The Transpacific Shipping Surge: Concerns of Congestion and Cargo Bottlenecks at US Ports

By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar)

The recent demand spike on the transpacific route has raised alarms about potential congestion and cargo bottlenecks at key US ports.

According to a report by The Loadstar, carriers have started reinstating previously blanked voyages and launching new services to take advantage of the sudden surge in demand following the 90-day tariff reprieve.

Container market analyst Braemar has warned that the influx of extra loaders and ad hoc cargo could lead to port congestion and operational challenges due to the sharp drop in US import volumes prior to the spike in demand.

Philip Damas, Managing Director of supply chain advisor Drewry, highlighted the potential difficulties importers may face due to the unpredictable nature of sudden changes in demand and capacity. These disruptions can result in port congestion, shortages, and surpluses affecting the fluidity of supply chains.

Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight tracker revealed a significant increase in the number of ships waiting at ports like Shenzhen and Los Angeles/Long Beach, indicating potential strain on US west coast ports.

Sea Intelligence CEO Alan Murphy noted that carriers are favoring services calling at west coast ports, possibly due to a cargo surge and vessel availability differences between the coasts.

Despite concerns, experts like Paul Bingham from S&P Global and Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero remain optimistic about the ports’ ability to handle the anticipated surge in cargo volume without major congestion issues.

Hapag-Lloyd, a leading German carrier, expressed confidence in maintaining operational efficiency at ports, citing its solid plan within the Gemini network to uphold high reliability performance.

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