China Port Delays Push Stranded Container Capacity Above Covid Peak
Congestion at major Chinese container ports has reached levels exceeding the 2022 Covid-19 peak, with millions of TEUs currently stranded. The backlog, exacerbated by recent typhoons and infrastructure strain, is contributing to a global shortage of vessels and rising freight rates.
Why it matters
Persistent port delays threaten to disrupt global supply chains and increase shipping costs for international trade.
China 's largest container ports continue to endure congestion and delays weeks after multiple typhoons hit the eastern part of the country, causing some carriers to skip calls at the gateways.
According to data from container shipping research firm Linerlytica released Monday, there are 4.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) waiting to berth at container ports globally, driven mainly by the east Asian berthing delays.
Total stranded capacity is higher now compared to the previous peak of 4 million TEUs reached during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022, the company said. But when accounting for percentages, peak congestion hasn't been reached yet due to the flurry of newly built container ships that ocean carriers ordered in the years after. Related Stories Logistics DHL Triples Shenzhen Air Cargo Capacity With $205M Gateway Upgrade Logistics Strait of Hormuz Crossings Fall as US-Iran Ceasefire Expires
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