Port congestion at major container terminals worldwide is expected to persist well into the peak season, continuing to cause disruption and delays.

Congestion has become a global issue, with ports struggling to efficiently handle Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs), indicating that the problem is likely to remain for the foreseeable future.

Additional factors contributing to widespread congestion include surges in demand, labor disputes, extreme weather conditions, equipment shortages, outdated infrastructure, limited storage capacity, and unreliable sailing schedules.

To some extent, carriers have had to learn to work around the most congested ports, which often results in vessel diversions and omissions, but the situation may be unlikely to change until many of the world’s major ports are upgraded.

Below are some of the major ports and hubs that have recently been reported as struggling with congestion and waiting times:

UK & Europe

Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Felixstowe, Hamburg, London Gateway, Southampton, Rotterdam.

Asia

Busan, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Singapore, Yokohama.

USA

Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York, Savannah

Rest Of The World

Cape Town (South Africa), Manzanillo (Mexico), Vancouver (Canada).

As ever, the Westbound team are monitoring developments closely. Should you have concerns about any upcoming shipments then please contact a member of the team.

If you have any questions regarding the above, then Westbound are here to help. So, please do not hesitate to contact us.