# Up to Ten Days Waiting Time at China's Container Ports **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-09-07 | **Updated:** 2026-09-12 **Tags:** China, Hafenstau, Shanghai, Ningbo, Container, Lieferverzögerung, TEU, Hafenüberlastung, Seefracht, TT Index, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Digitalisierung, Zoll > Ships are backing up at major container ports in China. Additional time buffers should be planned for shipments from Shanghai and Ningbo. --- Patience is currently required at several major container ports in China. The situation is particularly strained in Shanghai and Ningbo. In early September, ships had to wait up to ten days for a berth at these ports. In Shanghai, waiting times of seven to ten days were reported. In Ningbo, it was up to ten days. Yantian near Shenzhen experienced three to five days, and Nansha near Guangzhou one and a half to two days. So not every port is affected equally. [ICIS](https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2026/09/03/11231815/china-faces-prolonged-port-congestions-amid-typhoons-mideast-war/) One major reason is the strong typhoon season. Multiple storms have temporarily halted or significantly slowed port operations. While a port reopens after closure, the backlog does not disappear immediately. Delayed vessels arrive simultaneously, terminals become congested, and containers remain in the port longer. Adding to this is the traditional export peak in August and September. Many companies ship goods for the autumn and Christmas season. At the same time, conflicts and route diversions on international routes disrupt vessel schedules. This results in missing ships at other locations or delayed arrivals in China. On August 25, according to Linerlytica, vessels worldwide with more than 4.3 million TEU capacity were waiting for a berth. This was absolutely higher than the peak during the pandemic. A week later, the figure was still at 3.92 million TEU. The congestion has therefore decreased somewhat, but remains very high. [Linerlytica](https://www.linerlytica.com/post/market-pulse-2026-week-35/) Shipments with tight schedules are particularly at risk. These include seasonal goods, spare parts, electronics, machinery components, and goods for ongoing promotions. Shipments with a connection at another Asian port may also be affected. If a port is skipped, a container may remain idle until the next suitable departure. For companies outside China, this means: Departure dates and expected arrivals should currently not be regarded as fixed schedules. --- For shipments departing from Shanghai and Ningbo, it is currently advisable to allow at least one additional week. For time-critical cargo, a buffer of ten to fourteen days is more prudent. This buffer is not a guarantee, but it prevents a single delayed vessel call from disrupting the entire planning. For Yantian, three to five additional days should be scheduled. In Nansha, waiting times are currently shorter. Nevertheless, delayed pre-carriage or changed vessel rotations can still cause problems there. It is important to check in good time whether the booked port will continue to be called. For urgent cargo, it may be worthwhile to split shipments across different departures or ports. Free container dwell times should also be monitored. In the event of congestion, storage fees, demurrage, or additional transport costs can arise. In short: For shipments from Shanghai and Ningbo, it is currently advisable to calculate with ten to fourteen days buffer time. --- Waiting times of seven to ten days were reported in Shanghai. In Ningbo, waiting times reached up to ten days. In Yantian, they were three to five days. In Nansha, one and a half to two days were reported. On August 25, more than 4.3 million TEU were waiting for a berth worldwide. The pandemic peak absolute figure was approximately 4 million TEU. The current peak corresponded to 12.6 percent of the global fleet. During the pandemic, up to 15.7 percent of the global fleet at that time were affected. On September 1, 3.92 million TEU, or 11.4 percent of the global fleet, were still tied up. Shanghai and Ningbo are particularly affected at present. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [China](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cn) ### Seaports - [Ningbo (CNNBO)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ningbo-port-cnnbo) - [Shanghai (CNSGH)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/shanghai-port-cnsgh) - [Yantian (CN YTN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/yantian-port-cn-ytn) ### Glossary - [Container](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container) - [Export](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/export-2) - [Port](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight) - [Shipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipment) - [Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/terminal) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Arrival](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/arrival) - [At-Sea Port Operations](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/at-sea-port-operations) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight-2) - [Diversion](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/diversion) - [Demurrage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/demurrage-2) - [Congestion management](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/congestion-management) - [berth](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/berth) - [port operation](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-operation) - [Port demurrage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-demurrage) - [Demurrage Accrual](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/demurrage-accrual) - [Port Congestion Fee](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-congestion-fee) - [TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/teu-twenty-foot-equivalent-unit) - [FEU (Forty-foot Equivalent Unit)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/feu-forty-foot-equivalent-unit) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/bis-zu-zehn-tage-wartezeit-an-chinas-containerhaefen-20260906080327](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/bis-zu-zehn-tage-wartezeit-an-chinas-containerhaefen-20260906080327)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/bis-zu-zehn-tage-wartezeit-an-chinas-containerhaefen-20260906080327](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/bis-zu-zehn-tage-wartezeit-an-chinas-containerhaefen-20260906080327)*