Europe's ports face delays amid labour shortages, strikes

Fibre2Fashion

6 days ago

Port congestion is intensifying across major global trade routes, with Northern Europe's key hubs—including Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven—facing escalating backlogs and severe inland transport disruptions, according to Drewry.
Bremerhaven has been particularly affected due to labour shortages during the recent holiday period, while low water levels on the Rhine have curtailed barge capacity out of Antwerp and Rotterdam, compounding logistical strain.
Port congestion is worsening across key hubs in Northern Europe and major global ports like Shenzhen, Los Angeles, and New York, driven by labour shortages, strikes, and inland transport issues. Berth waiting times and logistics costs are rising sharply. Carriers are imposing surcharges, while spot rates surge amid an early peak season influenced by USâ€'China tariff uncertainty.
At the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, operations were further strained by a nationwide strike on May 20, which temporarily disrupted vessel traffic. Kallo and Boudewijn Locks were affected, with Boudewijn Lock later restored to full operation by the evening. Although the impact was short-lived, it added pressure to already congested conditions across the region, maritime research and consulting firm Drewry said in its Logistics Executive Briefing.
Berth waiting times reflect the severity of the congestion. At Antwerp, average waiting time rose from 32 hours in Week 13 to 44 hours in Week 20—a 37 per cent increase. Hamburg witnessed a 49 per cent jump from 34 to 50 hours, while Bremerhaven saw a 77 per cent surge over the same period.
These port delays are having a cascading effect across the supply chain. Supply chain reliability is falling, logistics costs are climbing, and inland transport is becoming increasingly complex. The congestion is not confined to Europe alone.
Similar trends have emerged in Shenzhen, Los Angeles, and New York, where the number of containerships waiting to berth has steadily increased since Week 17. At peak levels, up to 50 ships were waiting in Shenzhen, 42 in Los Angeles, and 14 in New York.
Extended port delays are stretching transit times, disrupting inventory planning, and forcing shippers to carry surplus stock. Carriers are responding with rerouting strategies and congestion surcharges. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), for example, is set to implement a congestion surcharge from June 1 on all shipments from Northern Europe to the Far East, further elevating freight costs, added the report.
The strain is compounded by a potential early peak season in Transpacific eastbound trade, driven by a temporary 90-day pause in US—China tariffs, which expires on August 14. As a result, container spot rates have surged 27 per cent since early May.
Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles climbed from $2,590 on May 1 to $3,197 by May 22, 2025, according to Drewry's World Container Index (WCI). Similarly, rates to New York rose from $3,500 to $4,527 in the same period. General Rate Increases (GRIs) were successfully implemented on May 15, 2025, with additional GRIs and Peak Season Surcharges (PSSs) scheduled for June 1, 2025.
The worsening congestion underscores the vulnerability of container shipping to disruption and reinforces the urgent need for resilient, adaptive supply chain strategies. In such a volatile landscape, access to real-time market insights—covering key indicators such as port congestion, blank sailings, and capacity—is critical for cargo owners seeking to make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and navigate continued uncertainty effectively, said Drewry.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)