Critical Space Constraints in the Far East for Shipping Containers to the UK

Ports in the Far East are experiencing severe space constraints with reports advising congestion levels are approaching a three-year high.

 Longer route diversions caused by the Red Sea crisis are exacerbating congestion, leading to further delays and schedule disruptions.

 Shanghai, the world's busiest port, is experiencing unprecedented congestion levels, the worst since the pandemic. Similarly, Singapore, the second busiest port globally, has also reached critical congestion levels.

 There are reports of berthing delays of up to a week in some ports. To manage this, some carriers have started omitting port calls altogether.

 Due to high demand and early peak season, shipping rates have also increased dramatically.

 At Neptune, we are closely monitoring the situation in the Far East and are working with carriers to mitigate the impact these challenges may have on your shipments. We understand the significant impact these disruptions cause and are committed to providing the best possible service during these challenging times.

We hope you understand that this situation is beyond our control.

For further information, please refer to the links below:

• The Loadstar: Carriers juggling capacity and port congestion

• JOC: Strong demand and port congestion push intra-Asia rates

• Splash247: Port congestion returns to haunt the container markets

Should you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact your operational handler.