Ports in Africa continue to face an influx of vessels that were rerouted from the Middle East conflict zone. A number of ports in the region are facing elevated wait times. Diversions have the potential to inundate port facilities such as yards and depots.
In Asia & Oceania, ports have largely recovered following the passage of Typhoon Dolphin. The storm forced many ports in China and Taiwan to temporarily suspend operations as a preventative measure. The Port of Keelung, Taiwan, saw containers damaged as a result of the high wind associated with the storm’s passing. As of August 11, the majority of ports had restored normal operations and are working to clear backlogs.
Increased tension between the U.S. and Iran has prompted an uptick in attacks on maritime vessels in the region. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed to a crawl while the Houthi group is increasingly targeting vessels in the Red Sea.
Maritime cargo movement in Europe continues to be hammered by low water levels on key rivers such as the Rhine and Danube. Water levels are not expected to recover until the end of September. In addition, high temperatures have prompted some terminal operators at the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, to halt operations on August 4 and 14.
In the Americas, the Port of Wilmington faced a cyber attack on August 6. This disrupted the systems of the port’s operator, North Carolina Ports. The port was forced to transition to manual processes to perform gate operations and other procedures. Lastly, ports were disrupted across Colombia, including at the Port of Buenaventura, following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10. The port partially resumed operations from August 10.
Regional Summaries
Africa
The highest wait times in the region were reported at the Port of Beira, Mozambique, with average wait times of 37.4 days according to Everstream Analytics. Terminal recovery at the port is not expected before weeks 40 – 43.
Kuehne + Nagel reports average wait times of 13.6 days at the Port of Conakry, Guinea. A continuous truck circulation initiative has improved cargo flows for backlog recovery.
Everstream Analytics reports average wait times of 10.4 days at the Port of Harcourt, Nigeria.
Average wait times at the Port of Tema, Ghana, stand at 5.5 days according to Kuehne + Nagel. A crane outage is adding to berthing delays for off-window vessels.
The Port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is reporting average wait times of 5.4 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel, amid heavy yard congestion. A terminal recovery plan is active and expected to take six to seven weeks to show improvement.
Asia & Oceania
The highest average wait times in the region were recorded at the Port of Shanghai, China, at 4.3 days according to Kuehne + Nagel. Ongoing recovery from preventative shutdowns associated with Typhoon Dolphin was largely complete by August 11.
Average wait times at the Port of Yantian, China, stand at 2.7 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel.
The Port of Ningbo, China, is facing average wait times of 2.2 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel. Residual congestion is continuing after closures related to Typhoon Dolphin.
Everstream Analytics reports average wait times of 2.1 days at the Port of Shekou, China. The port continues to recover from Typhoon Dolphin’s preventive shutdowns.
The Port of Manila, Philippines, is facing average wait times of 1.9 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel. The congestion situation remains dynamic as delayed vessels from South China return to the port.
Middle East & South Asia
The highest wait times in the region were recorded at the Port of Bandar Abbas, Iran, standing at 3 days according to Everstream Analytics. Strait of Hormuz-related shipping risks remain elevated amid unresolved U.S.-Iran tensions over the management of the waterway.
Average wait times at the Port of Salalah, Oman, stand at 2.8 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel. This is due to berthing delays of up to 1.5 days and high yard density.
The Port of Haifa, Israel, is facing average wait times of 2 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel.
Kuehne + Nagel also reports average wait times of 2 days at the Port of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. Hapag-Lloyd notes the terminal is currently accepting ad-hoc vessels only amid the ongoing conflict situation in the region.
The Port of Mundra, India, is facing average wait times of 1.5 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel, with high yard density affecting productivity.
Europe
The Port of Barcelona, Spain, is facing the highest average wait times in the region. Kuehne + Nagel is reporting 3.7 days amid peak summer cargo volumes and inland trucking constraints.
Everstream Analytics reports average wait times of 2.4 days at the Port of Koper, Slovenia.
Average wait times at the Port of Southampton, United Kingdom, stand at 2.3 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel. Yard occupancy is at 62% for dry cargo and 58% for reefers.
The Port of Genoa, Italy, is facing average wait times of 2.2 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel. Delays of approximately five days have been reported at the VTE Terminal.
The Port of Valencia, Spain, saw average wait times of 1.8 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel.
Americas
Average wait times at the Port of Mobile, United States, reached 6.2 days, according to Everstream Analytics, the highest in the region.
The Port of Vancouver, Canada, is facing average wait times of 2 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel, with import rail dwell times near 3.5 days. Average wait times at the Port of Montreal, Canada, stand at 1.9 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel. Import rail dwell has increased to 7.8 days, though additional rail cars are expected to improve the situation.
In South America, the Port of Navegantes, Brazil, reported the region’s highest average wait times at 3.5 days, according to Kuehne + Nagel. The Port of Paranaguá, Brazil, is facing average wait times of 2.9 days, according to Everstream Analytics, with congestion continuing due to vessel bunching.
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