Success Story
Transporting oversized and complex cargo demands expertise. NATCO Logistics specializes in abnormal load transportation, navigating South Africa’s challenging infrastructure with custom engineering solutions. Our skilled route planners ensure safe, compliant movement of industrial equipment, mining machinery, and critical infrastructure components.
Alert! Scamsters are pretending to be Customs inspectors from SARS Customs
On 15 April 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) informed that scamsters were calling people and telling them that they had been flagged for sending suspicious packages internationally.
They intimidate people by threatening them with imprisonment for being in possession of illegal documents and drugs. They tell their targets that the matter needs to be taken up with the police, and the call is then transferred to what is purported to be an official government line.
People are advised to end the call immediately. If they continue with the call, the fraudsters will undoubtedly use scare tactics to further phish and bribe them. SARS Customs will not call people to request any of this information. Natco Management, your Account Controller and Customs Manager will engage with you directly. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call us directly for guidance.
AIRFREIGHT
This is a courteous reminder that most airlines impose charges and penalties for no-shows, low-shows, and overshows on booked cargo.
Additionally, several airlines have implemented a weight and volumetric concept that raises the rate per kilogram if the cargo deviates from the booked tolerance.
This presents another risk, as airlines strive to maximize loads per flight and penalize agents for providing inaccurate weights and dimensions during booking.
Therefore, it is crucial to provide precise booking information, including whether the cargo is stackable. Airlines apply a surcharge on the airfreight rate for non-stackable cargo, so this information is essential for accurate quoting. Also, be aware that if cargo is labelled as ‘fragile,’ airlines may automatically classify it as non-stackable.
Moreover, it’s important to ensure that cargo is properly packed to withstand the challenges of airfreight and must meet the following requirements:
- Clearly marked and labeled with the shipper’s and consignee’s details
- All documents must be organized and ready for transport
- It is the responsibility of the shipper, consignee, or owner to ensure the goods are insured
Any dangerous or hazardous cargo must be declared at the time of booking
Did You Know?
A fun fact about the history of airfreight is that the first official air cargo flight took place on November 7, 1910, when pioneer aviator Glenn Curtiss transported a package of silk from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio. This marked the beginning of the airfreight industry, which has since evolved to become an integral part of global logistics operations, facilitating the rapid transportation of goods across vast distances. The pioneering spirit of early aviators like Glenn Curtiss paved the way for the modern airfreight industry we know today.
Rates are anticipated to rise in May and June as the early peak season begins, coupled with ongoing avoidance of the Suez Canal. Alongside escalating port congestion, potential changes in tariffs and geopolitical tensions will influence future rate trends.
Did You Know?
The first shipping container wasn’t the 20 Feet unit we know today. In fact, it was 35’ long which was the standard size of an American truck – some other early versions were also 33’ and 24’ units. It was only in the late 1960s that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established the common standard units of 20’ and 40’ in the norm ISO 668.
SARS RLA: Notices of Intent to Suspend
It came to our attention that SARS has issued Notices of Intent to Suspend traders who have failed to onboard their Customs products for which they are registered or licensed.
The first requirement before any applications for a Customs product can be made is to ensure the taxpayer’s efiling profile is merged with a Customs profile on efiling. A taxpayer can do this themselves or they may choose to use a third party in which case sharing rights need to be set, if not yet done as in most cases where a tax practitioner handles efile matters.
In the instance where a Notice of Intention to Suspend is received from SARS it is advised that:
- i) Representation must be made and emailed to the email address reflected in the notice (RLARegistrations@sars.gov.za);
- ii) If RLA onboarding was successfully made in the time it must be included in the Representation.
- iii) The Representation should address the reason why the Customs code should not be suspended, for example, that the trader is still in business and therefore requires the Customs code to continue operating; and iv) It is also advisable to provide reasoning as to why the RLA onboarding has not been affected to date. Should any evidence be available of previous attempts to contact SARS in this regard it should be referenced and attached to the Representation
The South African table grape industry has achieved remarkable milestones this season, despite facing a reduction in cultivation area. With the largest national harvest ever recorded, the industry exported a staggering 77.4 million cartons, marking a 5% increase from the previous season.
The peak export period saw unprecedented weekly inspections, reflecting a robust growth trajectory aided by the replacement of older vineyards with high-yielding cultivars. Enhanced logistics at the Port of Cape Town, including reduced waiting times and improved infrastructure, played a pivotal role in this success. The implementation of a predictive logistics model further optimized grape movement across ports, contributing to the industry’s impressive performance.
While export volumes through the Cape Town terminals surged, other ports like those in the Eastern Cape and Durban saw declines, highlighting a strategic shift in logistics. Meanwhile, Namibia’s exports slightly decreased, indicating regional variations in performance. Overall, these advancements underscore the industry’s resilience and commitment to growth, even amid logistical challenges like wind delays.
Port Elizabeth Container Terminal Boosts Capacity with New STS Crane
The Port Elizabeth Container Terminal (PECT) has received a major upgrade with the arrival of a new Ship-to-Shore (STS) crane. The crane is expected to significantly enhance cargo-handling capabilities and operational efficiency at the terminal.
This acquisition forms part of Transnet Port Terminals’ R3 billion fleet renewal programs, aimed at improving equipment availability and boosting performance across South Africa’s ports.
The official unveiling took place on Monday, 14 April 2025 at the Quayside
Major Ports in North Europe Facing Increased Delays
European ports are currently experiencing significant delays as they struggle to manage an unprecedented influx of container volumes from China, exacerbated by extreme winter weather and ongoing labor challenges. The surge in exports from China to Northern Europe, up 17.6% year-over-year as per Container Trade Statistics, has intensified congestion issues across several ports, including those in the UK, Le Havre, and Belgium. The situation is further complicated by severe weather conditions that disrupted vessel movements and cargo handling in late January, impacting major ports like Hamburg, Antwerp, and Rotterdam. Labor strikes are also contributing to the turmoil, with disruptions at Rotterdam’s Hutchison Port Delta II and scheduled stoppages in French ports worsening the backlog. As Europe navigates these challenges, some cargo is being rerouted to less congested ports to alleviate