Aktuality

🚢 Container Crisis 2025: Reasons for Delays and Impact on Consignees

In recent weeks, international container shipping has faced serious complications. Overloaded ports, limited rail capacity, and global trade tensions are causing delays and increasing transport costs. Here is an overview of the current situation, its causes, and recommendations for how to prepare.

 

🔍 What’s Happening?

European ports are overcrowded. Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Bremerhaven report congestion of ships, terminals overflowing with containers and limited staff.

The crisis is spreading overseas. Ports in China (especially Shenzhen/Yantian) and the USA (Los Angeles, New York) are under similar pressure. Vessel waiting times are now measured in weeks.

Rail networks are unable to handle the volume. Due to maintenance closures, strikes, and infrastructure repairs, there is insufficient capacity to move containers from ports to inland destinations such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

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⚠️ Why Are There Delays?

There are multiple, mutually reinforcing causes:

1. Overloaded ports and terminals
Increased cargo volumes, workforce shortages, and chaotic rerouting of vessels are resulting in delays in unloading and container clearance.

2. Insufficient rail capacity
Operators report congestion on key rail corridors. In addition to long-standing limitations, new disruptions include:

📆 June 29–July 4, 2025 – daily closures on the Elbtal rail section (Bad Schandau – Pirna). Freight trains will be diverted with limited throughput.

📆 July 4–8, 2025 – complete closure of the Waltershof terminal in Hamburg. Rail traffic to major container terminals (CTA, CTB, Eurogate) will be fully suspended.

❗ These represent some of the most serious recent disruptions and will heavily affect transport to/from Northern Germany, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Duisburg.

3. Trade tensions
A temporary truce between the US and China has triggered a sudden surge in transpacific shipments. Vessels are overbooked, and container availability in Europe is tightening.

4. Surcharges
Carriers are introducing Congestion Surcharges for delays, rerouting, or non-standard journeys (e.g., via Africa instead of Suez).

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📦 What Does It Mean for Consignees?

• Shipments are delayed. Delivery times may be extended by several days or even weeks.
• Costs are rising. High demand and limited supply lead to rising transport prices. There are also demurrage charges for containers waiting in port and storage charges levied directly by the terminals where the container is placed.

  Note: According to the Hague-Visby Convention on Carriage by Sea, the shipper is not liable for damages or delays that are not his fault (see Article IV, paragraph 2(q) of the Convention) – (“…any other cause arising without the actual fault or privity of the carrier.”)

  Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

• Shipments may be rerouted. Containers may be transshipped, rerouted, or delivered late due to limited vessel or rail capacity.
• Planning is increasingly complex. Formerly predictable lead times and reservations are changing weekly. Cargo must be ordered and planned with greater lead time.

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✅ How to Mitigate the Impact

We recommend the following measures:

• Place orders earlier than usual. Reserve transport capacity several weeks in advance.
• Increase stock levels for key items. Maintain safety reserves for critical production or sales goods.
• Include potential extra costs in calculations. Expect higher transport costs – not just in rates, but also in delay-related fees.
• Monitor the situation and stay in touch. We closely track operational conditions, ports, and terminals, and are ready to offer alternative solutions.

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🧭 Summary

• European ports are facing serious congestion, now spreading to China and the US.
• Rail capacity to the Czech Republic and Slovakia is limited, extending delivery times.
• Delays, rerouting, and demurrage pose real financial risks for consignees.
• Carriers are introducing additional surcharges and rerouting vessels, affecting planning and cost projections.

👉 We will do our utmost to minimize disruptions.
For consultation or specific shipment inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We’re here for you.
Your JARO Sea & Air Team

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Sources & References

• Metrans (2024–2025): Operational bulletins on European rail conditions and disruptions.
• Sam Chambers (Splash247, May 2025): Boxport congestion spreads from Europe to the US and China.
• Lisa Baertlein et al. (Reuters, May 2025): Container ship owners swamped as US-China trade detente revives demand.
• Embassy Freight (NL, 2024/2025): Chaos at Sea and Port Congestion – client update.
• Universal Cargo (2020): Port Congestion Unfairly Causes Demurrage & Detention Fees…
• Additional updates from Drewry, Journal of Commerce, Hapag-Lloyd Advisories, Port Technology International, and more.