2026-01-29
Recently, numerous key ports worldwide are grappling with severe congestion and operational disruptions. Widespread vessel delays have been reported on major shipping lanes in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and other regions, with waiting times stretching up to 7 days at some ports.

Operations at several major ports in Asia have been significantly impacted. The average waiting time at Ningbo Port has reached 2.5 days over the past 7 days, with congestion worsening at Meishan International Container Terminal and Chuanshan Container Terminal, where waiting times exceed 3 days. The yard storage density at Meishan Terminal has surpassed 90%, severely undermining overall operational efficiency.
The situation at Shanghai Port is equally grim, with an average waiting time of approximately 2.13 days in 7 days. Berth congestion persists at Waigaoqiao Port Area, while Yangshan Port Area still faces congestion risks due to high vessel density and strong berth demand.
Conditions at Nansha Port have improved overall in recent days, yet the terminal remains heavily congested, with an average waiting time of around 1.49 days over 7 days. Data from VesselVision shows that the average port stay duration of vessels at Nansha Port has reached 1 day and 23 hours to date.
Qingdao Port has an average waiting time of about 1.34 days in 7 days. The overall situation stabilized in the third week, but berth congestion still exists. Data as of January 26 indicates that the predicted berthing waiting time at Qingdao Port is 32 hours.

Among Southeast Asian ports, Semarang Port in Indonesia has an average waiting time of around 2 days, with a maximum of 3 days. Its yard storage density has exceeded 100%, severely impeding terminal efficiency. Operations at Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang remain constrained due to a surge in cargo volumes in late December and road restrictions during holiday periods.
Major European ports are also under operational pressure. Hamburg Port in Germany has an average waiting time of approximately 1.65 days, with yard utilization rate approaching 90% and an imbalance between truck pickups and vessel unloading operations. All vessels are running behind schedule due to icy conditions, with a recovery expected later this week.
Antwerp Port in Belgium has an average waiting time of about 1.13 days and a persistently high yard utilization rate. The ongoing delays at Hamburg Port have had a knock-on effect on Antwerp's vessel scheduling.

Congestion is evident at ports on the U.S. East Coast. New York Port is congested due to holidays and severe weather, with some carriers reporting waiting times of up to 3 days. Houston Port is hampered by heavy fog, with an average waiting time of around 1.6 days. Mobile Port has an average waiting time of about 1 day, and some cargo originally bound for Houston is being diverted here due to heavy fog in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The situation at Canadian ports is also worrying. Vancouver Port is currently congested, with an average waiting time of approximately 1.76 days and an average import rail detention time of up to 6 days. St. John's Port has an average waiting time of about 4 days and an average rail detention time of 7 days, with vessel delays caused by persistent severe weather in the North Atlantic.
Iquique Port in Chile is suffering from severe yard congestion, resulting in reduced handling capacity and operational restrictions. The congestion has persisted since December 2025, and the mitigation measures implemented earlier have yielded limited results.

Cape Town Port in South Africa has suspended operations due to strong winds, halting terminal handling work, with an average waiting time of about 5 days. The situation is even more severe at Pointe-Noire Port in the Republic of the Congo, where the average waiting time has soared to approximately 7.48 days.
For freight forwarders and shippers with business involving the aforementioned shipping lanes, it is recommended to closely monitor the dynamics of all ports and announcements from shipping companies, plan logistics arrangements in advance, and reasonably allocate additional time for shipments.
DISCLAIMER:The content of this article is for informational purposes only. The final conclusion shall be subject to the provisions of relevant laws and the rulings of local administrative authorities. In case of any dynamic adjustments, the official interpretations and announcements released by competent authorities at home and abroad shall prevail. This article is sourced from platforms such as Weiyun Network and VesselVision. All images are sourced from the internet. If there is any infringement or question regarding copyright, please contact us via email at admin@mbs-gz.com. We will delete the relevant content as soon as possible. Thank you.
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