The Asia–Europe trade lane is experiencing a growing structural imbalance as empty container repositioning places increasing pressure on European ports operating at full capacity.
During TPM26 in California, industry analysts noted that the pattern of rising imports and weakening exports is creating sustained operational strain.
Nigel Pusey, CEO of Container Trades Statistics, reported that westbound demand on the route rose 9.1% in 2025, compared with an 8.3% increase in capacity.
Over the same period, backhaul volume declined 5.7% while capacity grew 11.5%. He described the imbalance as the core challenge for the trade and highlighted the difficulty of recycling containers efficiently.
Pusey also said only 37% of slots from Europe to the Far East were filled with commercial cargo.
Hanna Stelzel, director of containers at the Port of Rotterdam, explained that empty repositioning is becoming a persistent issue for European hubs already running at maximum utilisation.
She said the route saw approximately 10% growth in 2025, mainly from imports, and noted that Asia–Europe container traffic was 40% higher compared with 2024.
According to Stelzel, declining exports and Rotterdam’s role as both the first and last port of call are contributing to increased volumes of empties requiring storage and additional handling.
Stelzel added that empty containers occupy valuable yard space and generate extra moves between terminals, which the port aims to minimise to maintain operational fluidity. However, current traffic levels make this difficult to achieve.
Rotterdam recorded a 3.1% rise in total container throughput in 2025, supported by a surge in second‑half imports from Asia and stronger links with North America. Pusey said the imbalance and ongoing congestion are extending container circulation times, increasing the number of boxes in the system and intensifying storage pressures.
He also warned that the halt to shipping in the Persian Gulf is expected to exacerbate current equipment distortions, as the Middle East and India are closely tied to carrier schedules. Pusey stated it is too early to predict the full impact, but the imbalance is likely to deteriorate further.
Additional data from Container Trades Statistics for January 2026 showed an 8.2% year‑on‑year drop in European exports, marking the sixth decline in a year and the steepest so far.
The imbalance in the Asia–Europe trade has now surpassed a 4:1 ratio for the first time, driven by weakening exports and continued import growth.
