CONTAINER PORT CONGESTION SPREADS FROM EUROPE TO THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA

Container port congestion is spreading from Northern Europe to the United States and China, disrupting global supply chains and risking further escalation due to factors such as tariff policies and natural conditions.

 

 

Port of Hamburg (Photo: Hafen Hamburg Marketing)

 

Container port congestion at major transportation hubs in Northern Europe is becoming increasingly severe and has now spread to China and the United States. The situation is expected to worsen due to President Donald Trump’s inconsistent tariff strategy.

 

Adding to the complexity, low water levels on the Rhine River are limiting barge transportation capacity—particularly from the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam—placing additional strain on inland logistics systems.

 

Key maritime gateways such as Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven are currently struggling with growing backlogs, as container ships face ongoing delays. At Port of Antwerp-Bruges, operations have been further disrupted by a nationwide strike on May 20.

 

This issue is not confined to Europe. According to Drewry, similar congestion is occurring in Shenzhen (China), Los Angeles, and New York (U.S.), where the number of container ships waiting for berths has increased over the past three weeks.

 

Drewry noted: “Port delays are lengthening transit times, disrupting inventory planning, and forcing shippers to hold more buffer stock.”

 

Meanwhile, carriers are adjusting vessel schedules and applying congestion-related surcharges.

 

Adding further pressure, the eastbound trans-Pacific trade is showing signs of an early peak season, fueled by a 90-day U.S.-China tariff truce that is set to expire on July 9.

 

Source: Dwery

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