4.3 million TEUs are queued up awaiting berthing! Global port congestion has once again hit a record high, and delays in vessel schedules and persistently high freight rates are unlikely to ease in the short term.

According to the latest data from shipping consultancy Linerlytica, global container vessel capacity currently stands at approximately 4.3 million TEUs waiting to berth at ports—exceeding the pandemic-era peak of around 4.0 million TEUs recorded in 2022. The substantial backlog of ships and idle capacity outside ports is not only disrupting schedules and container turnaround but also further tightening the market’s available space, thereby underpinning recent increases in ocean freight rates and container ship charter rates.

Congestion has reached a record high in absolute terms, with North Asia accounting for nearly half of the global total.
         It should be noted that this update reflects the absolute scale of congested capacity, but does not imply that current congestion levels have universally surpassed those seen during the pandemic. At present, the global container fleet totals approximately 34.4 million TEU, with 4.3 million TEU awaiting berth—accounting for 12.6% of global capacity. By contrast, when the global fleet stood at around 25.3 million TEU in 2022, the share of congested capacity peaked at 15.7%. In other words, although the absolute volume of capacity currently tied up in port congestion is higher, the proportion of such capacity relative to total global capacity remains lower than at the height of the pandemic, owing to the substantial expansion of the global fleet.

         East Asia, particularly Chinese ports, is the epicenter of this latest surge in congestion. Consecutive tropical storms and typhoons have battered China’s coastline, forcing some terminals to suspend operations temporarily and compelling vessels to seek shelter. Once port operations resumed, the concentrated influx of ships and the backlog of cargo further extended waiting times. Data show that North Asian ports currently have roughly 2.2 million TEU‑equivalent capacity awaiting berthing—nearly half of the global congestion total. According to Portcast, Shanghai Port at one point had 139 vessels waiting, while Ningbo Port recorded 77, both levels among the highest since 2025. At Shanghai’s Yangshan Port, waiting times on certain routes have stretched to five to six days, with some carriers reporting delays of seven to eight days for certain vessels. Late arrivals not only exacerbate congestion but also ripple through subsequent port calls, container‑availability adjustments, and return‑voyage schedules, transmitting pressure along the shipping network to other ports.

Freight rates continue to rise, with the SCFI posting its fourth consecutive increase and reaching a year-to-date high.
         Port congestion has prevented some vessels from turning around as scheduled, effectively withdrawing a portion of available capacity from the market. Even with the continued delivery of newbuildings, short-term container space is likely to remain tight due to disrupted sailing schedules. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) has risen for four consecutive weeks, closing at 3,409.63 points on August 21—up 54.39 points from the previous period. Earlier, it stood at 3,355.24 points on August 14 and 3,276.14 points on August 7, reflecting a steady upward trend.

         S&P Global’s Platts Container Freight Index also rose to $7,565 per 40-foot container on August 21, hitting its highest level so far this year. Analysts attribute the heightened market pressure to port congestion in Asia, tight capacity, and restrictions at the Panama Canal. On the U.S. East Coast route, SCFI rates have reached $9,700 per FEU, with market expectations pointing toward a potential climb to the historical peak of $10,000.

Stricter transit restrictions on the Panama Canal could further disrupt global shipping schedules.
         In addition to congestion at Asian ports, the tightening of the Panama Canal’s capacity could further disrupt global shipping schedules. Due to below‑expected rainfall in the canal basin and a 44% drop in water levels caused by El Niño, the Panama Canal Authority announced that, starting September 3, the Neopanamax locks will offer nine transit slots per day, while the Panamax locks will provide 25 slots; beginning September 15, the Panamax quota will be reduced further to 23 slots, bringing the total daily transit capacity down to 32. The Authority also cautioned that vessels without prior reservations may face longer waiting times.

         Earlier, Sea‑Intelligence reported that capacity affected by delays amounted to roughly 1.7 million TEU, significantly lower than Linerlytica’s figure of 4.3 million TEU. This substantial discrepancy stems from the two firms’ differing statistical methodologies. Linerlytica measures the aggregate capacity of vessels waiting to berth at ports worldwide, whereas Sea‑Intelligence assesses the actual extent to which port delays are tying up market‑available capacity. According to Sea‑Intelligence, port congestion currently accounts for about 5% of global deep‑sea container‑ship capacity, while overall schedule reliability remains in the 60%–65% range—well below the pre‑pandemic norm of 70%–80%. Meanwhile, delay durations are also lengthening: prior to the pandemic, late‑arriving vessels averaged delays of around 3–4 days, a figure that has now risen to 5–5.5 days.

Recommendations for exporting companies: Focus on more than just freight rates.
         For exporting companies, the current concerns extend beyond changes in ocean freight rates to include actual port‑call durations, the risk of container rejections, and seamless connections at transshipment ports. With 4.3 million TEU of capacity waiting offshore, even securing a booking does not guarantee that shipments will depart on schedule or arrive as planned.

         We recommend that companies with imminent shipping schedules pay close attention to the following: closely monitor adjustments to carrier port‑calling schedules and changes in available capacity, as some routes have already seen canceled calls or re‑scheduled sailings; maintain regular communication with overseas buyers, promptly update shipment progress, and manage delivery expectations; allow ample lead time for orders yet to be shipped by securing space well in advance; and continuously track the potential ripple effects of Panama Canal transit restrictions on East Coast U.S. and Latin American services.