Kuehne+Nagel aims to provide the most up-to-date operational information so you can make more informed decisions for your cargo. Our weekly Port Update summarises events impacting global port operations this past week and what should be considered when planning future shipments. Additionally, we include infrastructure and volume developments, amongst other relevant general port news.
Operational News
Africa
Kenya
Mombasa: The cargo movement in Kenya's port city of Mombasa is experiencing significant disruption due to truck strikes. A South Africa Freight News report revealed that transport drivers in Kenya started a strike last week, heavily affecting container movement at Mombasa Port. Transporters along the Northern Corridor, from Mombasa at the coast to Malaba at the Ugandan border, parked their vehicles, disrupting cargo movement along the corridor, added the report. The 7-day average waiting time of vessels at the port currently stands at 1.08 days.
Asia
China
South China ports: China expects extreme weather conditions as Typhoon Talim approaches the country's southern region. The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Monday after it strengthened from a tropical storm to a severe tropical storm in the past few days. Container pick-up and delivery services at major South China Sea ports were suspended, and vessel schedules are likely to be affected.
The 7-day average waiting time at Hong Kong and Yantian ports is currently 2.63 days. According to seaexplorer data of 19 July, there are nearly 87 vessels anchored vessel outside the port complex.
South Korea
The country witnessed heavy rainfall last week, causing floods across multiple regions. Floods caused by the rainstorm are causing transport disruption, especially in Central and southern regions, including parts of North Chungcheong Province. The situation is expected to improve this week; however, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) is maintaining heavy rainfall warnings for some eastern and southeastern regions as of 18 July, including parts of Busan Municipal City.
North America
Canada
On 13 July, local news in Canada announced the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and the labour union, ILWU Canada, were presented with a proposal agreement by mediators to end the strike. However, the union rejected the deal, claiming it did not protect the workers' jobs. As a result, the strikes were renewed at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert on 18 July, with no end date announced.
The Port of Vancouver issued an advisory informing customers that “Centerm, Deltaport, Fraser Surrey, and Vanterm container terminals are impacted by labour action. As of 18 July, seven container vessels are at berth, and nine await entry into the port’s jurisdiction.”
Vessel waiting times at Vancouver port spiked in the past few days, with the 7-day average currently at 8.4 days. More than ten container vessels are expected to arrive at the port in the next two weeks. The 7-day average waiting time at Prince Rupert Port is currently 6.4 days.
Other Port News
Africa
Mozambique
Maputo: The port began a $3 million construction project to build a truck traffic management park. The project seeks to improve the efficiency and safety of truck transportation, reduce congestion and improve overall logistics at the port. The project's first phase is expected to finish in three months, and the second phase, which will include the integration of commercial services and the expansion of port processing activities, is scheduled to begin in late 2023.
Europe
Belgium
Antwerp-Bruges: Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 6.4 million TEUs in the first half of the year, registering a 5.2% decrease compared to last year. Conversely, the reefer sector achieved an increase in the same period, reporting a 10.6% growth year-on-year.
Germany
Bremerhaven: The second-largest container port in Germany witnessed a vessel naming ceremony this week for MSC's largest ship, MSC Michel Cappellini. The container ship has a container capacity of 24,346 TEUs, a length of 400 metres and a width of 61.5 metres. According to MSC, the vessel is one of the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient container ships by design.
UK
Tyne: the Port of Tyne obtained a refinancing package of £100 million ($130 million) for developing green energy and smart logistics. A long-term credit agreement through Lloyds Bank provides a structured plan for the port to achieve its ambitious maritime 2050 goal. The investment will also support the development of significant infrastructure projects at the port.
Middle East
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah: Jeddah Islamic Port had its largest container throughput in a single month in June. The port handled over 473,000 TEU, a 16% increase compared to June last year. "The operational accomplishment involves large-scale growth strategies executed by the Saudi Ports Authority to improve and broaden the Red Sea hub, including a nine-billion-riyal concession with DP World to upgrade capacity at the South Container Terminal to 13 million TEU," said the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) in a statement.
North America
USA
Los Angeles: The Port of Los Angeles transported 833,035 TEUs in June, a 5% reduction from the same month last year but its most outstanding performance since July. Loaded imports totalled 435,307 TEUs in the prior month, a 2% decrease from June 2022. Loaded exports, on the other hand, rose by 15% to 108,050 TEUs. At the same time, 289,679 TEUs of empty boxes arrived, a 14% year-over-year decrease. The Californian port handled 4,137,379 TEUs in the first half of 2023, a 24% decrease over the same time in 2022.
Long Beach: Container handling dropped in June to 597,076 TEU, a 29% year-on-year decline. Container Management says that imports also decreased by 34% to 274,325 TEU, and exports were down 18% to 94,508 TEU. Analysts attribute this drop to retailers' slow clearance of stocks, which reduces the need for new orders. The port has also experienced disruptions from strikes last month, which could also be a contributing factor to the decline.
Oakland: The Oakland Port announced a US$558 million budget for the fiscal year 2024. The port plans to include some of the funds in its five-year capital enhancement plan for the port, estimated at US$245.2 million. The development project will include modernising the port's electric infrastructure system and developing zero-emission initiatives.
