Port Congestion Puts Pressure On Ocean Freight Movements

Global container shipping networks are coming under increasing strain as key ports around the world deal with longer vessel waiting times, terminal congestion and growing cargo backlogs.

The disruption is affecting several major trade corridors and creating further challenges for supply chains that are already operating under pressure.

The situation is particularly severe in the Middle East. Vessel delays linked to traffic moving out of the Strait of Hormuz are contributing to wider congestion across regional ports. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia has emerged as a significant bottleneck, with reports of truck queues stretching as far as three miles. In some cases, drivers are said to be waiting up to three days to access the port for container collection or return.

Congestion is also being driven by an earlier-than-expected peak season in Asia, which is placing additional pressure on ports across North Asia, Southeast Asia and Northern Europe. Current market conditions suggest global port congestion has reached its highest level in four years, with approximately 11% of worldwide fleet capacity regularly waiting for berth availability at any given time.

A number of major Asian export hubs are experiencing delays, including Shanghai and Singapore, where vessel waiting times of up to three days have been reported.

In Northern Europe, many of the region’s largest container ports continue to face mounting pressure. Late vessel arrivals, crowded terminals and strained inland transport links are all contributing to delays. Hamburg is currently seeing waiting times of around three days, while Antwerp is experiencing delays of approximately four days and Zeebrugge around six days.

Rotterdam is recording comparatively shorter vessel delays, although both import and export dwell times remain elevated. In the UK, Felixstowe and Southampton are each reportedly seeing vessel waits of up to three days.

Given the current market challenges, particularly across Asian trade lanes, Croft Cargo continues to recommend early bookings wherever possible to reduce the risk of disruption.

For further guidance or support, please contact a member of our team.

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