After increasing somewhat in December 2023, the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) declined notably in January to an index level of 119.3, a drop of 2.1% compared to December’s level of 121.9. The extent of the weakness evident reminds of the pressure the sector experienced amid the KZN looting and flooding episodes – see graph 1. Though the weakness was quite broad-based, the Ctrack TFI is still 5.1% above year-ago levels. The abrupt deterioration in January is indeed a stark reminder that the sector still faces many challenges at the beginning of 2024.
