Demand remains high across global shipping lanes, with carriers continuing to manage capacity through blank sailings, and disruption at London Gateway Port remains volatile.
High Demand Persists as Carriers Manage Capacity
Demand remains strong for Asia–UK services and is expected to stay high in the coming weeks. Carriers are continuing to deploy blank sailings to manage capacity, which means space remains tight and freight rates remain elevated.
Equipment shortages are once again becoming a challenge, particularly in East and South China, where imbalances in container availability have re-emerged. This is due to the continued impact of blank sailings and disrupted container circulation. In North China, poor weather and fog have added further pressure on vessel movement along the coast. As a result, we are seeing delays of a few days across some services.
Despite these challenges, service reliability remains improved compared to earlier in the year, with schedules generally more consistent across major trade lanes.
Volatile Conditions at London Gateway Port Continue
Disruption at London Gateway Port remains ongoing, with conditions continuing to fluctuate day by day. While some days operations run relatively smoothly, others see significant delays and service issues. Yard density remains high, and the Vehicle Booking System (VBS) is still under pressure, leading to reduced slot availability and long wait times are still being reported for hauliers returning empties or collecting laden containers.
These issues are continuing to affect all operators at the port. Other UK ports are currently operating as normal, and we’re working hard to keep shipments moving and minimise disruption wherever possible.
ou 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].
