Ocean freight under pressure: Bottlenecks in Europe and East Asia

Sea freight under pressure: Bottlenecks in Europe and East Asia

International sea freight remains strained. Currently, several developments are converging simultaneously – with noticeable effects on schedules, lead times, port handling, and available capacities.

Europe: More ships, too little terminal capacity

Since 2016, the global capacity of the container ship fleet has increased by around 73 %. However, terminal capacities have only grown by about 27 % in the same period.

This development means that many ports are already structurally operating at high capacity. Larger ships, limited yard and storage areas, and high inventories of empty containers are further increasing the pressure.

In addition, there are currently overlapping ship arrivals via the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope. Industrial action in German seaports can also further impede handling.

East Asia: Typhoon season strains schedules

At the same time, the currently very active typhoon season in East Asia is causing further disruptions. Flooding, port congestion, and delays in ship operations are increasingly leading to schedule shifts and capacity bottlenecks.

According to Sea-Intelligence, all 14 of the region's largest ports are seeing a decline in the punctuality of ship arrivals.

Since international sea freight networks are closely interconnected, delays in Asia can also have a delayed impact on European ports, connecting traffic, and equipment availability.

What does this mean for shippers and importers?

The current situation can lead to the following effects:

• longer transit times
• lower predictability
• limited slot and equipment availability
• delays in pre-carriage and on-carriage
• higher risks for demurrage, detention, and storage costs

Especially with congested terminals, missing slots, or delays in hinterland transport, it can become difficult to pick up or return containers within the agreed free time.

Early planning becomes more important

We therefore recommend planning current and upcoming shipments as early as possible. Additional time buffers, timely review of free time, as well as alternative routings or transport options can help reduce risks and consequential costs.

We would be happy to support you in assessing potential effects on your shipments and checking suitable alternatives.  

Text & image AI generated