Shipping delays have led to a surge of cargo arriving simultaneously in the UK, challenging port operations. Felixstowe remains the worst hit, with diversions to other UK ports continuing as efforts to manage the increased volume persist.
Current Market Conditions
Arrivals at UK ports are being impacted by severe congestion, with bottlenecks also extending to railheads. Carriers continue to delay the arrivals of vessels to Europe and the UK in an attempt to address port congestion, further impacting transit times and the reliability of ETAs. This has created a knock-on effect of reduced availability of empty containers in Asia, particularly key ports in China.
Severe Congestion at UK Ports
UK ports are experiencing critical overcrowding from a significant increase in volumes. This is prompting shipping lines to adjust rotations and opt to call at European ports before arriving in the UK. Vessel diversions to London Gateway and Southampton, aimed at easing the congestion at the Port of Felixstowe, are also expected to continue in the coming weeks.
Equipment Shortages at Chinese Ports
Delays in vessel returns to Asia via the Cape of Good Hope are causing further disruptions, hindering the return of empty containers to Chinese ports. Equipment shortages, especially for 40-ft HC containers, remain a challenge, disrupting shipment flows at key ports like Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Yantian. This equipment scarcity is expected to persist for a number of weeks until vessels return with empty containers. To mitigate this, we are arranging pick-ups from alternative ports where possible to ensure cargo keeps moving.
Further Blank Sailings
Freight rates stabilised temporarily this week but are expected to rise in December as demand increases ahead of Chinese New Year. Compounding this, carriers have extended blank sailings into December, further limiting available capacity on Asia-Europe routes and intensifying the supply-demand imbalance.
With these ongoing supply chain challenges impacting transit times and port schedules, shipment arrival times remain uncertain. We’re monitoring the situation closely and will keep you updated as conditions evolve.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your shipment, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 01376 533039 or email [email protected]
