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. 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.
The Disruption Indicator for all Hot Spot ports is around 2,45 million TEU waiting days with almost no change compared to the same time last month. For North American ports, the number of TEU waiting days is around 900,000 compared to 468,000 Teu waiting days on 12 June.
Since 1 July, the number of TEU waiting days at North American ports has increased from 829,465 to 902,958 TEU waiting days. This is partly due to port strikes in Prince Rupert and Vancouver but also due to an increase in the number of waiting vessels in Savannah, Houston and Oakland.
Congestion continues in the ports in China due to bad weather and vessel bunching. European ports remain stable.
Operational News
Africa
Algeria
Oran: Productivity at the port is deteriorating due to a lack of equipment. CMA CGM has reported increased congestion, vessel waiting time, and berth time. The carrier notes that it sees no positive turnaround of the situation for the next weeks. The 7-day average vessel waiting time has increased to around 8 days this week from 5 days last week and 4 days two weeks ago.
Algiers: According to Kuehne+Nagel data, the 7-day average vessel waiting time has also steadily increased in Algiers over the last two weeks. The average vessel waiting time is now around 5 days, an increase of almost 1.5 days compared with last week.
Senegal
Dakar: The 7-day average vessel waiting time has risen to over 5 days this week. Longstanding imports are causing congestion at the port exacerbated by 5 days of public holiday last week and challenges to access the port. Yard occupancy is around 100%.
South Africa
Congestion and equipment challenges are resulting in increased waiting times at South African ports. The 7-day average vessel waiting time has increased in Port Elizabeth to around 6 days. Durban and Cape Town are averaging around 3 days of waiting time.
Sudan
Port Sudan: Ongoing political conflict in the country continues to impact waiting time. However, the 7-day average waiting time has improved from 7 days last week to 5.75 days this week.
Asia
Bangladesh
Chittagong: The average waiting time continues to fluctuate between 2.5 and 3.5 days as an after-effect of the cyclone Mocha. Feeder vessel schedules are unstable at present.
Japan
Nagoya: Operations came to a halt in Nagoya on 4 July after a cyberattack on the port’s systems. Operations resumed on 6 July with no notable impact on vessel waiting time which is currently under 2 days.
Europe
Greece
Piraeus: Yard congestion is prolonging vessel waiting time to over two days. Empty evacuation is planned to ease yard utilization.
Thessaloniki: The port can handle only one vessel at a time, deploying 2-3 quay cranes per vessel. Shipping lines have been given fixed berthing days. As a result, vessels without berthing windows are subject to increased waiting times. The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 3.5 days this week.
Turkey
Iskenderun: The 7-day average vessel waiting time remains stable at around 2 days. The port is continuing repairs with the aim of opening berths to larger vessels in September and October.
Mersin: The port continues to struggle with vessel and yard congestion. From 24 June, Mersin has limited move counts and the number of containers discharged at two of its berths to tackle congestion. Gate constriction is also impacting productivity at the port. Nevertheless, the 7-day average vessel waiting time has improved from 7 days last week to around 4 days this week.
North America
Canada
All operations (vessel, yard, gate, and rail) remain at a standstill in Vancouver and Prince Rupert after union members began striking on 1 July.
Some carriers have offered limited alternatives for cargo from/to these ports. In an advisory, Maersk said the situation is complex, and it has no plans to divert vessels to alternative ports. Hapag-Lloyd and ONE advised customers with containers en route to these ports that cargo operations would only be possible once the strike ends.
As a result, the number of vessels waiting in and around the Puget Sound area has significantly increased since the start of the labour action.
At Prince Rupert, the strike has resulted in the average vessel waiting time increasing from 1.5 days last week to around 5.64 days this week.
USA
Seattle+Tacoma: The Northwest Seaport Alliance says the labour dispute in Canada has not impacted operations at its ports as yet. The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2 days for both ports.
Oakland: Vessel bunching has affected the average vessel waiting time, which has increased further this week to over 4 days.
Oceania
New Zealand
Auckland: Due to infrastructure works, only two berths are currently available in Auckland. Berthing windows are in place, but changes to vessel schedules are still possible. Additionally, labour availability is stretched due to winter illness. Nevertheless, vessel waiting time remains minimal and operations remain fluid.
South America
Panama
Panama Canal: Despite the postponement of further draft restrictions, limited rainfall has not improved the low water levels of the canal. As a result, some lines have imposed/revised surcharges for cargo transiting the canal. Experts believe the water levels at Gatun Lake, a major part of the Panama Canal, could reach record lows in July. Kuehne+Nagel expects improvements to water levels in mid-August.
Other Port News
Africa
Kenya
Mombasa: The Port of Mombasa has recorded improved operational performance in the first three months of the year, thanks to the deployment of new yard equipment and other terminal improvements. Berth working time was reduced from 2.6 days to 1.7 days in this period. Yard fluidity also improved, with the average container dwell time over the last three months dropping from 4 days to 3.5 days.
In May, Mombasa recorded a container volume growth of almost 24% compared to May 2023. This growth follows January and February’s positive performance. As a result, the port has revised its estimated annual container traffic for the year to 1.4 million TEU.
Mombasa has further invested in five new mobile cranes and 4 new ship-to-shore cranes due for delivery in July. These are expected to enhance ship operations and reduce ship turnaround time further.
Asia
China
Xiamen: China’s eighth-largest container port has adopted double-berthing for feeder vessels, improving berth and equipment utilisation while boosting operational efficiency. Thanks to Xiamen’s long wharves, two feeder vessels can dock side by side and be handled simultaneously. Containers are loaded and unloaded from one ship to another, reducing the secondary loading and unloading operations.
Yangshan Deepwater Port in Shanghai has also implemented double-berthing at all its terminals recently, according to Container News.
Pakistan
Karachi: The Karachi Port Trust announced an increase to its tariff starting in July. This will affect both water-side related charges, such as pilotage fees and port dues, and land-side fees, such as handling and storage. According to the port authority, the last rate hike was 20 years ago. The decision to increase tariffs was taken amid increasing costs, operating challenges, and the depreciating Pakistani Rupee. The increased funds collected will be used to enhance port infrastructure, equipment, security, and services, including a deep water container terminal at Keamari Groyne and an expansion of cargo handling capacity at West Wharf.
Europe
Belgium
Antwerp-Bruges: The port announced all transport operators will be required to pick up containers based on a new process called Certified Pick-up (CPu) starting from 15 January 2024. CPu will replace the current PIN-based system, a time-consuming process vulnerable to fraud. The new identification-based digital platform will increase the safety and efficiency of import pick-ups. MSC switched to CPu on 1 June 2023 at its MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) in Antwerp-Bruges. In the coming months, CPu will be made available for barge and rail at the terminals. Thereafter, pilot projects will begin at each terminal.
Germany
Duisburg: PSA International has acquired a 22% share in Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT), an inland port situated on the Rhine River. Duisburg services the heavy industrial area in Germany’s hinterland, connecting it with Rotterdam and Antwerp using barges. PSA said DGT will be the largest and the first 100% climate-neutral inland container terminal in Europe once upgrades are completed in 2024.
North America
USA
California’s ports have been awarded grants totalling $1.5 billion for infrastructure improvement and upgrades, including $450 million allocated for zero-emission projects. Some $1.2 billion will fund 15 projects expected to create around 20,000 jobs and increase the capacity of major ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, as well as other seaports and inland facilities, while reducing the environmental impact on neighbouring communities.
