Congestion continues to ease at ports in Europe and the UK. Market rates remain high, driven by increased volumes in the lead up to Chinese New Year.
Current Shipping Situation
With Chinese New Year drawing closer, freight rates remain high as demand grows alongside capacity constraints imposed by carrier-initiated blank sailings. Carriers have extended blank sailings throughout December to manage capacity on Asia-Europe routes, further deepening the supply-demand imbalance. As volumes rise significantly in the lead-up to the Chinese New Year holiday at the end of January, the pressure on supply chains is expected to persist throughout the festive period and beyond.
While conditions at European and UK ports have improved since last month’s peak congestion, some disruption continues. Vessel schedules remain unreliable, and late vessel arrivals are delaying container returns to Asia. Reduced container availability at key Chinese ports is being managed for now, but shortages may arise as demand surges closer to the CNY holiday period.
Potential Strike Action
As previously highlighted, potential strike action at major ports in India and the US may pose risks of disruption to supply chains in the coming weeks, though the situation remains uncertain.
In India, dock workers have reaffirmed their intent to begin an indefinite strike on 17 December if the government does not implement wage revisions and productivity schemes by 15 December. In the US, the deadline for negotiations over outstanding issues, including port automation, remains set for 15 January 2025. Should these strikes proceed, they may impact operations, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep customers informed.
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]
