Logistics

Transnet sets world record with 696-Wagon freight train

Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has set a new global benchmark in freight rail operations after safely running a 696-wagon empty train along the Iron Ore Export Line from Saldanha to the Northern Cape.

The train reached Loop 18 on 18 October 2026, completing the longest train movement ever assembled and operated on the corridor and establishing a new world record for freight rail operations.

Beyond the record itself, the achievement highlights the engineering capabilities, operational expertise and technological innovation underpinning the Iron Ore Export Line, one of the world's leading heavy-haul rail systems. The exercise also generated technical insights that could inform the future development of rail operations.

The initiative brought together TFR's Train Design Technology and Operations teams, Transnet Engineering, the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) and the Railway Safety Regulator. Conducted as a dynamic train evaluation programme, the operation aimed both to establish a world record and to deepen technical understanding of train design, handling and operational performance.

The train consisted of 696 empty CR13/14 wagons operating in a Radio Distributed Power (RDP) configuration. It was hauled by a combination of Class 15E electric and Class 43D diesel-electric locomotives. The RDP system enables locomotives positioned at different points along the train to function in synchronisation, distributing traction and braking forces in a controlled manner across its entire length.

Expansion expected to reduce vessel turnaround times by up to 50% and enable simultaneous handling of two Post-Panamax vessels. (Image source: DP World)

Since beginning operations in 2021, DP World has invested more than US$260mn in upgrading and modernising its terminal at the Port of Luanda

Over the past five years, annual container throughput has nearly doubled, rising from 177,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to more than 350,000 TEUs. This growth has been supported by an additional 28,000m² of yard space.

To strengthen its handling capacity, DP World acquired two additional Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) and an extra empty handler this year, increasing its fleet to eight MHCs. The terminal has also expanded its refrigerated container connections, increasing reefer plugs from 630 to 700.

During the inauguration of its new terminal building at the Port of Luanda, DP World announced a further US$90mn investment over the next two years. The funding will support additional infrastructure, equipment and operational improvements. Planned works include extending the quay by 222 metres and expanding the operating area by 10 hectares, raising the terminal’s design capacity to 1.2 million TEUs.

The expansion will also involve the acquisition of three Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 12 semi-automated rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes. These additions will enable the terminal to handle two Post-Panamax vessels simultaneously, strengthening Luanda’s position as a container gateway for Central Africa and a major trade hub in sub-Saharan Africa.

The project is also expected to support local employment and industrialisation, enhance export competitiveness and encourage foreign investment, while facilitating more sustainable regional trade flows.

Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and managing director, Africa, DP World, said, “The expansion of DP World Luanda is an important milestone both for Angola and for the wider region. The ability to handle larger vessels will support new shipping services and strengthen the terminal’s potential as a gateway for West and Central Africa. Our investment will improve the efficiency and sustainability of trade flows, giving customers greater reliability, shorter turnaround times and improved access to global markets, and reinforcing Angola’s prominent role within our regional and global logistics network.”

Paco Pinzon, CEO, DP World Luanda, stated, “Having our concession extended to 2051 demonstrates our long-term commitment to Angola and its future as a leading regional trade gateway. Our continued investments will create a more efficient and competitive experience for our customers, while supporting Angola’s ambitions to strengthen trade connectivity, diversify the economy and become a continental logistics hub. The expansion will benefit the entire logistics ecosystem, and we will continue to create opportunities, strengthen regional connectivity and contribute to sustainable economic growth in Angola.”

Metal Shark 38 Defiant patrol boat (Image source: Metal Shark)

US-based boatbuilder Metal Shark is to supply new coast guard vessels for Cameroon

The Louisiana company has been awarded two US Coast Guard Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts to produce patrol boats for the maritime forces of Cameroon, as well as the Republic of Georgia.

Each contract includes a Metal Shark 38 Defiant patrol boat, transport trailer, spare-parts package and operator training, with the vessels to be constructed at Metal Shark’s yard in Jeanerette, Louisiana.

“These awards mark Metal Shark’s entry into two new markets while delivering new capabilities that will modernise the maritime fleets of Cameroon and Georgia,” said Metal Shark’s senior vice president of international business development, Henry Irizarry.

The welded-aluminium 38 Defiant is a proven patrol vessel designed to support coastal patrol, maritime interdiction, port security, search and rescue and other security missions.

Initially proven in service with the US Navy and US Coast Guard, the boat now works across 70 countries in Africa and other locations in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

The vessel combines high-speed performance and responsive manoeuvrability with Metal Shark’s signature Defiant-series pilothouse, which provides enhanced visibility and all-weather crew protection, and can be configured with multiple propulsion systems.

Chris Allard, Metal Shark’s CEO, said the awards demonstrate growing international demand for capable, proven and supportable patrol platforms.

“Metal Shark is well positioned to meet that demand, and we remain focused on expanding our global reach, entering new markets, and delivering long-term value to the United States and its partner nations.”

The vessels and associated support packages will help Cameroon strengthen maritime law-enforcement capabilities, protect territorial waters and critical infrastructure, and respond more effectively to any evolving regional security challenges.

Global trade grows as Sub-saharan Africa records 11% rise

Global goods trade grew faster in the first half of 2026 than in any half-year over the past 15 years, apart from the exceptional rebound following the Covid pandemic

Demand for products used to build artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, including semiconductors and data-transmission equipment, was a major contributor to the increase. According to WTO and OECD analysis, AI-enabling goods accounted for 42% of goods trade growth in 2025, rising to 76% in the first quarter of 2026.

These findings appear in the latest edition of the DHL Globalization Tracker, released by DHL and New York University's Stern School of Business. Drawing on more than 30 million data points, the report examines international flows of trade, capital, information and people. Previously known as the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker, the publication has adopted its new name for this edition.

AI buildout boosts global trade

The expansion of AI infrastructure is increasing demand for specialised equipment and strengthening cross-border supply chains.

"The biggest story in global trade right now is AI, not tariffs," said John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. "Every AI query ultimately depends on logistics. Chips, networking equipment and the many other goods behind this technology must be in the right place at the right time. DHL connects the businesses and markets behind these complex supply chains. Whenever innovation creates new trade flows, our global network helps keep them moving."

Global effects of Iran war and tariffs remain limited

The war involving Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted important trade routes, although the effects remained concentrated in economies dependent on the waterway. In the first five months of 2026, trade value fell by 37% in Saudi Arabia and 7% in the United Arab Emirates compared with the same period in 2025.

US tariffs reached their highest levels in decades, but their global impact remained limited. The US accounted for 13% of world imports in recent years, with approximately half of those imports exempt from tariff increases as of August 2026. Most countries avoided broad retaliatory measures, with many pursuing new trade agreements to secure access to alternative markets.

Global trade outlook improves through 2029

Global goods trade is projected to grow by an average of 3.4% annually through 2029, compared with the 2.7% annual growth rate recorded over the previous decade.

"The surprise is not only that global trade kept growing through new tariffs and the Iran war," said Prof. Steven A. Altman, Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern's Center for the Future of Management. "The outlook is now stronger than it was before either shock. This reminds us to look beyond the most visible disruptions and recognize the deeper reasons why trade remains so resilient. The AI trade boom highlights the demand for goods and services that can only be provided efficiently when specialized producers work together across countries. It also shows how companies continually adapt to keep trade moving through disruptions and policy shifts."

US-China trade links weaken without a global split

Trade and investment ties between the US and China have weakened considerably, but the shift has not resulted in a broader division of the global economy into rival blocs. Trade between the two countries accounted for 3.5% of world goods trade at its peak in 2015, falling to 1.6% during the first five months of 2026. Their share of international business investment was even smaller, at less than 1%.

Meanwhile, close US allies have largely maintained their economic relationships with China, challenging the idea that the two countries' decoupling is dividing the global economy into competing blocs.

Direct trade figures also understate US reliance on China. Goods imported into the US from other countries increasingly contain Chinese materials and components. When these indirect imports are included, US reliance on China had declined only slightly through 2024, the latest year for which data were available.

Sub-saharan Africa records strong trade growth

Sub-Saharan Africa's trade value increased by 11% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, despite higher tariffs, geopolitical tensions and disruptions to major trade routes. This followed a period in which the region recorded the world's fastest trade value growth during the first six months of 2025.

"The narrative around Africa often focuses on challenges. What this data shows is that trade across the region continues to grow, even amid geopolitical uncertainty and market disruption. That's a strong signal of the resilience of African businesses and the growing connections between African markets and the rest of the world. The next step is making sure more SMEs can access those opportunities and grow beyond their home markets," said Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa.

Globalisation reaches a new record

The report measures globalization through international flows of trade, capital, information and people, using a scale from 0%, representing no cross-border flows, to 100%, where borders and distance have no impact.

Globalisation reached a record level of 25.8% in 2025, supported partly by AI-related trade and investment. All four categories of international flows contributed to the record. Information flows remained the most globalized, followed by capital and trade, while people flows remained the least globalized.

About the DHL Globalization Tracker

The DHL Globalization Tracker is a report and interactive website providing regular updates on globalization and international trade. It complements the DHL Globalization Report, published regularly since 2011.

Drawing on more than 25 public, private and academic sources, the Tracker analyses over 30 million data points covering international flows of trade, capital, information and people. Its interactive charts allow users to explore trends by region, geopolitical alignment and individual country, with options to download data and charts for offline analysis.