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.

Operational News

Africa and the Middle East

Israel

The situation at Israeli ports remains stable; however, delays and disruptions can be expected. Port operations in Ashdod have been reduced, and vessels are being diverted to Haifa. Waiting times in Haifa are fluctuating but remain below 2 days.

Benin-Niger

Cotonou: Due to current operational constraints and congestion, Cotonou Port Authorities have suspended all loadings to and from Niger until further notice. CMA-CGM has suspended all bookings to Niger through Cotonou. 

Nigeria

Labour unions across Nigeria will strike on 8 November. An end date for the strike has not been announced. Disruption to traffic and port operations is expected during this time. The current 7-day vessel waiting time is around 2 days for Lagos.

Asia

Europe

Belgium

Rail strikes began in Belgium this week at 10:00 p.m. on 7 November and will continue until 10:00 p.m. on 9 November. A second 48-hour strike in December is to follow. This strike will begin at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 5 December, and end at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, 7 December. The strikes are expected to bring rail transport to a standstill.

Italy

Flooding in the Prato and Campi Bisenzio areas near Firenze(Florence) is causing some delays to road traffic. The local Kuehne+Nagel office remains closed until Wednesday, 8 November, to allow road access to emergency vehicles. Staff are working from home.

Bari: Due to heavy port congestion, some carriers have diverted vessels to alternate ports. Hapag-Lloyd has advised it will divert its vessel to Tarato until the Bari call is reinstated.

Poland

Gdansk: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 5 days this week. Yard density has reached 80%. Labour shortages and equipment issues have added to productivity restrictions.

The truck strike planned for 8 November will take place as announced. In addition, rail slots will be reduced by 40% until 13 November. This would add additional pressure to truck availability, and delays are to be expected. It is not yet known when the congestion will be alleviated in Gdansk. Two vessels are currently waiting for a berth, and the Vaga Maersk is the only vessel currently in port.

Portugal

Two unions representing maritime pilots in Portugal announced a series of strikes this month affecting all Portuguese ports. The first round of strikes began at 7:00 a.m. on 6 November and will continue until 7:00 a.m. on 8 November. The next round of strikes will occur from 7:00 a.m. on 14 November to 7:00 a.m. on 16 November.

Rhine

Water levels in the Rhine River improved last week, and restrictions are lifted for now.

Turkey

Iskenderun: According to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye, an additional berth was opened at Iskenderun and has started receiving vessels. The port has been recovering in phases after earthquakes in February caused significant damage. According to the Minister, Iskenderun has handled 250,000 TEU since the disaster.

North America

Central and Latin America

Brazil

Navegantes: The port was reopened after being closed for two weeks, allowing for a gradual return of vessel operations. Operations continue normally for now, and the backlog of cargo is significant. Carriers are putting contingencies in place to clear cargo over the upcoming weeks. The Ever Far and CMA CGM Missouri are currently at the port. Recent departures include the GSL Arcadia, CMA CGM Berlioz and Bremerhaven Express. Since the area is still in its rainy season, the situation could change on short notice.

Manaus: The low water levels in the Amazon have restricted the allowable draft for vessels calling the port. Due to this, capacity restrictions on services to Manaus continue during the dry season, which usually ends in December.

Panama

Panama Canal: The Panama Canal Authority began its phased reduction of vessels transiting the canal this week. From 3 to 6 November, the number of booking slots will be reduced from 31 to 25 and from 7 to 30 November, the number will be reduced to 24. Further reductions are planned for December and 2024. The average waiting time for non-booked vessels is around 3 – 4 days. This is expected to increase depending on the demand and the impact of the slot reductions. Full details can be found on Sea News.

Oceania

Australia

Industrial actions continue this week at DP Terminals Australia, including full stops, short work stoppages and bans. Carriers are changing vessel schedules to avoid delays and maintain schedule integrity. When possible, vessels are calling at alternative terminals at the port. As a result, there has been no noticeable effect on waiting times.

According to Kuehne+Nagel Australia, the union representing port workers has once again extended their strikes by another week to 20 November.

Other Port News

Africa

Ghana

Tokoradi: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has sold its 35% shareholding in Atlantic Terminal Services Limited (ATSL), the concessionaire for expanding Ghana's Takoradi Port, to port operator Yilport Holding. Yilport plans to transform the port and its adjacent area into a logistics and trading hub, ensuring high traffic volumes, reports Splash 24/7.

Europe

Germany

Hamburg: The board of Hamburger Hafen and Logistik AG (HHLA) has issued a statement supporting MSC's bid for a 49% stake in the Hamburg terminal operator. This moves the purchase process one step closer to a conclusion. According to HHLA management, both HHLA and its logistics arm, Metrans will remain independent, ensuring equal services to all customers.

In addition, the terms ensure that HHLA will retain control over its investment decisions. The acquisition would provide €450m to boost HHLA's plans to modernise its Hamburg container terminals and expand its intermodal network internationally. Although the deal is said to include job security for port workers over the next five years, workers held a strike at CTB terminal protesting the acquisition yesterday,7 November. The strike was held as illegal, and operations resumed for the night shift. According to local news, a discussion between the government and ver.di union will take place next week.

North America

USA

The US government will over grants of more than $650m for the development and modernisation of ports nationwide. Funded projects include $52m to improve the North Harbor transportation system in Long Beach; $32m to reconstruct a berth in Port Newark in the Port of New York and New Jersey; and $54m for a terminal expansion project in the port of Tacoma, among others, reports Lloyd's List.

Oceania

Australia: Patrick Terminals will introduce OptiBook at its terminals, beginning with Melbourne this December. OptiBook will modernise and streamline container transportation management, including increasing visibility of container status, optimising slot booking processes and speeding up access to containers.