In today's interconnected global supply chain, port congestion has become a persistent headache for businesses worldwide, causing significant delays in cargo deliveries. The situation continues to deteriorate in European and Latin American ports, creating new challenges for shippers and freight forwarders alike.
European Ports Grapple with Labor Disputes
Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, has warned that labor disputes at Europe's two largest ports—Rotterdam and Antwerp—are causing substantial delays and congestion. While the collective labor agreement at Dutch ports has been resolved, Rotterdam's congestion is expected to remain severe for at least the next six weeks.
"The worsening congestion in Northern European ports is closely tied to alliance restructuring," Jansen noted, adding that German ports currently maintain relatively smooth operations.
Latin American Bottlenecks
Meanwhile, in South America, Brazil's booming market is exacerbating port congestion. Data shows that at Santos, Brazil's largest port, average container dwell time has decreased from over seven days in February to five days currently. Vessel berthing time has dropped sharply to just one day, while anchorage waiting time shortened from two days two months ago to one day in April.
An Alphaliner report reveals that post-pandemic capacity growth in Latin America has accelerated significantly, showing a 15.6% year-on-year increase. However, most of this additional capacity has been absorbed by Far East-North Europe routes that continue to face diversions.
Asia-Europe Capacity Expansion
Against the backdrop of tight shipping markets, overall capacity on Asia-Europe routes has grown 11.7% year-on-year, with 817,000 TEU slots deployed—accounting for 31% of new fleet capacity added since May 2024. Over the past two years, carriers have added 2.26 million TEU on Asia-Europe routes, bringing total capacity to 7.8 million TEU—nearly 25% of global fleet capacity, up significantly from 20% in 2023.
Jansen cautioned that reopening Suez Canal routes won't happen immediately, emphasizing that carriers must ensure safe passage. "We need a reasonable timeframe to provide safe transit," he said, noting that many postponed dry-dock repairs would commence once the canal reopens. Ships operating at high speeds currently face increased fuel consumption and emissions.
Pacific Route Dynamics
On Pacific routes, capacity growth between May 2024 and May 2025 remains modest. The Asia-North America route has seen only 190,000 TEU of additional capacity—a 3.7% increase. However, Alphaliner suggests this may change with temporary tariff suspensions, as carriers reposition vessels to meet surging demand.
As global trade navigates these challenges, stakeholders must adapt to evolving conditions. Timely market intelligence and strategic logistics planning will prove crucial for shippers and forwarders. Industry experts recommend consulting specialized logistics providers for customized solutions and leveraging real-time rate comparison tools to optimize costs.