ports

Carriers Set July Rate Increases as 3.4M TEU Stalls in Congested Ports

Major ocean carriers are preparing significant rate hikes for July despite widespread port congestion trapping 3.4 million TEU of container ship capacity globally. Shanghai, the world's busiest port, is experiencing four to five-day delays driven by strong solar panel demand and early peak season activity. Singapore's schedule reliability has deteriorated due to network disruptions, while Taiwan's Taipei and Keelung ports face congestion as exporters rush shipments ahead of the July 24 US tariff deadline. Vessel waiting times across Asia now stretch three to seven days. India's Nhava Sheva Port faces vessel bunching, rail delays and terminal congestion. European gateways remain under pressure, with Antwerp clearing backlogs and Hamburg constrained by infrastructure issues including the Kohlbrand Bridge bottleneck. Maersk's service reduction of 5,000 weekly TEU has further tightened Asia-North Europe capacity.