
ITG interpretation: This pushes compliance upstream to the origin (Türkiye/China), so ITG must build ACD generation into pre-shipment workflows or risk cargo rollovers and fines once carriers enforce validation from 1 September. Since Mombasa is a gateway for East and Central Africa, the requirement also affects transit cargo to landlocked destinations.
Sources: Maersk - Revised Update Mandatory ACD Reference Number for Imports Into Kenya · The Star (Kenya) - Importers push back as KRA changes rules for consolidated cargo
LogisticsHigh urgency
West and Southern African ports under heavy congestion; Conakry and Durban worst-hit
Kuehne+Nagel's port update for 12–18 August 2026 reports Guinea Conakry average vessel waiting at around 19 days due to limited dry, reefer and empty container storage capacity, while Durban remains under significant pressure with 5–9 day delays at Pier 2 amid congestion, a NAVIS system implementation and increased waterside waiting. Ghana Tema showed roughly 6.83 days average waiting with severe terminal congestion, a crane outage and restricted berth availability. Nigeria Tin Can/Lagos and Ivory Coast Abidjan continued to face delays from inland logistics and congestion challenges.
ITG interpretation: Sustained double-digit waiting times at Conakry and unreliable Durban/Tema windows raise the risk of missed connections, demurrage and rollovers for ITG cargo, especially reefer and dry boxes needing scarce storage. Routing flexibility toward less-congested alternatives becomes commercially valuable.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (12–18 August 2026)
Tariffs
CMA CGM introduces Far East → South Africa overweight surcharge effective 15 August
CMA CGM introduced an Overweight Surcharge (OWS) for dry cargo moving from the Far East to South Africa and Mauritius, effective 15 August 2026 and valid until further notice. The carrier will apply a surcharge of US$500 per 20-foot dry container when cargo weight exceeds 18 tonnes.
ITG interpretation: This directly raises landed cost on heavy China-origin dry cargo (e.g. building materials, machinery, tiles) bound for South Africa, so cargo planning around the 18-tonne threshold can avoid the charge. Splitting or rebalancing loads below the threshold may be more economical than absorbing the fee.
Sources: Container News - CMA CGM introduces overweight surcharge from Far East to Africa · AJOT - CMA CGM Overweight Surcharge (OWS) dry cargo Far East to South Africa
Infrastructure
Tanzania–DRC technical mission advances Central Corridor rail and Dar es Salaam gateway links
A Tanzania technical mission visited Kindu, Maniema Province in the DRC from 3–6 August 2026, coordinated by the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency under a programme to strengthen DRC–Tanzania trade. The mission reaffirmed plans to accelerate transport projects including rehabilitation of the Kindu–Kalemie Railway, modernisation of Kindu Port and multimodal connectivity between Maniema Province and the Port of Dar es Salaam. Separately, Tanzania's Standard Gauge Railway financing reached nearly $3.8bn across syndicated packages, with a $2.33bn tranche finalised in April 2026 for the Makutupora–Isaka and Isaka–Mwanza sections.
ITG interpretation: The Central Corridor via Dar es Salaam is being positioned as a strengthening alternative gateway for landlocked DRC, Rwanda and Burundi cargo, offering ITG a diversification option away from congested Mombasa and Durban corridors over the medium term.
Sources: Railways Africa · African Business
Regulatory
AfCFTA signs 20-year, $3.1bn concession to strengthen customs; over 12,000 certificates of origin issued
In August 2026 the AfCFTA Secretariat signed a 20-year, $3.1 billion concession agreement with Nigerian firm Bergmans Security Consultants, as the free-trade area's focus shifts to customs implementation. The Secretariat reported that more than 12,000 certificates of origin had been issued as of March 2026. Each participating country still retains its own customs administration, IT systems and enforcement priorities, so certificates do not guarantee smooth border crossings and traders may face incompatible forms, delayed inspections and disputes over documentation.
ITG interpretation: AfCFTA preferential access is increasingly usable but remains operationally uneven country-by-country; the practical benefit for ITG lies in properly securing certificates of origin for intra-African re-export and value-added flows rather than assuming frictionless clearance.
Sources: The Media Line
Tariffs
African container rates hold high in August with West Africa peak surcharges elevated
An August 2026 rate roundup reported all-in market rates of roughly $4,200–5,000/40ft for Lagos, $3,015–3,685 for Durban and $4,800–5,000 for Mombasa, down from June peaks but still elevated. Carrier peak-season surcharges remained high, including Maersk's 1 July West Africa PSS of $1,000/20ft and MSC/CMA CGM PSS of $600–800/20ft (to be confirmed at booking). Lagos anchorage waits of 14–21 days, Durban DGT delays of 5–9 days, and structural Red Sea diversion (making Africa a transshipment hub) were cited as keeping the price floor high; South Africa rail maintenance was flagged for around 25 Aug–2 Sep.
ITG interpretation: Landed-cost assumptions for both Türkiye- and China-origin cargo into West Africa should assume sustained surcharge exposure and severe Lagos congestion; feeder routing via Lomé or Tema can bypass the worst Apapa delays for smaller volumes.
Sources: Great Hensen Africa Rates (August 2026)
LogisticsHigh urgency
West African ports (Tema, Conakry, Abidjan) stay severely congested in mid-August; carriers omitting calls
Kuehne+Nagel's weekly update for 12–18 August 2026 reports Ghana's Tema at a 7-day average vessel wait of about 6.83 days with severe terminal congestion from a crane outage and restricted berth availability. Guinea Conakry averaged around 19.0 days of waiting due to limited dry, reefer and empty container storage. Côte d'Ivoire's Abidjan saw waits of around 5.25 days with delays of roughly 8 days, and carriers are omitting selected port calls, increasing rollover risks and transit-time variability.
ITG interpretation: For ITG's China→West Africa and Türkiye→West Africa flows, effective transit times and demurrage exposure remain elevated regardless of headline ocean rates, and omitted calls make schedule reliability the real bottleneck. Booking buffers and alternative gateway planning are now more valuable than marginal rate savings.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (12–18 August 2026)
Logistics
Mombasa and Dar es Salaam remain equipment-short with structural congestion in mid-August
Kuehne+Nagel's 12–18 August 2026 update lists Kenya's Mombasa at a 7-day average vessel wait of about 1.63 days but notes congestion as a long-term challenge, with equipment shortages, high transshipment volumes and vessel bunching continuing to impact productivity and inland movements. Mozambique's Beira showed a much higher wait of about 16.11 days, with terminal recovery expected later in the year and adverse weather a further risk.
ITG interpretation: For East Africa gateways serving landlocked destinations, container equipment availability and inland movement—not berth waits—are the binding constraints on ITG's delivery timelines. Beira should be treated as high-risk for any Southern African routing in the near term.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (12–18 August 2026)
Logistics
Durban under pressure at Pier 2 while Mombasa waits ease; Cape Town stabilizes
In the 12–18 August 2026 update, Durban's 7-day average vessel waiting time was around 4.25 days, with Pier 2 (DGT) delays of 5–9 days persisting due to congestion, a NAVIS system implementation and increased waterside waiting; anchorage delays ranged from 80 to 166 hours. Mombasa's average waiting time eased to about 1.63 days though congestion remains a long-term challenge from equipment shortages and transhipment volumes, while Cape Town operations stabilized to 0–3 day delays.
ITG interpretation: East Africa (Mombasa) has become more workable in the near term, but Durban's Pier 2 remains a bottleneck for containerized imports into South Africa, so schedule buffers and pier-level routing matter for both China and Türkiye lanes.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel Port Operational Updates (12–18 Aug 2026)
Logistics
Asia–Africa capacity expanding but effective capacity stays tight through 2026, per DHL data cited
A trade-press analysis citing DHL's August data reports that major carriers hold large orderbooks—MSC at 33% of its current fleet, CMA CGM at 40% and COSCO at 45%—but notes much of this capacity will arrive too late to relieve current bottlenecks, with impact largely felt from 2027 onwards. Strong Asian export demand, vessel rerouting, port congestion and carrier capacity controls are described as keeping effective capacity under pressure on African lanes.
ITG interpretation: ITG should not assume near-term rate relief on China→Africa lanes; the capacity that matters for 2026 procurement budgets is what is effectively available, not what is on order. Longer-term (2027) contract planning can factor in easing, but H2 2026 should be budgeted for continued tightness.
Sources: The Africa Logistics – Container Shipping Outlook
Market
Türkiye's exports to Africa hit $13.3bn in 7M2026, up 12.6% year-on-year
Türkiye's exports to Africa reached $13.3 billion in the first seven months of 2026, a 12.6% increase year-on-year, with July exports up 16.3% to $2.3 billion. Exports to South Africa rose 31.3% to $479 million and to Nigeria rose 52.1% to $453.2 million, while shipments to Morocco and Algeria declined. Machinery, electricals, automobiles, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, food and construction materials were the leading export sectors.
ITG interpretation: Momentum is strongest in Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa lanes and in ITG's core categories (machinery, construction materials, steel, textiles), signaling where sourcing and forwarding demand is likely concentrating; the decline into Morocco/Algeria warrants a closer look at competitive or regulatory friction there.
Sources: MyJoyOnline (Anadolu Agency) · africa.com (Anadolu Ajansi)
LogisticsHigh urgency
Beira (Mozambique) congestion persists with ~16-day vessel waits into late August
As of the 12–18 August 2026 port update, Beira's 7-day average vessel waiting time was around 16.11 days, with terminal recovery expected later in the year and adverse weather potentially adding further disruption. The prior week's update (5–11 August) reported delays of up to 30 days and did not expect recovery before weeks 40–43.
ITG interpretation: Beira is effectively a chokepoint for Southern/Central African inland cargo through the Beira corridor, so any ITG shipments routed there face major dwell, demurrage and reliability risk well into Q4.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel Port Operational Updates (12–18 Aug 2026) · Kuehne+Nagel Port Operational Updates (5–11 Aug 2026)
Tariffs
China–Africa ocean rates hold flat in August while congestion keeps prices high
An August 2026 China freight market update reported Africa was the flattest region at −2%, with Kenya and Nigeria rates unchanged and South Africa down 3%; Kenya printed $5,130–6,270 and Nigeria $3,150–3,850 for the period. A separate August analysis cited all-in 40ft market rates of Lagos $4,200–5,000, Durban $3,015–3,685 and Mombasa $4,800–5,000, with Maersk's 1 July West Africa PSS at $1,000/20ft and MSC/CMA CGM peak surcharges of $600–800/20ft, and noted West Africa H1 2026 imports from China up 12–15% YoY.
ITG interpretation: For China→Africa cargo, rate relief seen on other global lanes has not reached Africa because port congestion (notably Lagos) is holding a price floor, so ITG should plan landed costs around persistently elevated freight plus active peak-season surcharges rather than expecting near-term softening.
Sources: SINO Shipping – Global Freight Market Update (Aug 2026) · Great Hensen – Africa Shipping Rates August 2026
Logistics
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd expand Gemini network return to the Suez Canal and Red Sea
On 10 August 2026, Reuters reported that Maersk said another container service in its Gemini network with Hapag-Lloyd will resume sailing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, part of a gradual return to the area. This follows an early-July resumption of an Asia–Mediterranean–Europe service and a Middle East-to-US East Coast route via Suez. The affected AE19 service connects Asia with the Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia and Europe, with a rotation including Chinese ports (Xingang, Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai), Jeddah, the Suez Canal, Port Said and Tangier.
ITG interpretation: A staged Suez return should shorten Asia–Mediterranean transit times and eventually ease the capacity absorbed by Cape of Good Hope routings, which over time could soften rates and improve schedule reliability relevant to China→North/West Africa and Türkiye's Mediterranean-linked flows. However, the return is selective and security-dependent, so ITG should not yet assume normalized transits.
Sources: Reuters via Global Banking & Finance – Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd resume more Suez sailings · FreshFruitPortal – Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd reroute AE19 back through Red Sea
RegulatoryHigh urgency
Nigeria Customs begins enforcing 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments
The Nigeria Customs Service has begun enforcing the Federal Government's 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments approved by President Tinubu. The package includes a Revised National List under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, a Revised Import Prohibition List, a Revised List of Goods Liable to Excise Duty, a Green Tax Surcharge on vehicles above 2000cc, and a Revised Export Prohibition List, with the full documents made available for download on the Customs website.
ITG interpretation: This changes duty exposure and eligibility for Nigeria-bound cargo—particularly vehicles above 2000cc facing the new green surcharge and any items newly restricted—so ITG must re-verify HS classifications and prohibition status before shipping into Nigeria.
Sources: P.M. News Nigeria · OnePage Africa
LogisticsHigh urgency
CMA CGM adds West Africa reefer and Tema congestion surcharges from late August/September
CMA CGM announced new surcharges covering West Africa reefers, Tema congestion and other trades effective from August and September 2026, citing reduced capacity, congestion and longer terminal dwell times raising operational costs. For reefer cargo from origins other than a specified Mediterranean/Black Sea/North Africa group, the surcharge is US$400 per TEU (the specified group is €100/US$115 per TEU). For imports the measure takes effect 24 August based on discharge date, and for exports from 1 September based on loading date.
ITG interpretation: Reefer and West Africa flows out of both Türkiye/Mediterranean and Asian origins will see higher landed costs into Q3, compounding an already congested West African port environment. ITG should treat quoted freight as provisional and confirm surcharge applicability at booking.
Sources: Container News – CMA CGM announces new surcharges
Tariffs
China's zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries shows strong early trade gains
China implemented zero-tariff treatment on 100% of tariff lines for imports from the 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, effective 1 May 2026, expanding earlier preferential treatment that had applied mainly to least-developed countries; Eswatini was excluded. Chinese customs figures show imports from Africa in May and June reached about $28.7 billion, a 23.5% year-on-year rise, with avocado imports up 130%, apples 89.6% and oranges 27.9%. Nigeria-China bilateral trade reached about $18 billion in the first half of 2026, up 35%, with Chinese imports from Nigeria surging 80% to $2.3 billion. China-Africa trade reached a record $207 billion in the first half of 2026.
ITG interpretation: The policy is a durable, one-directional (Africa→China) demand driver that is reshaping return-leg cargo economics and creating new agri/processed-goods export flows ITG could originate. For ITG's China→Africa procurement business it also reinforces China's deepening commercial anchor on the continent, which tends to sustain outbound container demand.
Sources: Businessday NG – China imports from Nigeria surge 80% · Xinhua – China zero-tariff measures create new opportunities for Nigeria