Maydon Wharf
Africa's Premier Multipurpose Port
Maydon Wharf serves as the fundamental link in South Africa's global trade network, specialising in high-volume bulk and break-bulk logistics.
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Industrial Vacancy
3.8%
Ave. Gross Rental
R68 - R100/m²
Capital Growth
8%
Development Pipeline
R154 Billion
Durban's Maritime Industrial Gateway
Maydon Wharf functions as the primary multipurpose cargo handling facility within the Port of Durban, managing the majority of South Africa's bulk imports and exports. This industrial precinct is not merely a transport node but a sophisticated economic engine that facilitates the movement of sugar, grains, salt, fertilisers, timber, and steel. The area is characterised by high-density industrial activity, featuring specialised silos, massive warehousing complexes, and extensive cold storage facilities.
Maydon Wharf's Key Nodes & Precincts
Maydon Wharf is divided into several specialised economic zones, each tailored to specific cargo handling and industrial processing requirements.
South African Sugar Terminal
One of the largest sugar silos globally, this facility handles the export production of bulk raw and bagged sugar for the R14 billion South African sugar industry. It features three enormous silos with a total capacity of 525,000 tons, providing essential storage that allows the industry to time sales into overseas markets strategically.
Agri-Bulk and Grains Node (SABT)
Operated by South African Bulk Terminals (SABT), this node features interlocked conveyor systems for the high-velocity transfer of wheat, maize, and soya beans. The RBT terminal at Maydon Wharf 5 offers 150,000 tons of storage, facilitating critical imports and exports for the national food and animal feed industries.
Maydon Wharf Multi-Purpose Precinct
This precinct spans across 15 berths and handles a diverse mix of neo-bulks, including salt, fertilizers, scrap metal, and forest products. It is currently undergoing a ten-year phased deepening project to allow larger vessels with a 14.5-metre draft to dock, significantly increasing throughput capacity.
Prince Edward Dry Dock & Ship Repair
This historic marine engineering node provides essential ship maintenance, rescue services, and vessel certification. Recent upgrades under the Operation Phakisa programme have modernised the pump houses and capstans, supporting a thriving local maritime engineering and ship repair industry.
Grindrod / Manica Logistics Node
A key node for private sector logistics, this area is managed by major players like the Grindrod Group, offering comprehensive container and break-bulk facilities. It serves as a port of call for regional feeder lines and provides advanced container freight stations served by both rail sidings and road access.
Maydon Wharf's Arterial Routes
The efficiency of Maydon Wharf as a logistics hub is tied to its integration with Durban's primary road and rail networks.
Maydon Road
This is the central spine of the precinct, providing direct access to the various wharf berths and terminal entrances for heavy vehicles. A major traffic management plan is underway to deproclaim sections of this road for port-only traffic, enhancing security and operational flow within the industrial zone.
M4 (Margaret Mncadi Avenue)
The M4 runs along the northern boundary of the harbour, providing a vital high-speed link between Maydon Wharf and the Durban CBD. It connects the precinct to the northern coastal corridors, facilitating rapid transit for staff and light commercial logistics towards King Shaka International Airport.
N2 (South Coast Road Connectivity)
Maydon Wharf is strategically positioned near the N2 highway, which is the primary arterial route for cargo distribution along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. The N2 provides a critical link to the Durban South Basin industrial hubs, such as Prospecton and Mobeni, which support the port's automotive and manufacturing clusters.
N3 (NATCOR Freight Corridor)
The N3 is the most significant freight artery in the country, connecting Maydon Wharf to the industrial heartland of Gauteng. This corridor is essential for the movement of containerised and bulk cargo between the Port of Durban and major inland ports like City Deep and Sentrarand.
Bayhead and Langeberg Road
These roads are the primary access points for the southern portion of the port, carrying high volumes of container and liquid bulk traffic. A R233 million rehabilitation project is currently underway to repair structural damage caused by heavy vehicle influx, ensuring long-term road network resilience.
Notable Developments Around Maydon Wharf
The infrastructure pipeline in Maydon Wharf is geared towards future-proofing the port against global shipping trends.
Berth Deepening (5-11 & 15)
Completion: 2035
This project involves deepening older berths by 4.5 metres to a final depth of 14.5 metres Chart Datum (mCD) to accommodate modern, larger vessels. This multi-year upgrade is designed to improve trade efficiency and foster economic growth by increasing the port's overall draft capacity.
Maydon Wharf Road Rehabilitation
Completion:
Multi-Purpose Fresh Produce Terminal
Completion: TBC ~10-15 years
Transnet has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a private terminal operator to design, finance, and operate a terminal for fresh produce and compatible break-bulk cargo. This 25-year concession aims to modernise agricultural export handling through significant private sector capital investment.