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South African scientists urge African countries to adjust navigation to the Northern Sea Route
South African scientists urge African countries to adjust navigation to the Northern Sea Route
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2026-10-06T14:03
2026-10-06T14:03
2026-10-06T14:03
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The Northern Sea Route can sideline African ports, but shifting trade patterns present opportunities to strengthen maritime and logistics networks, according to scientists from the Institute for Security Studies Africa (ISS Pretoria).Researchers Dhesigen Naidoo and Denys Reva write that before the recent Red Sea disruptions, around 15% of global maritime trade and 30% of global container trade passed through the Suez Canal.“Much of this traffic now moves around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, extending the usual travel time by up to 14 days. The whole journey can take over 40 days. The NSR is approximately 40% shorter than traditional routes,” their study says.One of the NSR’s advantages is that it avoids chokepoints such as Southeast Asia’s Strait of Malacca and Bab al-Mandab. In addition, the NSR is much cooler, benefitting cold chain logistics, particularly for agricultural and electronics goods.The researchers believe that Africa must avoid remaining on the sidelines as the global shipping system adjusts to the NSR.“The NSR could mean African ports are sidelined in the movement of cargo between China – and eventually other Asian nations – and Europe. Currently, the Suez Canal and Egypt could stand to lose the most,” the researchers concluded.
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South African scientists urge African countries to adjust navigation to the Northern Sea Route
The Northern Sea Route can sideline African ports, but shifting trade patterns present opportunities to strengthen maritime and logistics networks,
according to scientists from the Institute for Security Studies Africa (ISS Pretoria).
Researchers Dhesigen Naidoo and Denys Reva write that before the recent Red Sea disruptions, around 15% of global maritime trade and 30% of global container trade passed through the Suez Canal.
“Much of this traffic now moves around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, extending the usual travel time by up to 14 days. The whole journey can take over 40 days. The NSR is approximately 40% shorter than traditional routes,” their study says.
One of the NSR’s advantages is that it avoids chokepoints such as Southeast Asia’s Strait of Malacca and Bab al-Mandab. In addition, the NSR is much cooler, benefitting cold chain logistics, particularly for agricultural and electronics goods.
The researchers believe that Africa must avoid remaining on the sidelines as the global shipping system adjusts to the NSR.
“The NSR could mean African ports are sidelined in the movement of cargo between China – and eventually other Asian nations – and Europe. Currently, the Suez Canal and Egypt could stand to lose the most,” the researchers concluded.
