Stockwells logistics news report

Friday 18th September, 2026

In this news report:

Upcoming Golden Week Notice

CHRISTMAS ORDERS - Get them in now to avoid missing out or delays!

German and Dutch ports face strike action

Port Congestion Continues to Impacts Global Shipping Schedules 

Shipping Charges & Fees 

Upcoming Golden Week Notice 

CHRISTMAS ORDERS - Get them in now to avoid missing out or delays!

Every year Stockwells reminds clients about the importance of placing your Christmas orders in early. This period is known for being volatile and price hikes are expected so to avoid this please speak to your Stockwells representative about getting your orders in early. 

German and Dutch ports face strike action

German and Dutch ports are facing industrial action that is expected to disrupt container and intermodal freight movements across Northern Europe.

German dockworkers have commenced strike action after rejecting a pay offer from port employers, with operations at major ports including Hamburg, Bremen and Lower Saxony expected to be affected.

In the Netherlands, strike action at Rotterdam and a planned national rail stoppage are also expected to cause delays, terminal disruptions and congestion, further impacting already stretched European supply chains.

Port Congestion Continues to Impact Global Shipping Schedules

Congestion across major Asian ports continues to disrupt global supply chains, with conditions at Shanghai and Ningbo, the world's two busiest container ports, deteriorating following Typhoon Saudel and a series of recent storms across the region. Vessels are now facing berthing delays of up to 10 days, adding further pressure to already strained shipping networks.

According to industry reports, approximately 3.92 million TEU of capacity, representing 11% of the global container fleet, is currently tied up in congestion, with North Asia accounting for more than half of all global port delays.

Although port operations have resumed, vessel bunching, equipment imbalances and accumulated cargo backlogs are expected to continue affecting schedule reliability and transit times in the weeks ahead.

The impact is now being felt across global shipping services. Container shipping schedule reliability recorded its sharpest monthly decline in more than five years during July, falling to 56.4% as congestion at key Asian ports, including Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian and Hong Kong, disrupted vessel arrivals and increased average delays to more than six days.

The effects have been particularly significant on return services into Asia from North America and Europe, with reliability declining across multiple trade lanes. Analysts warn that ongoing congestion at Asia's largest port hubs is likely to create further knock-on effects throughout the global shipping network, extending delays and reducing schedule certainty for shippers worldwide.

The disruption is also contributing to elevated vessel charter rates due to tight ship availability and limited new vessel deliveries, while freight rates remain firm across most trades despite softer conditions on the Asia-Europe lane.

Stockwells will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as conditions evolve. If you have any concerns regarding current or upcoming shipments, please contact your Stockwells representative.

 We're excited to introduce a range of enhancements to the Stockwells Track & Trace platform, helping you stay informed, connected and in control of your shipments every step of the way. 

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