Anyone coordinating international transport currently needs to pay attention to multiple trouble spots simultaneously. The biggest problems are in Asia, the Middle East, the Black Sea, and several African ports. Add to this the aftereffects of strikes in Northern Europe, low water levels, and bottlenecks in US domestic transport.
The most important disruption hotspots at a glance:
- Suez and Red Sea: First Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd services are operating again through the Suez Canal. However, many connections remain on the longer route around Africa. Possible delay: When sailing around the Cape, approximately 7 to 14 additional days depending on the service.
- Gulf of Aden and Somalia: Piracy has increased significantly. Ships have been hijacked and crews detained. Possible delay: No reliable flat rate. Security stops and route changes can cost several days.
- Strait of Hormuz and Upper Gulf: Military conflict, restricted insurance coverage, booking restrictions, and diversions via land bridges. Possible delay: Not reliably predictable. Temporary storage and alternative destination ports may be necessary.
- East Asia: Multiple typhoons led to port closures, vessel congestion, and missed berthing windows. Possible delay: Major Chinese ports have reported waiting times of up to 10 days. Backlogs can persist for weeks.
- Mundra, Nhava Sheva, and Colombo: High terminal capacity utilization, monsoon rains, and open transhipments. Possible delay: Mundra up to 24 hours, Nhava Sheva up to 48 hours, Colombo 48 to 72 hours.
- Northern Europe: Strikes have ended, but backlogs remain. Container Terminal Altenwerder in Hamburg is additionally undergoing construction work. Possible delay: No uniform information. Missed slots and port changes can cost several days.
- Rhine: Low water levels reduce the cargo capacity of inland vessels. Possible delay: No fixed delay. Additional barge operations or conversion to rail and truck transport necessary.
- Panama Canal: Due to insufficient rainfall, daily transits have been reduced. Possible delay: Better plannable with confirmed reservation. Without a slot, extended waiting times are likely.
- Black Sea: Attacks on ships, ports, and export facilities around Odesa. Many shipowners avoid the region. Possible delay: Partially no reliable transit time. Transports must divert via Danube ports, Romania, or rail.
- West and East Africa: Port congestion, rain, missing equipment, and a blocked berth in Monrovia. Possible delay: Conakry over 24 days, Monrovia over 10 days, Abidjan up to 8 days, Mombasa 3 to over 6 days.
- USA and Canada: No nationwide port closure. Tight are truck capacities, chassis, and individual rail terminals. Possible delay: Increased dwell times are expected through early October, especially in Chicago, Atlanta, Fort Worth, and Memphis.
Particularly problematic is the combination of multiple disruptions. A vessel loses its slot in Shanghai due to a typhoon. As a result, it arrives late in Europe and encounters a congested terminal there. The container subsequently misses its rail connection. What starts as two days of weather problems can quickly turn into one or two weeks.
In China, the Golden Week begins in early October. During the holidays, factories and logistics operations work at reduced capacity. Shipping lines have already announced individual blank sailings—cancelled departures. Shippers with important October cargo should therefore secure departures in September if possible.
For the USA, the problem currently lies less at the port entrance. The bottleneck is rather behind it. Around New York/New Jersey, Southern California, and Florida, trucks, drivers, and chassis are in shorter supply. Customs and customs tariff changes also influence costs and shipping dates. However, they do not automatically block transport.