Several factors will slow container arrivals in 2025, leading to shrinking ocean freight times.
In this article, Weefreight provides a detailed analysis, which we hope will be helpful.
Port congestion: Congestion continues to escalate at northern European hub ports, such as Antwerp, Hamburg, and Bremen, with average berthing times increasing significantly. The yard utilization rate at the Port of Rotterdam has also exceeded the 95% threshold. Furthermore, major hub ports such as Shenzhen Port in China and the Ports of Los Angeles and New York in the United States are also experiencing congestion, with the number of container ships waiting to berth increasing.
Labor shortages: Port staffing constraints in Europe and North America, along with labor shortages and industrial action, are impacting port operations, slowing cargo handling and thus extending container arrival times.
Climate and Hydrological Conditions: In the spring of 2025, the water level of the Rhine River was 34% below the historical average, restricting barge traffic and impacting cargo transportation and transshipment. Furthermore, adverse weather conditions such as heavy fog and strong winds can cause ships to slow down or suspend operations when entering and leaving ports. For example, in March 2025, frequent fog occurred in and around Shanghai, with visibility at the Yangtze River Estuary dropping below 500 meters on multiple occasions, halving operational efficiency.
Trade Policy Changes: The 90-day tariff suspension between China and the United States (scheduled to expire on August 14) brought forward the peak season for eastbound transpacific trade, prompting a rush for importers to bring in goods. This led to an increase in the number of vessels, increased port congestion, and longer shipping times.
Red Sea Detours: Since Yemeni Houthi rebels began attacking shipping in late 2023, ships have increasingly routed via southern Africa, extending shipping distances and travel times on both Asia-Europe and America-Asia routes. Hapag-Lloyd’s CEO stated that even if regular traffic through the Suez Canal is restored, it will need to be done gradually to avoid paralyzing ports due to a surge in vessel traffic.
Infrastructure bottlenecks: Global infrastructure gaps, including terminal congestion, rail delays, and limited container yards, have impacted cargo transportation and turnover, thus hindering the speed at which containers arrive at ports.
Shipping company operational adjustments: Major alliances such as 2M and Ocean Alliance have restructured their Asian shipping routes, resulting in a 12% reduction in weekly service density at Shanghai Port and increased waiting times for vessels to berth to 36 to 48 hours. Furthermore, the trend toward larger vessels has led to longer berthing times for ultra-large container ships, potentially reducing overall shipping times.
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