If you’ve noticed delays or changes to your usual shipments recently, you’re not alone. Several of Europe’s busiest ports, including Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, London Gateway, and Southampton, are currently experiencing serious congestion.
With yard capacity reaching up to 95% in some places, vessels are facing delays of up to a week, and the knock-on effects are being felt throughout the supply chain.
What’s Causing the Delays?
There are a few factors at play. Container volumes coming from Asia are much higher than usual, up almost 9% compared to last year, and carriers have responded by deploying more vessels into Europe. This has coincided with peak shipping season, so ports are struggling to keep up with demand.
To try and ease pressure, some carriers are changing port calls, skipping the worst-affected terminals. For example, certain services that were due to call at London Gateway have been redirected to Southampton instead. Elsewhere, routes in and out of Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Antwerp are being adjusted on the fly to deal with vessel delays and limited berthing space.
Inland Disruption
The issues don’t stop at the ports. Inland, truck and barge operators are facing long wait times at terminals. Empty container returns are being restricted at some locations, and rail services, particularly in Germany and Italy, are under pressure due to planned maintenance and temporary shutdowns. Low water levels on the Rhine are also affecting barge operations, limiting load capacity and triggering surcharges.
All of this is making it harder to move cargo inland efficiently, adding pressure to already stretched road and barge networks.
Rate Increases and Equipment Shortages
As demand continues to grow during the peak shipping season, freight rates are on the rise, particularly on Asia–Europe routes. At the same time, equipment availability is tightening in some regions, making it harder to secure containers and space. Some carriers are also introducing overweight surcharges on select routes, especially from China, as they look to maximise vessel space and improve load efficiency.
What We’re Doing at Beckchoice
We know how frustrating these delays can be, especially when you’re trying to keep your own customers happy. While we can’t control what’s happening at the ports, we’re doing everything we can to keep your cargo moving.
That means:
- Keeping a close eye on vessel schedules and port updates
- Working with our partners to find the best available routing options
- Booking space and equipment early, wherever possible
- Communicating clearly and honestly with our customers
If you’re planning any upcoming shipments, especially into or out of Europe, we recommend booking as early as you can, staying flexible on routing and transit times and letting us know your space requirements upfront, so we can plan ahead
If you need help or have questions about a specific shipment, just get in touch. We’re here to support you through it, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to keep your cargo on the move.