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.
Overall Port Congestion
Kuehne+Nagel's Disruption Indicator reflects the daily fluctuation in port congestion at hot spot ports worldwide. The indicator measures port congestion in TEU waiting days by combining data on the number of vessels waiting, their TEU capacities, and the number of waiting days.
The indicator for all hot spot ports has increased further this week from 2,543,802 TEU waiting days to 2,683,758 TEU waiting days.
For North American hot spot ports, the indicator has jumped from 876,882 TEU waiting days last week to 1,023,501 TEU waiting days this week.
Contributing to the congestion is the increase in the number of waiting vessels in the Antwerp-Rotterdam area from 20 to 25. On a positive note, only 5 vessels are waiting to call German ports this week, compared to 10 last week.
Congestion outside Asian ports has remained the same this week. The number of vessels waiting at China's ports increased slightly at the end of last week due to the start of the Golden Week holidays.
Despite improvements in Charleston, Oakland and the Seattle-Vancouver area, congestion in Houston, New York, Norfolk, LA-Long Beach, and Savannah has increased. Further easing is expected over the following weeks due to blank sailings out of Asia beginning in October.
Operational News
Africa and the Middle East
South Africa
Last week, An intense weather system brought storm conditions to the South African coast, particularly around the Cape Town region. Vessel waiting times increased as a result. Some carriers have changed vessel schedules because of these delays.
Asia
The 7-day average vessel waiting time remains below two days for most major Asian ports except for Shanghai and Ningbo, where waiting time is around 2-2.5 days.
Typhoon Koinu, currently in the Philippine Sea, has intensified into a severe typhoon and is heading for Hong Kong. Koinu is forecast to affect the southern part of Taiwan by Thursday, 5 October and enter 400 kilometres of Hong Kong on Friday, 6 October. The storm will bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges over Taiwan, the northern Philippines, Hong Kong and China in the coming days.
Europe
Poland
Gdansk: Due to labour shortages, increased volumes and terminal constraints, congestion continues in Gdansk. The situation remains critical as yard density remains high. Some carriers are looking at alternative routes for cargo to/from Gdansk. Impact on import and export supply chains expected to continue for October.
Türkiye
Mersin: The 7-day average vessel waiting time in Mersin is around 4 days. Due to congestion, the port has restricted the number of move counts allowed.
North America
USA
Houston: Crane issues have impacted productivity at the port in the last weeks. At Bayport, non-US flagged vessels are waiting between 3-5 days. US-flagged vessels berth on arrival.
LA-Long Beach: On the 5 October, no vessel and yard operations will take place during the 2nd and 3rd shifts due to a union meeting.
Savannah: Berth construction is causing some sporadic delays to vessels. Construction is expected to be completed at the end of this year.
Canada
Vancouver: Some yard congestion is adding to delays in Vancouver. Rail import dwell times remain high at 10 days. Wildfires are no longer affecting traffic in British Columbia.
Central and Latin America
Chile
Unión Portuaria, a stevedore union representing more than 8,000 workers at 25 Chilean ports, announced a 48-hour strike from Wednesday, 4 October, 8:00 a.m. until Friday, 6 October, 7:59 a.m. The ports of Iquique, Antofagasta, both terminals at San Antonio, San Vincente, Colonel and Lirquén will be affected.
Mexico
Ensenada: The flow of trucks into and out of the port remains stable; however, Kuehne+Nagel recommends reserving appointments 48 hours in advance for imports and 72 hours in advance for exports.
Lazaro Cardenas: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1 day. However, yard congestion and lack of equipment are causing excessive delays to landside operations. Kuehne+Nagel reports truck turnaround is slow, with some trucks waiting up to 10 hours.
In addition, the terminal no longer allows a double flow, meaning a driver has to queue twice to drop off an empty and pick up a full container. This has resulted in a driver shortage and equipment shortage at the port. Trucking appointments should be made 13 to 15 days in advance. Rail-truck containers are also delayed, with rail dwell around 15 days.
Manzanillo: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1 day; however, landside operations are challenging. High yard utilisation and lack of equipment are causing delays to pick-ups and drop-offs. Drivers can only do one trip daily, resulting in a shortage of available drivers.
Altamira: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1.4 days. Yard congestion and operational issues are impacting productivity.
Panama
Panama Canal: On 29 September, the Panama Canal Authority(ACP) announced it would reduce the number of vessels allowed to transit the canal from 32 per day to 31, effective 1 November. Of the 31 transits daily, nine will be through the Neopanamax locks and 22 through the Panamax locks. Container ships are being prioritised with minimum delay.
Oceania
Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia has notified D.P. World that its members will participate in multiple work bans and stoppages, including 24-hour strikes from 6 October until 20 October in Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. Some carriers have announced changes to vessel schedules to mitigate delays to their services. Delays to cargo can be expected.
New Zeland
Auckland: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is 1 day. A ship-to-shore (STS) crane is out of service but expected to be operational next week. It is the centre crane of 5 on FX/FZ berths, which limits the number of cranes deployed on vessels at the berth. There remain ongoing delays to ships working at the terminal due to tight labour capacity, crane breakdown and vessel backlog.
Other Port News
Asia
Indonesia
Gresik: D.P. World and Indonesia-based Maspion Group will build a container terminal in Gresik, East Java, costing up to $1.2 billion, reports Lloyd's List. On completion, the terminal will have a capacity of up to 3 million TEU. A joint venture company between the two companies will operate the terminal. The date for completion has not yet been set due to pending concessionary approvals.
Europe
U.K.
Felixstowe: The 24,188 TEU OOCL Felixstowe called the port yesterday, inaugurating the recently completed dredging works at Felixstowe. "The completion of this major dredging project reinforces Felixstowe's position as one of Europe's leading ports for the latest generation of mega vessels," said Felixstowe chief operating officer Robert Ashton.
