Freight & Logistics Update 20 October 2025

Good Day Clients & Partners,

Please find below our newsletter with the latest freight & logistics updates for the week.  As always, the Inter-Sped team are ready to go the extra mile for you – so don’t hesitate to contact us.

SOUTH AFRICA  

Exports Air: With peak season in full swing, demand for freight capacity ex South Africa (ZA) has risen, exerting upward pressure on freight rates. However operationally, no major delays have been encountered.

Road Freight

• All borders currently proceeding as normal. 
• As we head into peak season, we expect lower availability of dedicated vehicles as demand increases across the board.
• Consolidations may be filling faster as well, so early bookings are advised to meet required deadlines.

 

Sea Freight

Exports Sea: Reefer season has ended Ex South Africa however space constraints on vessels are still an issue. Early bookings are crucial in securing space however this is still subject to acceptance by carriers.

Durban Port

Vessels arriving on time into Durban, however 2–3-day berthing delay to due to terminal maintenance. Split discharges are being experienced at both DCT and Point. No backlogs. Clear week ahead with no weather stoppages expected.

• Pier 2-3 days waiting time
• Pier 2 (DCT) – 0 – 1 day waiting time
• Point 1 – 2 days’ waiting time

 

Cape Town Port

Port operations have been relatively smooth. Intermittent wind gusts experienced between 2-6 October. No backlogs.

• CTCT: 0-2 days waiting time
• MPT: 0 days waiting time

 

Port Elizabeth

Port operations remain smooth. Intermittent strong winds being experienced. No backlogs.

• PECT: 2 days’ waiting time
• NCT: 0 days waiting time

 

AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS  

Sea Freight

East Africa services are subject to erratic carrier schedules. Vessels delayed on rotational route do create a snowball effect and as a result delays and vessel changes may be expected. This may also impact transit times.

Mentionable delays:

• Berthing delay of 6 days experienced at Abidjan port in Ivory Coast
• Berthing delays of up to 5-12 days experienced at Port Louis in Mauritius, due to adverse weather conditions and operational challenges.
• Toamasina (Tamatave in Madagascar) has 7 days berthing delays.
• Berthing delays of 5 days at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania ports. Berthing sequence will impact waiting time. Terminal gate and road is congested resulting in delays.

 

West Africa

NAMIBIA

• 2 days waiting time at Walvis Bay.

ANGOLA

• Berthing delays of up to 3 days experienced at Luanda port.

GHANA

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Tema port.

NIGERIA

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Apapa and 4 days at Tincan.

IVORY COAST

• Berthing delay of 6 days experienced at Abidjan port.
• Severe Yard congestion causing slow operations and subsequently berth delays.
  

Indian Ocean Islands

MAURITIUS

• Berthing delays of up to 5-12 days experienced at Port Louis due to adverse weather conditions and operational challenges.

REUNION

• Port Reunion (Reunion) is seeing 4 days waiting time.

MADAGASCAR

• Toamasina (Tamatave) (Madagascar) has 7 days berthing delays.

 

East Africa

Although some improvement, there are possible vessel delays in Mozambique, may have a subsequent ripple effect on the transit times and delays into the rest of East Africa. As a result, erratic vessels schedules, blanked sailings and extended transit times may be experienced. Amendments to vessel schedules are frequent and we do recommend close communication with your representative. 

MOZAMBIQUE

• Maputo currently reflecting 4 days and Beira reflecting 8 days vessel waiting time.

KENYA

• Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Mombasa port.
• Terminal is facing long-term congestion, slow productivity due to equipment shortages and high transshipment volumes. Berth delays are also due to vessel bunching arriving off-window.

TANZANIA

• Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Dar es Salaam ports. Berthing sequence will impact waiting time. Terminal gate and road is congested resulting in delays.

 

NORTH AMERICA   

Air Freight

Imports Air: Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.

Sea Freight

Exports Sea: Effective 1 October 2025, new MSC USWASA Express Service (stand-alone) will see new service rotation and this change does see terminal changes in the US, additional port calls in Africa and a change to the port rotation in South Africa. We will continue to closely monitor the service, and any changes will be advised. SACO’s Chicago service will load out of New York port, while Atlanta will load out of Savannah as opposed to Norfolk and Charleston. 

 

CANADA

MONTREAL

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.
• Yard utilization is 71% with vessel productivity remaining high. The AT1 and AT2 are operating on proforma, while the MCA has minor delays of 24 hours.
• Daily rail car supply has improved over the past few weeks. The import dwell times are presently 3.9 days.

VANCOUVER

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port.
• Yard utilization is steady at 77%. There are currently no berth delays. 
• The average import rail dwell time is 2.0 days based on strong productivity. The rail car supply remains consistent, meeting daily demand. 

 

USA

MSC – USWASA Express Service: Effective 1 October 2025, new MSC USWASA Express Service (stand-alone) will see new service rotation and this change does see terminal changes in the US, additional port calls in Africa and a change to the port rotation in South Africa. We will continue to closely monitor the service, and any changes will be advised. 

Terminals Updates:

NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY

• Average vessel waiting time in New York terminals is at 3 days.
• APMT – All cranes on the East berth are now operational. There are 5 cranes on South berth, one of those will be out of service until the end of November.

SAVANNAH / CHARLESTON

• Average vessel waiting time for Savanah terminals is 3 days.
• SACO / Shipco containers sealed ex Atlanta load out Savannah terminals.

LOS ANGELES/ LONG BEACH

• Vessel waiting time is up to 4 days for Los Angeles and 2 days for Long Beach.
• Terminal gates are running as published and in line with Pier Pass programme.

 

SOUTH AMERICA  

Air Freight

Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.

Sea Freight

ARGENTINA – Buenos Aires

• Berthing delays of 4 days.
• Yard at 68% utilization, waiting time of 1 hour, working normally.

BRAZIL – Santos

• Berthing delay of 3 days experienced at Santos port.
• Yard at 73% utilization, waiting time of 69 hours, delays due to many manoeuvres in the channel and bad weather conditions.

MEXICO

Altimera

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Altamira port.

Veracruz

• Berthing delays of 2 days.

Manzanillo

• Berthing delays of 2 days.

 

NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN.  

Air Freight

Operations are running smoothly, with only minor delays attributed to peak season demand. 

Sea Freight

• New MSC service loading direct ex HAMBURG, with transshipment in either Portugal (Sines) or Las Palmas onto NWC sailing into South Africa. This allows for direct loading ex Hamburg, as opposed to additional trucking leg from Hamburg to Bremerhaven onto direct NWC service.

Mentionable delays:

• Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Antwerp port, Belgium. 

BELGIUM

• Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Antwerp port.
• High yard utilisation, and levels are critical.
• PSA and AGW have gate opening times to 6 days prior to vessel ETA.

FRANCE

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Le Havre port.

GERMANY

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Hamburg and 1 day at Bremerhaven.
• Terminal yards are at elevated levels but are stable with little impact on operations.
• New MSC service loading direct ex HAMBURG, with transshipment in either Portugal (Sines) or Las Palmas onto NWC sailing into South Africa. This allows for direct loading ex Hamburg, as opposed to additional trucking leg from Hamburg to Bremerhaven onto direct NWC service.

ITALY

• Terminals are congested with berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Genova and 2 days at La Spezia port.

NETHERLANDS

• Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Rotterdam port.
• Generally, yard utilization is high, but stable. However, RWG levels are critical with 80%-85% utilization.

SPAIN

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Barcelona port.

TURKEY

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Istanbul port and 2 days at Izmir port.

UNITED KINGDOM

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at London Gateway port.

 

MIDDLE EAST AND INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT  

Air Freight

Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.

Sea Freight

Exports Sea: MSC is no longer offering direct service into Jebel Ali – Vessels are now routing via Mundra.

INDIA

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Nhava Sheva and 2 days at Chennai.
• Weather related stoppages continue to be experienced. This is expected to continue during Monsoon season being experienced in the region.

SRI LANKA

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Colombo port.
• Terminal services impacted by high yard density, high transshipment levels and bad weather conditions.
• FCL containers transhipping in Colombo are experiencing delays of 2-3 weeks.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Jebel Ali.
• Operational delays due to crane breakdowns affecting productivity.

ISRAEL

• Berthing delays of 2 days at Ashdod port and 1 day at Haifa.
• Ports are considered as essential services and are therefore expected to operate as usual. Port operations are conducted in accordance with guidelines as provided by relevant authorities.

 

ASIA PACIFIC (Including Oceania)  

Air Freight

Operations are running smoothly, with only minor delays attributed to peak season demand

Sea Freight

Golden Week was celebrated from the 1st to 8th October; during this time our partners’ offices were closed.

 

SHEKOU / YANTIAN

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Shekou and 5 days at Yantian ports .
• Backlog experienced due to Typhoon disruption. Due to tightening Customs controls in Shenzhen; containers are being detained by Chinese Customs for inspections. Containers are moved to General Administration Custom for inspection, and this may take 1 to 2 weeks for the inspection and release of the container. Every effort is made to ensure full Customs compliance and to have containers released as soon as possible.

HONG KONG

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.

NANSHA

• Berthing delays of 2 day experienced at this port.
• Backlog experienced due to Typhoon disruption.

NINGBO

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.

QINGDAO

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port. Vessel bunching and congestion being experienced.

SHANGHAI

• Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. Heavy vessel bunching and congestion being experienced.

SHEKOU / YANTIAN

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Shekou and 5 days at Yantian ports .
• Backlog experienced due to Typhoon disruption. Due to tightening Customs controls in Shenzhen; containers are being detained by Chinese Customs for inspections. Containers are moved to General Administration Custom for inspection, and this may take 1 to 2 weeks for the inspection and release of the container. Every effort is made to ensure full Customs compliance and to have containers released as soon as possible.

XIAMEN

• Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port.

XINGANG / TIANJIN

• Berthing delay of 0 days experienced at this port.

SINGAPORE

• Berthing delays of 1 day being experienced at this port. Increase in vessel bunching is expected over the weekend and week to come.

KOREA

• Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Busan port. Mega vessel bunching is creating some congestion at PNIT Terminal.

TAIWAN

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Kaohsiung and Keelung ports.

THAILAND

• Berthing delay of 1 days experienced at Bangkok and Laem Chabang ports.

 

NEWS ARTICLES  

Severe Congestion at Groblersbrug as Copperbelt Acid Demand Surges

13/10/2025

Heavy truck congestion continues at the Groblersbrug Border Post between South Africa and Botswana, where more than 120 vehicles were queued on the N11 this week. The surge stems from rising demand for acid supplies to mines in Zambia and the DRC, as Copperbelt carriers increasingly avoid Zimbabwe due to cost and delay concerns.

The border, once a small single-lane crossing used mainly by tourists, has become a critical freight link. However, limited infrastructure and staffing on the Botswana side are compounding delays. Only two cashiers currently handle third-party insurance and road permits, creating bottlenecks and long waiting times for truckers.

By Monday, 53 acid tankers and 11 fuel trucks were held at the dangerous goods park outside Groblersbrug, where none had been cleared since Sunday afternoon. General cargo vehicles were also being held alongside hazardous loads in extreme heat, raising safety concerns among operators. Industry representatives are calling for urgent intervention and potential public-private partnerships to improve efficiency.

Authorities have long known the crossing would face congestion pressures following the Kazungula One-Stop Border Post upgrade further north, yet Groblersbrug was excluded from South Africa’s planned land border upgrades. With Zimbabwe routes still deemed uneconomical due to high fees and security checks, some transporters are diverting via Skilpadshek on the N4 Trans-Kalahari Corridor — a detour of more than 300 kilometres. Source. 

South Africa Reports Steady Progress in Transport and Port Performance

10/10/2025

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced notable improvements and ambitious reform targets for South Africa’s logistics and transport sectors during a National Press Club Roundtable last week. Her department aims to increase freight volumes on Transnet’s network to 250 million tonnes by 2029, boost port efficiency to 30 gross crane moves per hour, and achieve 600 million annual passenger rail journeys by 2030. Aviation goals include handling 42 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of airfreight through Acsa airports by the end of the current political term.

Creecy reported measurable progress toward these targets. Transnet rail freight volumes rose by nine million tonnes to 161 million tonnes last year, while port container throughput increased by 48 000 TEUs, a 54% improvement. She noted that since July, ports have consistently met or exceeded weekly TEU targets, with no terminal backlogs. Prasa revived 35 of 40 service lines and projects 116 million passenger journeys for 2025/26. Acsa handled 18.97 million passengers and 489 000 tons of airfreight, while road safety initiatives have cut accidents by 7% and fatalities by 8%.

The ministry continues to pursue public-private collaboration, guided by the 2022 White Paper on National Rail Policy and 2023 National Freight Logistics Roadmap, which retain public ownership of key assets such as rail lines and ports. To attract investment, 163 private submissions have been reviewed, and 11 new rail operators were announced in August. Infrastructure investment plans include R66.1 billion for Prasa and R21.7 billion for Acsa, while Sanral created 35 000 jobs and supported 2 000 SMMEs through ongoing road upgrade projects. Source

Court Ruling Clears Path for Transnet–ICTSI Partnership at Durban Container Terminal

13/10/2025

Transnet and International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) have welcomed a KwaZulu-Natal High Court ruling dismissing APM Terminals’ (Maersk) application to halt the awarding of the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 concession. The decision clears the way for a 25-year public-private partnership aimed at modernising South Africa’s busiest container terminal. Both companies described the outcome as a reaffirmation of the transparency and legality of the bidding process.

The partnership forms part of Transnet’s broader strategy to improve operational efficiency, reduce debt, and attract private investment into port infrastructure. DCT Pier 2 is a vital trade hub, handling 72% of Durban’s port throughput and nearly half of the country’s total container volumes. Transnet Group CEO Michelle Phillips said the ruling removes a significant obstacle to the implementation of the transaction, enabling the company to focus fully on executing its modernisation plans.

The court, led by Judge Mahendra Chetty, found Maersk’s challenge was filed with “undue delay” and that ICTSI had provided sufficient evidence of financial viability. The dispute centred on the calculation of ICTSI’s solvency ratio, which Maersk claimed was incorrectly assessed. However, the court determined that a disagreement over one metric did not justify overturning the tender, given the public interest in efficient port operations.

ICTSI’s R11 billion bid exceeded Maersk’s R9 billion offer, with the court upholding Transnet’s procurement process as fair and transparent. The ruling allows ICTSI and Transnet to move forward with planned infrastructure upgrades, workforce development, and efficiency improvements at DCT Pier 2. Maersk stated that its challenge was made in good faith and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting South Africa’s economic development. Source 

Agoa Expiry Threatens 21% Drop in African Exports to the US

03/10/2025

The expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) on September 30 has dealt a major setback to African exporters, particularly in the textile and apparel sector. For 25 years, Agoa provided duty-free access to the US market for 32 African countries, supporting economic growth and job creation across the continent. With its expiry, exporters now face renewed tariffs and trade barriers, threatening to reverse these gains.

According to International Trade Centre (ITC) executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton, the impact will be severe for countries reliant on the US market. Lesotho, where 60% of apparel exports previously entered the US duty-free, now faces a 15% tariff, triggering order cancellations and job losses in an industry employing 40 000 people. South African exporters are also feeling the pressure — citrus producers now face a 30% duty, and vehicle exports to the US dropped nearly 40% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025.

ITC data suggests that without Agoa, overall exports from Africa to the US could fall by 21% by 2029, with textiles and apparel most affected. Other labour-intensive sectors such as leather, footwear, and processed foods also stand to lose market share. Coke-Hamilton warned that South Africa, the US’s largest African trading partner, could see broader economic knock-on effects impacting both continents’ industries.

She added that while Agoa’s expiry marks a major setback, it also presents an opportunity for African economies to diversify and strengthen regional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “This is not just about preferences lost but about how we reshape our economies for the future,” Coke-Hamilton said. “Africa must now focus on building regional value chains and empowering small businesses to take the lead.” Source

Strikes Across European Ports Intensify Shipping Delays

09/10/2025

Ongoing strikes at major European ports are compounding congestion and service disruptions for shippers, with operations in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Zeebrugge particularly affected. At the Port of Rotterdam, a two-day strike by lashing company workers has halted key loading and discharge operations, as lashing — essential for securing containers — has been suspended. While terminal infrastructure remains operational, carriers such as Maersk have warned of “significant impacts” on vessel turnaround times and are implementing contingency plans to mitigate delays.

In Belgium, industrial action by the Professional Association of Pilots at the combined Antwerp-Bruges/Zeebrugge port complex has further strained maritime traffic since October 5. The strike, driven by disputes over federal pension reforms, has restricted pilot services to limited hours between 10am and 5pm, causing major backlogs. According to port updates, Antwerp currently has 65 unscheduled vessels and 27 delayed, while Zeebrugge reports seven vessels facing delays. Logistics providers expect severe disruptions to vessel arrivals and departures in the coming days.

Adding to the challenges, planned demonstrations at the Port of Rotterdam over the weekend could further slow operations if protestors block port access routes. Forwarder Kuehne+Nagel reported that yard utilisation remains high at Antwerp, while average vessel waiting times at Rotterdam have stretched by an additional 2.6 days. Carriers warn that the combination of strikes, protests, and ongoing congestion may continue to impact Europe’s shipping network well into the coming weeks. Source

India Moves to Standardise Port Operations Nationwide

08/10/2025

India is set to roll out a unified set of port service rules under its new “one-nation-one-port” initiative, a major step in aligning and streamlining port operations across the country. The move aims to remove inconsistencies and inefficiencies in services for shipping lines and cargo owners while enhancing data exchange between stakeholders, including ports, terminal operators, and carriers. The Ministry of Shipping said the reform seeks to make vessel, cargo clearance, and handling processes “more holistic” through a standardised administrative and digital framework.

The plan involves a comprehensive review of existing procedures, documentation, and workflows across all major government ports. Authorities have studied operations at key container hubs such as Nhava Sheva (JNPA), Kolkata, and Chennai to create a unified model covering all cargo types — containerised, dry bulk, and liquid bulk — and trade categories, including exports, imports, transshipments, and coastal movements. The goal is to simplify compliance and eliminate redundant processes that have long hindered efficiency in Indian ports.

While previous reforms — such as the introduction of direct port delivery and direct port entry services — have already improved logistics speed and reduced costs, inconsistencies in documentation and data sharing continue to challenge stakeholders. The government hopes the new framework will build on these gains by creating a seamless, fully integrated port system that supports faster cargo movement and improved coordination.

India’s 12 government-run ports, which handled about six million TEUs between April and August — a 10% year-on-year increase — continue to face growing competition from private operators like Adani Ports. The new standardisation drive is expected to boost the competitiveness of public ports as India targets handling 10 billion tonnes of cargo by 2047. Policymakers will further promote investment in maritime infrastructure at a major industry summit in Mumbai later this month. Source

Global Container Freight Rates Slide as Overcapacity Pressures Mount

10/10/2025

Global container freight markets are showing clear signs of weakness as spot rates continue to decline, driven by deteriorating supply–demand dynamics and growing overcapacity. According to the latest Cargo Movement Update (CMU) by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders and Business Unity SA, the Drewry World Container Index dropped by 5% week-on-week to around $1,669 per 40ft container — its 16th consecutive weekly fall. Analysts note that spot prices on major east–west routes, such as Shanghai to Los Angeles, have dropped sharply year-on-year and, in some cases, have fallen below contract rates, giving shippers greater negotiating power.

Industry analysts warn that the global container shipping sector is entering a cyclical overcapacity phase, with the imbalance between supply and demand expected to peak around 2027. The influx of new vessels and slower demand growth are forecast to maintain downward pressure on rates, potentially echoing the pricing slump seen during the 2016 rate war. Port Technology International and Port News both report that markets are shifting from recent capacity shortages to a period of structural oversupply, likely keeping freight rates subdued through the latter half of the decade. Source

China Hits Back with Retaliatory Port Fees, Sparking Global Shipping Disruptions

13/10/2025

China has announced retaliatory port fees on US-linked vessels, escalating tensions in global shipping. Effective from tomorrow, ships that are US-built, operated, flagged, or listed will be charged an additional RMB400 ($56) per net ton when calling at Chinese ports. The surcharge will increase annually to RMB1,120 by 2028, mirroring US plans to raise fees on Chinese vessels. While the number of US-flagged ships is relatively small, the inclusion of US-listed companies means a significant share of global fleets—especially crude tankers, LPG, product tankers, and containerships—will be affected, potentially disrupting trade flows.

The China Shipowners Association condemned the US measures as violations of World Trade Organization principles, calling Beijing’s response a lawful move to defend fair competition and maritime stability. Analysts warn of potential port delays and administrative confusion as authorities implement the new rules, with uncertainty around verifying vessel ownership and applying the correct surcharges.

Industry observers view the escalation as part of a broader fragmentation in global trade. Meanwhile, the US has made last-minute adjustments to its own port fee structure, tripling charges on foreign-built vehicle carriers and imposing 100% tariffs on Chinese-made port cranes and chassis. Analysts caution that these tit-for-tat measures may deepen supply chain disruptions and reinforce a split in global shipping networks. Source

 

SOURCES & REFERENCES  

SACO CFR | Hapag Lloyd | Maersk | MSC | Transnet | The LoadStar Publications | gCaptain.com | Shipco Transport | Splash247.com | Freightnews | Seatrade Maritime News | Automotive Logistics | Lloyds List 

Again, the Inter-Sped team is here for all freight and Logistics needs – We will always do our best for you and keep you posted on your shipments progress on an individual shipment level.

Thank you for choosing Inter-Sped. 

JJ & The Inter-Sped Team

www.intersped.net