By Maria Kalamatas | July 23, 2025

Section: International / Land Transport & Resource Logistics

Johannesburg, July 23 — Rail lines stretching from the mining belts of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to ports in South Africa and Mozambique are running at full stretch, as surging exports of lithium, cobalt, and copper push the region’s transport network to its limits.

“Trains are moving nonstop, but the queues for loading just keep growing,” said Themba Mokoena, freight operations chief for a cross-border rail consortium. “This isn’t a seasonal spike anymore — it’s a fundamental shift in export demand.”

A structural shift in trade flows

Global appetite for battery metals, driven by electric vehicle and renewable energy manufacturers, has turned what was once a cyclical trade into a steady torrent of shipments. Railways remain the backbone for moving bulk volumes, but aging infrastructure is struggling to keep pace.

“We’re dealing with sustained, record-level exports, not just harvest or commodity cycles,” Mokoena explained. “That means our capacity issues are now constant, not temporary.”

Delays ripple through the supply chain

Mining companies report waiting days for train slots, forcing some to store materials at inland depots or pay steep premiums to secure priority. Trucking offers a backup, but soaring diesel costs and congested border crossings make it a last resort.

“Every extra day on the ground eats into our profits,” said Lindiwe Khumalo, logistics director at a South African metals exporter. “Rail is still the only viable option, but right now it’s stretched to the breaking point.”

Short-term fixes, long-term concerns

Operators are leasing additional wagons, adding locomotives, and coordinating with ports to create overflow yards. While these measures ease immediate bottlenecks, analysts warn they won’t solve the systemic issues.

“The network needs new tracks, modern signaling, and more investment — otherwise this pressure will just get worse,” Khumalo noted.

What lies ahead

With global demand for lithium and cobalt projected to rise by another 20 percent by 2026, southern Africa’s rail operators face a stark choice: expand capacity fast or risk losing lucrative export flows to slower, costlier modes of transport.

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