by Fiona Nagorsnik, 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 5.5 days due to unfinished formalities of waiting ships.

Congo

Pointe Noire: Due to ongoing port repairs, the 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 3.3 days.

Gambia

Banjul: The port is experiencing severe congestion with no berthing windows available, resulting in waiting times of around 7.25 days. However, some vessels can wait up to 20 days.

South Africa

Durban: The average vessel waiting time is around 5.75 days, but Pier 1 can have a waiting time of up to 10 days, and Pier 2 can have a waiting time of up to 25 days. Frequent winds are causing delays and disruptions. Port equipment shortages, crane outages, and dredging of berths are significantly slowing down land and waterside productivity.

Cape Town: Frequent strong winds are causing vessel waiting times of around 3.5 days.

Port Elizabeth: Adverse weather is causing vessel waiting time to increase to around 3 days. 

UAE

Jebel Ali: The terminal yard density exceeds 90%, resulting in significant congestion issues. Despite the average 7-day vessel waiting time being approximately 1.5 days, there is no capacity for ad hoc vessels or alternative terminal calls due to the continuous arrival of mainline vessels.

Asia Pacific

Bangladesh

Chittagong: The port of Chittagong (Chattogram) is heavily congested with an ongoing equipment shortage. The berthing time of the feeder vessels has increased and is now between 6 and 8 days. Although the port remains heavily congested, it is working on delivering import containers to ease yard utilisation. The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 3.5 days.

China

Ningbo: The explosion onboard YM Mobility at NSBCT closed the terminal for approximately 2.5 days on 9 August. The vessel remains in Ningbo for investigation and occupies a berth. Although operations at the other terminals have stabilised, berthing congestion has spilt over to these terminals.

Shanghai: Berth congestion remains high due to vessel bunching and a high number of calls.

India

Due to persistently high rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a "RED ALERT" warning for several districts in Gujarat, currently heavily impacting operations at Kandla, Mundra, and Pipavav ports. Based on the weather forecast, suspended operations at Mundra and Kandla ports are anticipated to last 24 to 48 hours. Read more

Nhava Sheva: Due to bad road conditions, the waiting period for empty pickup was 2-3 days, and trucker queues were 2-3 km in most yards. The terminal has been experiencing congestion and has applied move count restrictions, which limited pre-gate-in requests.

Japan

Typhoon Shanshan is moving over the northern Ryukyu islands and further strengthening. Heavy rainfall, winds up to 150 km/h and storm surges are forecast for the region and central Japan. The ports of Hakata and Moji have stopped operations.

Philippines

Manila: Due to severe berth congestion, the average 7-day vessel waiting time increased to around 4.75 days.

Singapore

Singapore: Although the overall situation has stabilised, congestion and high yard utilisation continue. Vessels with high discharge volumes wait longer for a berth.

South Korea

Busan: Yard utilisation increased in week 34 due to the bunching of incoming vessels and increased transhipment calls.

Europe

Belgium

Antwerp: The MPET Terminal is experiencing significant waterside delays due to the June oil spill, causing a backlog and vessel berthing delays. Berthing windows now take 10-12 days, impacting transit times. To address this, MSC diverts merchant haulage cargo to Zeebrugge while carrier haulage cargo continues to be unloaded in Antwerp. According to MSC, the situation is not expected to improve before early September.

Germany

German port workers have rejected the latest wage proposal, increasing the likelihood of strikes should negotiations stall. Read more

Hamburg:

• CTA: Yard utilisation is at 77%. The dwell time improved: Exports 5.5 days, imports 3.8 days. Labour availability is stressed due to holidays. Full berth occupancy, but waiting times are improving. The shore power construction is in the final phase, with four weeks to completion.
• CTB: The yard is at 80% capacity. An IT outage and a labour shortage are causing delays. The AMP installation at berths 5-6 is ongoing.

Bremerhaven: The port plans construction works at CT1 from 26 to 29 August. Delays and disruptions are expected.

Greece

Piraeus: The average vessel waiting time is around 2 days due to the high number of vessels calling the port. Waiting time is expected to increase further in week 35.

Ireland

Dublin: From 1 September, Dublin Port (MTL Terminal) will start significant project work for at least 2 months. Yard capacity will be limited, reducing the allowable time for export cargo on the quay to 5 days. Hauliers are urged to book slots on the VAST app before returning full containers or picking up empties.

Low water levels in the river Rhine

Due to seasonal low water levels in the Rhine, river vessels may have delays and capacity limitations.

Portugal

Ports in Portugal will witness a series of strikes in September to push for retirement amendments. The strikes will last 48 hours each and occur between 16 and 30 September. Read more

Spain

Algeciras: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.5 days due to high yard density and congestion.

Barcelona: A seasonal labour shortage, a high number of vessel calls and move counts, and yard congestion are causing delays in Barcelona. 

Valencia: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1 day. High call volumes and move counts are causing delays. Additionally, the backlog of cargo destined for Algerian ports has increased.  

Sweden

Gothenburg: Severe winds halted all operations on 23 August. Waiting time for a berth has increased to 1 day.

Netherlands

Rotterdam: Yard congestion has reduced, and empty containers are being accepted again.

North America

Canada

Rail operations resumed in Canada on 26 August, after strikes by workers began on 22 August. The average rail dwell times are as follows:

• Montreal: 8 days
• Halifax: 7 days
• Prince Rupert: 11 days
• Vancouver: 12 days

USA

Earlier in August, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) announced preparations for a potential coast-wide strike on 1 October 2024 if a new agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is not reached.

The latest updates reveal that the ILA filed a Notice to Mediation Agencies with the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS), indicating that talks could be delayed longer than expected. Read more

New York: Due to a power outage on 27 August, operations were limited, leading to a likely cargo backlog. Although operations resumed at 6 am on 28 August, delays and disruptions remain possible.

Tacoma: The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 1.5 days. There is currently a severe rail car shortage. Import rail dwell times are 5.9 days at Husky and 7.2 days at Washington United Terminals.

South and Central America

Brazil

Manaus: Authorities expect to start low water season restrictions by the end of September due to heavy silting at critical points. They also anticipate considerable draft restrictions to limit vessel capacity.

Paranagua: Due to dense fog, the 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 6.11 days.

Rio Grande: The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 4.5 days, primarily due to frequent stops caused by poor visibility from severe weather.

Santos: the 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 3 days due to ongoing severe weather

Costa Rica

Caldera: Heavy rains are affecting port operations. Yard utilisation is around 90%, resulting in strong limitations of empty containers.

Mexico

Manzanillo: Yard utilisation is around 100%, and the berth lineup is congested.

Panama

The Atlantic terminals — Cristobal, Colon, and Manzanillo — have exceeded 95% yard occupancy, far above the healthy 60-65%. The congestion has slowed operations to 30 movements per hour, below the optimal 50. Ships are docked longer, reducing capacity for others. This issue has worsened recently, and authorities lack a contingency plan. Ships can wait up to a month for a dock.

Balboa: Due to high volumes, the port is heavily congested. This delays container transhipment and creates a labour shortage. The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 3.6 days.

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