As trade corridors expand and the demand for sustainable supply chain solutions grows, end-to-end solutions provider Reload Logistics has released an industry outlook report, 'Unlocking Southern Africa’s Trade Potential in 2025 and Beyond', which outlines trends in infrastructure, trade integration and digital innovation driving Southern Africa’s logistics landscape.

The report avers that Southern Africa’s logistics sector is at a pivotal turning point, shaped by rising trade activity, major infrastructure investments and the growing demand for efficiency.

With the region’s economy expected to grow by 4.2% in the coming years – driven by commodity exports and transport network improvements – producers, traders, and manufacturers will have to adapt to an increasingly dynamic and interconnected environment. The report highlights key developments and emerging opportunities that will define the industry’s trajectory in the years ahead.

One of these is that critical minerals are driving growth. Southern Africa provides around 30% of the world's critical minerals for electric vehicles, including cobalt and copper, contributing to the transition towards cleaner energy.

This demand is said to be transforming global supply chains, with markets increasingly turning to Africa for these resources.

Nearly 70% of the world’s cobalt, and substantial volumes of copper, comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To support this market, investments in railways and ports are accelerating, creating more efficient transportation networks to meet demand, the report points out.

The report also highlights strategic infrastructure investments, including the Kasomeno-Mwenda road project which is removing over 300 km from DRC-to-Tanzania routes, and the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway project which plans to double port capacity to 30-million tonnes by 2030.

Moreover, technology logistics solutions are said to have improved route optimisation by up to 15%.

Another trend is that of sustainability imperatives, as, by 2030, demand for green logistics could reach about $350-billion globally, with exporters increasingly adopting lower-carbon transport options.

There are also “transformative” trade corridors, such as port developments at Dar es Salaam, Durban, Walvis Bay and Beira, which are said to be enhancing efficiencies and opening cross-border opportunities.

The report projects that by 2030, the African Continental Free Trade Area will boost intra-African trade by over 50%, creating new commodity flows while regional infrastructure investments address network gaps.