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Port congestion is surging across Northern Europe’s major container gateways, with ripple effects threatening global supply chain flows.
Key ports including Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven are facing mounting vessel delays as labour shortages, low water levels on inland waterways, and strikes converge to create a perfect storm for shippers and carriers alike.
At Bremerhaven, labour shortages during the recent holiday period exacerbated congestion, pushing average berth waiting times from 34 hours in Week 13 to 50 hours by Week 20 — a 49% jump. Antwerp has seen a similar 37% increase, with waiting times stretching from 32 to 44 hours, while Bremerhaven recorded the steepest rise at 77%.
The situation worsened when a nationwide strike on 20 May temporarily disrupted vessel traffic at Antwerp-Bruges, halting operations at key locks, including Kallo and Boudewijn. Although the impact was brief, it added strain to an already stretched system. Low water levels on the Rhine, particularly affecting Antwerp and Rotterdam, have further limited barge capacity, leaving inland logistics in a bind.
The pressure isn’t confined to Europe. Drewry reports similar congestion patterns emerging at Shenzhen, Los Angeles, and New York, where containerships are increasingly backed up. As of Week 20, up to 50 vessels were waiting off Shenzhen, 42 off Los Angeles, and 14 off New York.
For shippers, the fallout is costly. Port delays are disrupting inventory planning, extending transit times, and inflating logistics costs. Carriers are responding by rerouting vessels and introducing congestion surcharges. MSC has announced a congestion surcharge effective 1 June for all cargo moving from Northern Europe to the Far East, a move that will further impact shipping budgets.
The transpacific eastbound trade lane is also heating up, with spot rates rising sharply—by 27% since early May, according to Drewry’s World Container Index. Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles have surged from $2,590 to $3,197, while rates to New York have spiked from $3,500 to $4,527. General Rate Increases (GRIs) implemented on 15 May have stuck, and additional GRIs and Peak Season Surcharges (PSSs) are scheduled for 1 June.
The compounding factors—port congestion, labour disruptions, inland bottlenecks, and rate hikes—are a stark reminder of the fragility of global container shipping flows. In a market already grappling with volatility, cargo owners face a tough choice: absorb rising costs or rethink their logistics strategies altogether.
For those seeking granular data and weekly updates, Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight (CCI) offers a valuable resource to monitor evolving conditions and make informed, risk-mitigated decisions in an unpredictable market.
Source: drewry
