Global port congestion causes significant vessel delays

Major container ports globally are experiencing varying levels of congestion, equipment shortages, and weather-related disruptions. In South Africa, Durban’s vessel port call times have remained above seven days for five consecutive weeks, marking its second-highest level in over two years. At Richards Bay, vessel anchorage times rose by 47% week-on-week to nearly six days. These delays have placed the N3 and N2 corridors on watch or at-risk status despite stable road conditions.

Globally, vessel waiting times fluctuate significantly. In Africa, Tema and Abidjan recorded average waits of 5.8 and 4.5 days respectively, while Coega also averaged 4.5 days. Asian hubs such as Shanghai reported average waiting times of 3.51 days, with some terminals exceeding seven days due to high yard density. Manila averaged 1.61 days, facing potential disruptions from planned work stoppages.

European ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp reported shorter average waits of approximately 1.39 and 1.37 days, though barge and feeder delays persist. In India, Nhava Sheva averaged 1.83 days due to terminal gate and trucking congestion. Meanwhile, in Mexico, Lazaro Cardenas averaged 3.4 days as tropical storm activity threatened vessel operations.