by Priya Radünzel, SeaNewsEditor
Stay ahead of supply chain disruptions and port congestion with Kuehne+Nagel’s weekly port operational update.
Middle East Africa
Cameroon
Douala: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 4.75 days due to network problems.
Kribi: The terminal is experiencing high yard congestion and a shortage of reefer plugs. Reefer yard utilisation is at 109% capacity with no plugs available. The import yard is at 103% capacity.
Djibouti
Djibouti: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.63 days. The yard density is at around 90%.
Gambia
Banjul: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 10.5 days. The port is experiencing severe congestion and works on a FIFO basis, with no berthing windows.
Libya
Benghazi: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is 4 days.
Mozambique
Beira: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 8.5 days.
South Africa
Cape Town: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1.5 days, however, some vessels can wait up to 3 days due to weather delays.
Durban: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 4.07 days. Some carriers report vessel delays of up to 12 days at Pier 1 and 18 days at Pier 2. Delays are due to crane and equipment breakdowns as well as severe weather.
Tanzania
Dar es Salaam: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 6.85 days due to low crane productivity, capacity constraints, and a scanner breakdown.
Asia Pacific
New Zealand
Tauranga: The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 5 days. The berthing lineup is congested. The demolition of Crane 2 is complete, but the extensive repairs on Crane 8 are expected to significantly impact berth productivity and congestion. Rising vessel volumes further intensify the situation. If all goes well, Crane 8 should be back in service by 17 November. Until then, the port anticipates delays across all services. The yard is heavily congested by expected to ease in the coming days. Metroport is experiencing a heavy backlog. This is expected to clear by the end of week 47.
Bangladesh
Chittagong: The 7-day average vessel waiting time after the tropical storm in week 44 is around 2.28 days.
China
Ningbo and Shanghai saw an increase in congestion last week due to Typhoon Kong-Rey. The vessel backlog is expected to clear in the coming days. According to seaexplorer, around 154 vessels were in the Shanghai/Ningbo anchorage area at the time of publishing.
Taiwan
Due to Typhoon Kong-Rey, all port services at Taipei, Keelung, Taichung, and Kaohsiung were suspended on 31 October. The ports were back in operation the following day. There is slight congestion in Kaoshiung.
Europe
Germany
Hamburg
- CTA: The port is heavily congested. Berthing lines are full, and feeder vessels can wait up to 6 days for a berth. The yard is also heavily congested, resulting in arrival restrictions for trains to 7 days before vessel ETA. Crane unavailability is limiting productivity. In addition, a labour shortage over the last two weeks due to school holidays and a public holiday has added to congestion.
- CTB: Similar to CTA, the terminal faces a full berthing lineup yard congestion. Labour shortages during the last two weeks have significantly limited productivity. CTB has reduced berth capacity due to ongoing shore power construction.
Netherlands
Rotterdam
- ECT: The berthing lineup is full, and yard capacity is stable. However, a limited number of cranes reduces the productivity of working vessels.
- RWG: The yard is congested, and the berthing lineup is full. The terminal plans 24-hour gaps between some vessels to alleviate yard capacity and allow for feeder handling.
Spain
Valencia: The port continues to be heavily disrupted due to extensive flooding last week. Terminals are operating with slower productivity and limited workers. Empty pick-ups and returns are being accepted at APMT and CSP.
- Trucking
- According to Hapag-Lloyd, main trucking lanes to and from terminals remain limited, with a new lane opened for access from southern areas (Alicante, Murcia).
- Bypasses and detours are causing significant delays, with up to 3-hour queues.
- Time restrictions on the Madrid route have been lifted, and a new road has opened. Travelling from Madrid to Valencia now takes approximately 7 hours.
- Truck availability is limited due to damage and trucker shortage
- Rail:
- Rail transport remains suspended.
- Hapag-Lloyd reports five loaded trains are stationary in Madrid. Night shuttle trucking (22:00–07:00) is being arranged to help decongest the Madrid Torrejon ramp.
- Depots :
- The Intercontainer and Trans-ports depots are operational. Intercontainer is open until 15:00 only
- Only export releases are being handled; empty returns from imports are redirected to terminals.
North America
Canada
Rail dwell times:
- Halifax: 7 days
- Montreal: 9 days
- Prince Rupert: 7 days
- Vancouver: 9 days
Montreal
Members of CUPE 375, a union representing longshore workers at the Port of Montreal, began indefinite strikes on 31 October at Termont Corporation, which operates the Maisonneuve and Viau terminals. The strike is expected to slow down shipment processing and result in a backlog of containers.
On 5 November, rail operations at Montreal Gateway Terminal’s Cast and Racine facilities were suspended until further notice due to high yard utilisation, operational constraints, and uncertainty regarding the renewal of the Montreal Longshoremen collective agreement.
This suspension impacts all import and export rail operations at both terminals. Inbound trains will not be accepted, and import rail traffic will not be loaded onto rail cars.
In response, CN Rail and CPKC Rail have stopped acceptance of exports to Montreal at all inland ramps.
Nevertheless, truck gates will remain open from 07:00 - 22:30 daily.
Vancouver/Prince Rupert
After the ILWU Local 514, representing 700 longshore foremen at Vancouver and Prince Rupert ports, issued a strike notice, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) responded by initiating a lockout on 4 November.
This has resulted in an indefinite work stoppage at Vancouver and Prince Rupert. According to advisories from Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, these carriers are working on contingency plans for cargo to and from these ports. Delays in cargo movement and increased congestion at these ports can be expected.
USA
East Coast ports still face some berthing congestion. According to seaexplorer, 8 vessels were at anchor in Savannah, 4 in Charleston, 10 in Norfolk and 3 in New York.
South and Central America
Brazil
Itapoa: The average vessel waiting time is around 1 day. However, off-window vessels can wait up to 5 days.
Navegantes: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1 day, but some vessels can wait up to 14 days.
Paranagua: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is 1.25 days. Off-window vessels can wait up to 5 days.
Santos: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 3.58 days. Late vessels can wait up to 2-3 days.
Bolivia
Since 21 October, indefinite roadblocks at several road points have prevented the delivery of containers to Santa Cruz. The duration of this situation is still unknown. Delays and late deliveries of around 3 to 5 days on average can currently be expected.
According to Kuehne+Nagel, an alternative route to Santa Cruz is now available after police and military reopened roads in Mairana.
The route is as follows: Oruro-Sucre-Aiquile-Mairana-Mairana-Santa Cruz. Further blockades could be lifted in the coming days.
(Update 8 November: Blockades on the connecting routes in Bolivia were lifted on 7 November and are expected to be permanently removed)
Mexico
Lazaro Cardenas: CY occupancy is at 84%. The lineup is congested, with up to 3 days of waiting time for vessels arriving off-window.
Panama
Balboa: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.42 days. The port is heavily congested, delaying container transhipment and creating a labour shortage to handle the increased volumes.
Stay Ahead Stay Informed: Register for seaexplorer for the latest disruptions and vessel waiting times at global container ports.
