Small business & global shipping advice from DHL Express

South Africa’s online retail market is entering an important new phase. According to the Online Retail in South Africa 2026 report by World Wide Worx, Mastercard, Peach Payments and Ask Afrika, online spending is expected to reach around R159 billion in 2026, with e-commerce accounting for roughly 10% of the country’s total retail turnover.

For your customer, checkout marks the end of the buying journey. For your business, it’s where the delivery journey begins. Once a customer has entered their address, chosen a delivery option and placed an order, that information needs to guide the courier to the right destination. One small but essential detail helps make that possible: the South African postal code.

Many companies moving South Africa’s imports and exports don’t own a single ship, aircraft or truck. They’re freight forwarders: logistics specialists that coordinate the movement of goods across carriers, borders and transport networks.

South Africa’s manufacturing sector contributes around 12.5% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). It covers a wide range of industries, including petroleum and chemical products, pharmaceuticals, plastics and rubber.