China faces prolonged port congestions amid typhoons, Mideast war
Major container ports along China’s eastern coast have been experiencing severe congestions in the past few weeks on logistics disruptions amid the typhoon season and the US-Iran war, with current conditions unlikely to ease near term. • Vessel waiting time at key ports at up to 10 days • Typhoon season from July hitting port ...
China is currently grappling with prolonged port congestion due to a combination of factors, including the ongoing typhoon season and the Middle East conflict. Major container ports along the eastern coast of China are experiencing severe disruptions, with vessel waiting times reaching up to 10 days at key locations such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, and Nansha. This congestion is expected to persist, particularly as China's peak export period falls between September and October.
At 05:00 GMT on September 3, 2026, the number of vessels waiting for berths at Shanghai and Ningbo ports stood at 135 and 100, respectively, compared to 107 and 78 vessels on August 29. These ports, known as logistics hubs with vast capacities, are already facing significant difficulties.
The primary cause of these port congestions is the series of typhoons that have struck China from July to September. These storms have led to temporary closures or operational cuts at the affected ports. Ports typically begin curbing operations three days before a typhoon's forecasted arrival and require additional days to recover after a storm has passed.
The consecutive typhoon impacts leave ports with no time to recover, exacerbating the congestion situation. In addition to the typhoons, the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, specifically the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels toward the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. This alternative route has disrupted shipping schedules and added to the overall congestion.
According to shipping market intelligence firm Linerlytica, a staggering 4.3 million TEUs or 12.6% of the global total fleet capacity is currently awaiting berths at container ports worldwide. This exceeds the pandemic-era peak of 4.0 million TEUs. The firm also notes that upcoming reductions in daily transit slots at the Panama Canal due to water-saving measures in September will likely introduce further supply chain friction.
Furthermore, August and September are traditionally peak seasons for Chinese exports, which means higher port activity. A Guangdong-based plastics trader stated that they do not anticipate significant relief in the short term due to these multiple challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.