Congestion at the Port of Shanghai has intensified sharply, leading to berthing delays of up to 11 days for vessels operated by Hapag-Lloyd, according to ShippingWatch.
The disruption is part of a broader deterioration in global container shipping reliability. ShippingWatch reports that global schedule reliability, as measured by Sea-Intelligence, fell by 6.1 percentage points in July to 56.4%, marking the lowest level recorded since February 2025. According to the same data cited by ShippingWatch, this drop translates into container ships arriving an average of six days later than scheduled with customers.
Other Carriers Also Affected
Hapag-Lloyd is not alone in facing the fallout from the congestion. South Korea’s HMM told ShippingWatch that it is currently unable to offer any clarity on when conditions might normalize. “We are not providing any official timeline for a recovery at this stage,” HMM stated, as quoted by ShippingWatch.
The report does not specify the underlying causes of the congestion buildup in Shanghai, nor does it provide details on how many vessels or which specific routes are affected beyond the Hapag-Lloyd delays mentioned.
Does This Matter to You?
Port congestion of this scale in Shanghai, one of the world’s busiest container hubs, has ripple effects across global supply chains. Extended berthing delays can disrupt vessel schedules, increase waiting times, and complicate cargo planning for downstream logistics providers.
For bunker planning and fuel procurement timing, schedule unpredictability of this magnitude, with ships arriving up to six days late on average globally, according to Sea-Intelligence data cited by ShippingWatch, can complicate voyage planning and fuel purchasing decisions tied to port calls. Charterers and operators tracking vessel ETAs may need to factor in extended uncertainty windows when coordinating bunkering operations near affected ports.
The source material does not provide further detail on specific vessels, cargo volumes, or expected resolution timelines beyond HMM’s statement that no recovery timeline is currently available.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: ShippingWatch
