Overall Port Congestion

Kuehne+Nagel's Disruption Indicator reflects the daily fluctuation in port congestion at hot spot ports worldwide. By combining data on the number of vessels waiting at a port, their TEU capacities, and the number of waiting days, the indicator measures disruption in TEU waiting days. Under normal circumstances, the TEU waiting days would be around one million.

Over the course of the week, the Disruption Indicator dropped below the 2 million mark indicating further easing in the number of waiting vessels outside hot spot ports. The number of TEU waiting days increased slightly today to 2,083,422 and 336,480 at all hot spot ports and North American ports, respectively. 

Ports in Asia were affected by seasonal bad weather that increased the waiting times slightly. North American and European ports remain stable. 

Africa

Democratic Republic of Congo

Matadi: According to an MSC advisory, from ETA 18 April 2023, the DRC will no longer allow imports of used vehicles. The carrier has suspended all such shipments until further notice.

Morocco

Tangier: APM terminals accepted its first batch of new dual ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at the end of April. The two cranes are part of a total of eight commissioned by the port operator. With an outreach of 82 meters, these cranes can handle cargo vessels of 26 containers in width (or up to 24 000 TEU in capacity). “This equipment addition is set to significantly increase the capacity and turnaround efficiency of terminal operations, enabling better service to customers and improving overall customer experience through more efficient operations,” said APMT in a news release. 

Sudan

Port Sudan: The port has reopened after a public holiday; however, with low productivity due to a crane being out of service. The customs system is currently unavailable, causing a delay in the movement of containers in and out of the port. The expected time to resolve this issue is 48-72 hours. Some carriers have announced booking suspension to Sudan until further notice. 

Asia

Cambodia

Sihanoukville: A three-phase port expansion project is underway at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port at the end of which the port will be able to accommodate large container ships of up to 4,000 TEU. Once completed in 2029, the port’s throughput will increase from 700,000 TEU to 2.58 million TEU. 

India

Cochin: Trade unions at the Cochin Port Authority raised concerns over the falling throughput at the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal. According to the trade union, 82% of the volume through the terminal was domestic cargo. The port authority continues to approve its attractiveness by dredging and waiving vessel-related charges. 

Mundra: DP World has launched a double-stack train service from Mundra to its Ahmedabad inland terminal in the state of Gujarat. The inland terminal is well-connected to highways and the rail network, according to the port operator. The double-stack trains will offer better efficiency, economies of scale and reduced risk of congestion. 

Sri Lanka

Colombo: China Merchants Group (CMG), a Chinese-state-owned enterprise, will build a large logistics complex at Colombo port. The construction is estimated to cost $392 million and will be completed by the end of 2025. CMG will have a 70% stake in the company, which will build the complex. Colombo is the only deep-sea port between Dubai and Singapore. 

Europe

Germany

Mannheim: The Port of Rotterdam and Hafen Mannheim have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to make the logistics chain between the two ports more digital and sustainable. Hafen Mannheim is located on the Rhine River in an industrial area. Containers are transported via barge to and from the area along the river. The collaboration between the two ports includes growing the hinterland network via rail and inland shipping and by converting goods transported by road, rail and water to zero emissions. The collaboration between the two ports also aims to increase the reliability and efficiency of barge handling at both ports. 

Spain

Valencia: The Port Authority of Valencia reached another milestone in its green journey when it became the world’s first port to use a 4x4 truck tractor unit powered by green hydrogen. The tractor will be used to transport containers within the port. The port is confident that the initial testing of the vehicle is going well. 

Sweden

Gothenburg: Throughput at the Port of Gothenburg increased by 6% year-on-year despite a 20% drop in import volumes. The new car segment was specifically strong, both on the import side with delayed deliveries of new cars and Volvo Cars’ exports. In the first quarter of 2023, the port handled 4% more new vehicles than the same period last year. Gothenburg also gained market share from other North European car hubs, which were experiencing congestion and disruptions. 

United Kingdom

Southampton: 

The first phase of a $21.7 million improvement project at the port is complete. A new 22,250 square meters was constructed for the storage and handling of empty and full containers. The new yard, which can stack containers seven high and has new empty container handlers and offices, has been handed over to Solent Stevedores. The Solent Rail Terminal is also being upgraded. Once this is complete, around 73,000 square meters of space will connect the rail terminal with the storage, maintenance and repair facilities. A second phase of the project will expand the area connected to the rail terminal by another 26,300 square meters and complete all rail track works. 

North America

USA 

Californian ports, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego and Hueneme were granted a government investment of $27 million to be used for developing a shared data system. The sharing of data aims to reduce delays and improve visibility from “docks to doorsteps”. The Port of Long Beach is in Phase 2 of its Supply Chain Information Highway project, which provides partners with access to data to plan, schedule and track containers. Its share of funding will go towards supporting Phase 2, which focuses on sharing of data between ports. The Port of Oakland, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Utah Inland Port Authority, Port of Miami and the South Carolina Ports Authority are collaborating with the Port of Long Beach.  

Rossville: From 3 May, truckers will require a reservation to drop off ocean containers at Norfolk Southern’s Memphis-area terminal. Truckers are able to book a 1-hour appointment slot with a 30min grace period before and after the appointment. This should help with unforeseen problems in delivery. NS plans to roll out the appointment system in Austell, Georgia, by the end of the year. The booking system forms part of the rail operator’s larger project to revamp its intermodal facilities and convert its wheeled terminals to grounded terminals.

Savannah: The port received the green light to go ahead with the development of a new inland terminal in northeast Georgia. Construction of the Northeast Georgia Inland Port, located in Gainesville, Georgia, is expected to begin at the beginning of next year and open for business in 2026. The port forecasts the inland terminal will handle 30,000 rail lifts in its first year of operation, and 50,000 in the second. It will mostly handle imports with poultry as the main export. Norfolk Southern Railway will run an overnight service between Savannah’s Garden City Terminal and the inland port. 

Oceania

Australia

Melbourne: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Port of Melbourne, Maersk, CMA CGM subsidiary ANL, Svitzer, Stolthaven Terminals, HAMR Energy and ABEL Energy to explore the commercial feasibility of a green methanol bunkering hub at the Port of Melbourne. The companies will work together on the feasibility of transporting green methanol from production sites in Bell Bay, Tasmania and Portland, Victoria, to Melbourne for storage and bunkering services.