The Nordic port network is facing severe delays due to labour strikes, extreme weather conditions and record shipments from China. These disruptions are leading to extended wait times, port congestion and operational slowdowns.
The volume of cargo from China has increased significantly, putting port operations under great pressure. According to Container Trade Statistics (CTS) data, the volume of containers from China to Northern Europe in December 2024 grew by 17.6% year-on-year to reach a record 83.5 million TEU. With standard shipping times of around 45 days, this growth has directly affected European ports from late January to February, further exacerbating the congestion problem.
Strikes at major ports make the situation even more complicated. In France, port Le Havre caused dock operations to be blocked due to labour action and waiting times of up to a week. In addition, a strike at Rotterdam Hutchison Port Delta II port caused severe delays due to labor agreement negotiations, and Maskey said the pace of ship operations was slowing down.
French dock workers planned several short stoppages in February and a 48-hour nationwide strike from February 26-28, causing goods originally destined for France to be diverted to alternative ports in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.
A winter blizzard at the end of January further intensified these operational challenges. Major ports such as Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Le Havre and Dunkirk were forced to suspend cargo handling due to strong wind warnings, causing increased container overpressure problems.
Port congestion leads to longer waiting times for ships. The average wait time in Rotterdam reached two days, with some shipping companies reporting waits of up to seven days. The waiting time for the outbound ships in Antwerp and Rotterdam is about 72 hours, while the waiting time is three days in the port of Bremerhaven and the port of Genoa.
Inland transport is also affected, with Contargo reporting that the average wait time for barges in Rotterdam is 76 hours and Antwerp is 70 hours. Labor pressure increases and productivity decreases.
Industry experts predict that congestion in Nordic ports will not improve in the short term. Marc Meier, global head of shipping at TollGroup, said the port should be able to gradually return to normal despite record shipments in December and below the peak season. However, ongoing strikes and weather problems could lead to further worsening congestion.
The carrier is implementing a contingency plan, including the provision of alternative route options. However, businesses that rely on Nordic ports should expect longer delivery times and increased buffering times in logistics planning to address these challenges.
The industry is keeping a close eye on developments and hopes that labor disputes can be resolved as soon as possible and weather conditions will be improved to alleviate the current port operating pressures.
Source: https://www.joc.com/article/strikes-storms-and-record-volumes-adding-to-north-europe-port-delays-5942119
