TRADE & TRANSPORT

Trade Definition: The exchange of goods or labor; trade helps people acquire needed resources.
Methods of Trade: Involves natural resources, manufactured goods, and services. Trade occurs between individuals, companies, and countries.
Example: Cocoa is the main ingredient in chocolate and is traded by cocoa-producing countries for resources they lack.
International Trade: Involves buying imports and selling exports, allowing communities worldwide to access similar goods and lifestyles.
- Imports: Goods that come into a country.
- Exports: Goods that leave a country.
Examples of Global Common Goods: Food, entertainment, phone brands, and clothing styles appear similar across various countries.

Partners Include: China, Europe, United States, Japan.
Main Exports and Imports:
- Exports: Gold, iron, coal, meat, electrical goods, clothes.
- Imports: Oil, cars, fruits, medicines.

Importance of Transport: Transport is crucial for moving goods; improved systems have increased trade volume globally.
Modern Transport Improvements Include: Refrigerated ships, oil pipelines, container transport.
Benefits of Refrigerated Transport: Enables food to be shipped worldwide without spoiling.
Transport Types:
- Road Transport: Buses, taxis, cars facilitate worker travel.
- Container Ships: Key in international trade, carrying various goods, notably food and machinery.
- Oil Tankers: Account for a significant portion of sea trade, transporting oil safely across long distances.

Sea Transport: International goods transported by container ships, which hold various commodities securely.
- Oil Tankers: Carry large quantities of crude oil and petrochemicals.
Air Transport: Predominantly for passengers; lightweight, high-value goods transported by air, such as diamonds and perishable foods.
Road Transport: Crucial for transporting goods over short distances directly to consumers. A significant portion of goods is transported by road.
Rail Transport: Historically significant, still used today for heavy goods like coal and iron ore.
- Example: Sishen-Saldanha Railway Line, 861 km rail connecting iron ore mines to ports.
Pipelines: Used for transporting gas and oil; specialized pumps maintain flow through pipelines.

Container Ships: The predominant mode for international trade; containers loaded and secured for stability.
Cargo Include: Cars, food, electrical goods.

Usage Statistics: 90% used for passengers; quick, inexpensive for light, high-value items.
Common Airlifted Commodities: Fresh fish, vegetables, flowers.

Types of Vehicles:
- Motorbikes: Letters, medicines.
- Bakkies: Building materials.
- Trucks: Heavy goods, machinery, and vehicles.

Historical Context: Once dominant for goods transport but still significant for heavy commodities.

Key Transport Types: Roads, railways, airports, harbours.
Transportation's Role: Critical for moving goods and people domestically and internationally.

Historical Significance: Established by Vasco da Gama during his voyages.
Current Role: Third most important port in South Africa, facilitating numerous imports and exports.
Exports Include: Manganese ore, cars, wool, fruit.
Imports Include: Car parts, petroleum, clothes, toys.

Road Transport:
- Advantages: Direct delivery, faster for short distances.
- Disadvantages: Traffic congestion and pollution.
Rail Transport:
- Advantages: Capacity for bulk goods, reduced congestion.
- Disadvantages: Fixed rail pathways, offloading needed for delivery.

Rapid Transit Systems: Separation from other transport modes for efficiency.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Introduced in South Africa for affordability and flexibility.
Cycling Promotion: Cities implementing bicycle-sharing schemes for efficient transport.
Car-Free Zones: Certain urban areas restricted to non-motorized transport to reduce congestion and pollution.

Cost for Commuters: Rising transport costs lead to more significant income expenditure.
Pollution: Vehicle emissions contributing to respiratory health issues, including asthma and bronchitis.
Traffic Congestion: Major urban challenge causing delays and increased area pollution.