Income

The total income for the transport and storage industry in 2023 was R717,0 billion. The total income represents an increase of 7,2% per annum compared with the income reported in the corresponding survey of 2019 (R543,6 billion). Comparing 2019 and 2023, the largest increase was reported for ‘freight transport by road’ (+R85,5 billion), followed by ‘activities of other transport agencies’ (+R84,7 billion) and ‘other supporting transport activities’ (R+7,7 billion).

Between 2013 and 2023, ‘freight transport by road’ gained the biggest percentage share (+9,2 percentage points) of income (from a percentage contribution of 22,3% in 2013 to 31,5% in 2023). ‘Air transport’ lost the biggest percentage share (-7,4 percentage points) over the same period (from 14,2% in 2013 to 6,8% in 2023).

Revisions: revisions were made to Report No. 71-02-01 (2019) results due to new information obtained after the publication.

Employment

The total number of persons employed in the transport and storage industry as at the end of June 2023 was 318 284. This represents a decrease of 0,6% per annum compared with the employment recorded in the corresponding survey of 2019 (326 124). In 2023, ‘freight transport by road’ employed the largest number of persons (125 009 or 39,2%), followed by ‘railway transport’ (44 517 or 14,0%) and ‘activities of other transport agencies’ (32 795 or 10,3%).

Employment in the transport and storage industry increased from 298 629 in 2013 to 318 284 in 2023 (a gain of 19 655 persons). The biggest gains in persons employed between 2013 and 2023 were in ‘freight transport by road’ (+26 041 persons) and ‘storage and warehousing’ (+9 637 persons). The biggest losses were in ‘railway transport’ (-11 303 persons) and ‘air transport’ (-7 765 persons).

Profit margin

Between 2013 and 2023, the transport and storage industry recorded its highest profit margin of 7,2% in 2013. In 2023, ‘transport via pipelines’ had the highest profit margin at 41,7%, followed by ‘cargo handling’ (16,2%) and ‘water transport’ (13,7%). ‘Railway transport’ was the only activity to report a loss (-31,9%).