Income

The total income for the transport and storage industry in 2019 was R592,7 billion. This represents an increase of 5,2% per annum over the income reported in the corresponding survey of 2016 (R508,7 billion). Comparing 2016 and 2019, large increases were reported for ‘activities of other transport agencies’ (+R25,8 billion) and ‘freight transport by road’ (+R24,1billion).

Between 2010 and 2019, ‘freight transport by road’ gained the biggest percentage share (+4,2 percentage points) in income. ‘Air transport’ lost the biggest percentage share (-3,6 percentage points) in income over the same period.

Revisions: revisions were made to Report No. 71-02-01 (2016) results due to new information obtained after the publication.

Employment

The total number of persons employed in the transport and storage industry at the end of June 2019 was 330 396. This represents a decrease of 0,4% per annum compared with employment recorded in the corresponding survey of 2016 (334 626). In 2019, ‘freight transport by road’ employed the largest number of persons (126 178 or 38,1%), followed by ‘railway transport’ (47 385 or 14,3%) and ‘activities of other transport agencies’ (39 972 or 12,1%).

Employment in the transport and storage industry increased from 311 068 in 2010 to 330 396 in 2019 (a gain of 19 328 jobs). The highest gains in jobs were recorded in ‘freight transport by road’ (+23 924 jobs), ‘activities of other transport agencies’ (+10 767 jobs) and ‘storage and warehousing’ (+5 395 jobs). However, substantial losses in jobs were recorded in ‘other supporting transport activities’ (-11 837 jobs) and ‘travel agencies and related activities’ (-4 762 jobs).

Profit margin

The profit margin for the transport and storage industry was 3,7% in 2019. ‘Transport via pipelines’ had the highest profit margin at 29,3%, followed by ‘cargo handling’ at 10,3%. ‘Air transport’ reported the only negative profit margin in the industry at -6,3%.