Container port congestion smashes covid-era record
Global container ship bottlenecks have reached a record 4.3 million teu, surpassing pandemic-era peaks and driving up freight and charter costs.
Bottlenecks at global container terminals have surpassed previous records set during the pandemic, according to reporting from Splash 247. Data indicates that over 4.3 million teu of shipping capacity is currently stalled at ports. While this exceeds the 4 million teu peak recorded in the early 2020s, current congestion represents a smaller portion of the total global fleet compared to 2022 due to recent fleet expansion. Recent tropical storms in East Asia have intensified the crisis, particularly at major Chinese hubs. Operational delays at Shanghai and Ningbo have resulted in hundreds of vessels waiting to berth. Some carriers are experiencing wait times of up to eight days at Shanghai’s Yangshan terminals. These logistical hurdles, combined with poor schedule reliability, are removing significant effective vessel capacity from the global market. The capacity shortage is providing sustained support for high freight rates, with the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index rising significantly since regional conflicts began. Further pressure is expected due to water-saving measures at the Panama Canal, which will reduce daily transit slots this September. Analysts suggest that these cumulative disruptions are tightening the charter market, where available tonnage remains in short supply.
Editorial Desk — Trade Flow Insight. Reporting and market notes compiled by the Trade Flow Insight editorial team.
Related coverage
FMCSA’s Elison addresses Motus again, still no date on full repair
Chattanooga–It hasn’t been that long–less than a month–since Jesse Elison spoke to an industry event and addressed the issue of the beleaguered new Motus registration system. The deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) spoke Monday at FreightWaves’ Broker Compliance Symposium, one of two one-day sessions that serve as a prelude to the larger Future of Freight Festival here that begins Tuesday The biggest news in his presentation was really no news: after saying at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association in early October that FMCSA was “weeks away”
Mexican truckers launch national strike over highway security, rising costs
Mexican trucking companies launched an indefinite nationwide strike Monday protesting highway insecurity, cargo theft, extortion and rising operating costs, with demonstrations planned in major freight hubs along the U.S.-Mexico border. The strike, organized by the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (CANACAR) and other trucking organizations, calls for demonstrations across Mexico, including Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Monterrey, Tijuana and Mexico City. The protests could disrupt freight transportation through some of North America’s busiest commercial corridors, particularly in Nuevo Lare
Trump Administration Unveils Seafood Strategy to Boost U.S. Fishing Fleet and Domestic Production
The Trump administration on Friday unveiled its America First Seafood Strategy, outlining plans to strengthen the U.S. commercial fishing industry through regulatory reform, investment in fishing vessels and shoreside infrastructure,...