South Africa Logistics Growth Index rises to 48.8 in September 2026 — highest in 2 months
7 October 2026 — South Africa’s Logistics Growth Index, published today by the World Research Institute (WRI), registered 48.8 in September 2026, +0.4 on 48.4 in August 2026, signalling contraction in the economy’s logistics-sector activity (50 = no change).
Key figures
- South Africa Logistics Growth Index: 48.8 (September 2026), prior 48.4, change +0.4
- Rank: 36th of 42 economies; 4th of 5 in Africa
- Africa Logistics Index: 49.9
- World Logistics Index: 51.6
- Highest reading in 2 months.
- Next release: 7 November 2026, 09:00 UTC
Changes and ranks are calculated from unrounded readings, so a change can differ by 0.1 from the difference of the rounded figures shown, and economies with the same rounded reading can hold different ranks.
WRI’s assessment
South Africa’s Logistics Growth Index edged up to 48.8 in September 2026, a 0.4-point gain leaving the headline below its three-month average of 49.3. The modest improvement was driven by a return to expansion in business volume and goods for sale, reflecting resilient retail sales, alongside sustained warehousing activity.
Full South Africa report — sub-indices, drivers and forecast →
“Bottlenecks at key ports kept throughput well below historical norms in September, delivery times lengthened severely and job losses in transport accelerated. A return to growth in business volumes lifted the reading slightly, but the sector is still contracting.”
About the Logistics Growth Index
The South Africa Logistics Growth Index (LGI™) is one of 42 country readings in the World Research Institute’s monthly Logistics Index family — a GDP-weighted diffusion index of logistics-sector activity across 42 economies, four regions and a World reading. A reading above 50 signals expansion and below 50 contraction. The World and regional Logistics Index readings are published openly at intelligence.worldresearch.org/lgi; country reports are available to subscribers, to accredited journalists via press access, and any reader may claim one complimentary country edition. Methodology: /methodology.
Charts and data on this page may be republished with attribution to the World Research Institute.
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