International Port Terminals Update
September 2022
Provides a summary of terminal operating conditions in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Europe and UK
Courtesy of Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA)
Japan
All ports operating under normal conditions with no major delays or congestion.
Korea
Pusan: Terminal capacity utilisation remains at high level of 73%. All Pusan terminals have restricted gate-in access for local and transhipment exports to within 3 to 5 days in an effect to improve terminal capacity utilisation. Vessel berthing waiting time varies from 6 hours to 32 hours depending upon terminal concerned. However, these maybe impacted by recent typhoons.
China
Shanghai: Average berth-waiting time is 12 to 24 hours at SIPGSD YS4 terminal and 0.5 to 1 day Waigaoqiao Port (WGQ) terminal. Terminal capacity utilisation is at 62% to 65%.
Ningbo: Terminal capacity utilisation is at 71%. Average berth-waiting time is 0 to 1.5 days.
Terminals are encountering vessel berthing congestion. Port maybe subject to strong monsoonal winds which could see lower vessel productivity.
Nansha: Guangzhou South China Oceangate Container Terminal (GOCT) terminal berthing is currently with an average waiting time of up to 36 hours. However, these maybe impacted by recent typhoons.
Yantian: Vessel berthing and waiting time is currently around 12 to 36 hours. However, these maybe impacted by recent typhoons. Terminal capacity is currently at 80%. The
terminals have restricted vessel services such as vessel repairs, AGM inspection, vessel & bunker survey, and vessel supplies. All Terminals are using contactless mode of cargo operations.
Qingdao: Vessel berthing delays and congestion is being impacted by bad weather conditions and vessel bunching which is leading to intermittent closure of port terminals.
Average berthing waiting time is between 12 hours to 24 hours.
Shekou: All berths are currently operating however terminal capacity utilisation remains at 78%. Vessel wating time is currently around 1 to 4 days. However, these maybe impacted by recent typhoons. From July 2022 all terminals have lifted imports restrictions in the
handling of import reefer containers loaded with fruits that have originated from Vietnam.
The ban on import cargo for dangerous goods IMO 3, IMO 8 and non-dangerous chemical cargo being Boric Acid has now been lifted.
Hong Kong: Modern Terminals Limited (MTL) utilisation and capacity is at 73% for general containers and utilisation for reefer containers continues to be at a high level. Average
vessel waiting time is 6 hours to 24 hours. Longer waiting time can be expected due the impacts of typhoon.
Singapore: Vessel berthing average waiting time is 0 to 24 hours for Import and export vessels. Delays are being incurred due to vessel bunching relating to West bound services from China ports. These delays are clashing with East bound vessel services. Terminal capacity utilisation is currently sitting at 75%.
Malaysia: Port Klang vessel berthing waiting time at Westports is around 0 to 24 hours. Terminal capacity utilisation is around 77%. Delays at Westports terminal are being incurred
due to vessel bunching and berth congestion. Northport vessels are berthing on arrival with no delays. Terminal capacity utilisation is 75%.
USA
Los Angeles – Long Beach: as of 02 September 2022, there was only 1 container vessel at anchor within the 25-mile zone of the port complex. There are 8 container vessels slow
steaming or loitering outside the Safety and Air Quality Area.
The port of Los Angeles dwell time for import cargo is at 3.7 days, down from the peak of 11 days. On-dock rail is at 8.2 days down from the peak of 13.4 days.
Europe
Antwerp:Labour availability continues to remain at a good level after recent disruptions.
Terminal capacity utilisation remains elevated at around 85% for both general and reefer containers.
Rotterdam: Europe Container Terminal (ECT): Labour availability is at a good level which is leading to faster vessel turnaround times. Terminal is currently seeing improvement in long
dwell time for import and transhipment cargo. The ECT off terminal storage facility is still subject to around 3,000 TEU’s of customs blocked Russian cargo within the terminal.
Acceptance of empty containers to the terminal is still very limited.
Rotterdam World Gateway Terminal labour availability is beginning to improve. Due to the Rhine low water levels, there has been a shift from barge services to truck for import and export containers. Export cargo acceptance at the terminal is 8 days in advance of vessel ETA. Terminal is currently not receiving empty containers until further notice in an effect to
reduce terminal container capacity utilisation.
To ease Terminal capacity congestion, from 25 July 2022 port authorities will start to remove containers that have been at Rotterdam Terminal for move then 30 days to other inland locations within The Netherlands.
Southampton: The availability of labour remains stable this week compared to previous weeks. Terminal capacity utilisation remains high but manageable. Export cargo acceptance is 10 days in advance of vessel ETA.
London Gateway: Labour availability has dropped this week due to the current vacation period and small increase in COVID infections. Terminal capacity utilisation is now at 66%.
Terminal productivity is good along with the throughput of vessels however challenges remain with pilot shortages due to the continued inflex of vessel arrivals.
Further rail strikes are scheduled for 16 and 26 September 2022.
Hamburg: Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) Labour availability is recovering after recent industrial action. Terminal capacity utilisation remains critical / high which is above the limit for efficient terminal operations. This continues to be triggered by heavy import container volumes and reduced import container collection from the terminal. Export cargo acceptance via truck is officially 48 hours in advance of vessel ETA. However, practically it is 24 hours or in some cases less. Split port calls between Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven are being used to ease terminal capacity utilisation.
Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) labour availability has stabilized after the recent industrial dispute but the availability of labour for weekend shifts remains uncertain. Terminal capacity utilisation stands at 85%. High terminal capacity utilisation, a backlog of keyside maintenance and labour restraints is leading to lower terminal productivity which in turn is seeing longer port stay time for vessels.
Le Havre: Terminal capacity utilisation is at 74%. Empty container park capacity utilisation is at 75%. The increased number of vessel arrivals has led to a labour shortage and extended vessel port times. Weekly industrial action of 4 hours is impacting terminal operations.