The impact of port congestion on shipping time and how importers should respond
Port congestion directly extends shipping timeliness by 3 to 30 days (potentially longer during peak seasons or severe congestion). The core impacts include areas such as "waiting upon arrival," "delayed loading and unloading," and "disconnected connections." Coping requires addressing these issues through key areas such as "proactive avoidance," "dynamic adjustment," and "optimized connections."
We will now explain in detail, hoping to be helpful to you.
Understanding the Root Causes of Port Congestion
1. Overwhelming surge in consumer demand:
The post-pandemic economic rebound, coupled with a shift in spending from services to goods, created an unprecedented surge in imports, particularly in North America and Europe.
2. COVID-19 outbreaks and labor shortages:
Ports are human-intensive operations. COVID-19 protocols, quarantines, and illness led to critical shortages of dockworkers, truck drivers, and rail operators.
3. Inadequate intermodal infrastructure:
A container's journey doesn't end at the port. Congestion often shifts to the hinterland. A chronic shortage of chassis (the trailers that carry containers), rail capacity constraints, and overfilled container yards mean that even if a ship is unloaded, the container has nowhere to go. This "dwell time" for containers at the port is a primary metric of congestion.
4. Vessel Scheduling and the "Bunching" Effect:
In an attempt to recover schedules, carriers often sail at full speed to the next port. This leads to "vessel bunching," where multiple mega-ships arrive simultaneously, overwhelming the port's capacity to handle them all. This creates a queue of ships waiting at anchor—the now-familiar sight of dozens of vessels off the coasts of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Rotterdam.
5. Ongoing logistical imbalances:
The global trade imbalance means that far more full containers arrive in consumer countries than are shipped out. This leads to a shortage of empty containers in Asian export hubs, further complicating the booking process and delaying exports.
The Core Impacts of Port Congestion on Shipping Time
1. Prolonged berthing after arrival:
Upon arrival, ships may face long waiting times due to berth shortages. At popular and congested ports (such as Los Angeles and Singapore), waiting times can reach 7 to 15 days or more, directly extending the overall transportation cycle.
2. Significantly reduced loading and unloading efficiency:
When port yards are full of cargo, the availability of quay cranes and forklifts is limited, slowing down loading and unloading. What might normally take 1 to 2 days can extend to 3 to 5 days or even longer during congestion.
3. Chain delays in dubsequent links:
Loading and unloading delays lead to customs clearance delays. If the free storage period at the port is exceeded, demurrage fees will be incurred. Furthermore, it may affect subsequent land transport connections, further amplifying delivery time losses.
4. Schedule Disruptions:
Congestion prevents ships from calling at subsequent ports as originally planned. Shipping companies may adjust routes, merge schedules, or drop containers, causing secondary delays for the entire shipment.
How should importers deal with port congestion?
1. Plan Ahead
Importers can consult freight forwarders to estimate potential delays and adjust their order plans accordingly. This may require increasing inventory to cope with unexpected disruptions.
2. Diversify shipping routes
Relying on a single port or shipping route exposes importers to significant risks. By diversifying the routes and considering alternative ports, you can mitigate congestion risks. This may include partnering with freight forwarders to find less congested ports or exploring multimodal transport options.
Prioritize direct shipping routes or alternative ports with low congestion probability (e.g., avoid Los Angeles and choose Long Beach; avoid Singapore and choose Port Klang for transit) to reduce congested port calls.
Avoid peak shipping seasons (e.g., 2 to 3 months before Christmas on Europe and America routes, and around Chinese New Year). If shipping during peak season is unavoidable, book space at least 2 weeks in advance to lock in shipping space and shipping schedules.
3. Collaborating with freight forwarders
Choose a freight forwarder with close ties to the carrier: Freight forwarders with large volumes and close relationships are less likely to have their cargo blocked and are better able to secure space. Freight forwarders have extensive networks and can offer various solutions, such as expedited shipping or choosing different carriers.
Be Prepared for Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) and Congestion Surcharges: These are now a permanent part of the shipping landscape. Budget for them accordingly and work with your forwarder to understand when they are applied.
4. Closely track shipments after departure
After shipment, track the vessel's status in real time (via the shipping company's website, freight forwarder reminders, etc.) to know the estimated arrival time in advance. If congestion is anticipated, promptly notify your customs broker at the destination port or your consignee to prepare for customs clearance.
If handling customs clearance yourself, prepare complete clearance documents in advance (packing list, invoice, certificate of origin, etc.) and submit a pre-declaration before the goods arrive at the port to shorten customs review time and avoid the combined impact of customs delays and congestion.
5. Allow sufficient buffer time
When communicating logistics plans with the freight forwarder, you need to allow an additional 7 to 15 days for congestion buffer time on top of the regular shipping schedule.
For urgent goods, a "sea freight + air freight" model can be used. Air freight ensures timely delivery of core goods, while sea freight reduces costs for non-urgent goods, balancing timeliness and cost requirements.
Port congestion is not a temporary disruption; it's a symptom of global supply chains operating beyond their capacity. The future requires transparency, flexibility, and partnerships. Senghor Logistics not only provides container booking services, but we are committed to building resilient supply chains. We have agreements with shipping companies to guarantee space and prices, providing you with viable logistics solutions during busy shipping seasons. Contact us for personalized consultations and the latest freight rate references.
Post time: Nov-28-2025
