Port congestion at major northern European container terminals is set to persist, with disruptions and significant delays continuing to impact key ports.
Terminals in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven are facing growing backlogs, with vessel waiting times now ranging from several days to two weeks. These delays are being compounded by industrial strikes, low water levels on the Rhine River, and high yard utilization at the ports.
In the UK, ports like Felixstowe, London Gateway, and Southampton are also battling congestion, with waiting times and yard occupancy levels remaining challenging.
A key driver of the global port congestion crisis is the lack of adequate berthing space for the increasing size of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs). As container ships grow ever larger, many ports are struggling to accommodate them, causing persistent bottlenecks that are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
Global hubs like Singapore and Cape Town are facing severe congestion, with similar issues reported at major ports across China and the United States. Ports in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Los Angeles, and New York are all experiencing growing vessel queues.
With terminal capacity stretched and operational challenges mounting, port operations around the world are expected to remain under pressure throughout the peak season, potentially impacting global trade and supply chains.
The team at Global Freight Services will be closely monitoring developments during the next few weeks.
