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
Air Freight
Exports: Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays, except SA Airlink into Ndola/Beira/Nampula (NLA/BEW/APL) – slightly back logged ex JNB, first available 06/02/2026.
Sea Freight
Exports: Vessel space is at capacity for majority of shipping lines. Early bookings are crucial in order to secure space however this is subject to acceptance by carriers.
Shortage of equipment in Johannesburg with most shipping lines.
Durban
- Pier 1: 0 – 6 days waiting time; operational challenges being experienced – terminal berth congestion and crane breakdowns.
- Pier 2 (DCT): 0 – 2 days waiting time; however, generally clear.
- Point: 0 – 2 days waiting time
Cape Town
Weather conditions may continue to hamper both inbound and outbound services.
Reefer containers continue to hold priority over dry containers. DG cargo may be delayed by carriers, due to priority of reefer cargo. Outbound services and loadings may experience delays or carrier “rolls”.
- CTCT: 1 – 4 days waiting time. Terminal operations are recovering, however weather may continue to hamper operations. Some carriers are reporting up to 14 days berthing delays, as vessels are subject to Durban sailings and adverse weather conditions.
- MPT: 0 – 1 days waiting time
Port Elizabeth
Port operations are smooth; however wind may impact operations. Please be advised Coega port will be launching the port booking system for transporters for all container deliveries and pick ups effective 10th February 2026. Delays may be experienced in container movements through the terminal.
- PECT: 0 – 1 day waiting time. Service maintenance is scheduled for the 19th January to end March 2026.
- NCT: 0 – 2 days waiting time. Strong winds and high swells may impact operations towards the end of week 6.
AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
Air Freight
Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.
Sea Freight
Vessels delayed on rotational route may result in scheduling delays and vessel changes may be experienced. These delays will have an impact on published transit times.
Reefer containers currently have priority due to fruit exports and the demand for reefer may result in carriers not accepting DG cargo on certain routes. Delays on the movement of DG cargo can be anticipated during this time.
Exports: 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
Increase in BRC Surcharge issued by MSC – This will apply to all cargo ex South Africa/Namibia & Mozambique to West Africa & Angola.
West Africa
NAMIBIA
- 0 – 1 days waiting time at Walvis Bay.
- Intermittent wind gusts expected and may impact terminal operations.
ANGOLA
- Congestion delays at 2 days experienced at Luanda port, with terminals operating normally.
GHANA
- Berthing delays of 3 – 4 days experienced at Tema port.
- Terminal is facing crane outages. Berthing delays for window vessels are up to 36 hours and nonwindow vessels are subject to availability. Terminal is following strict pro-forma moves.
NIGERIA
- Berthing delays of 8 days experienced at Apapa and 1 day at Tincan.
- Operational slow down is expected over the next few weeks due to bad weather and heavy rain.
IVORY COAST
- Berthing delay of 1 – 2 days experienced at Abidjan port.
- New crane has been commissioned, however operational slowdown expected due to vessel line up delays. Delays of up to 24 hours for window vessels.
Indian Ocean Islands
MAURITIUS
- Berthing delays of 0 – 1 days
- Heavy rain expected to impact terminal / port operations.
REUNION
- Port Reunion is seeing 0 – 1days waiting time.
- No weather concerns for the rest of the week.
MADAGASCAR
- Toamasina (Tamatave) has 0 days berthing delays.
East Africa
- East Africa schedule is impacted by vessel berthing delays along the vessel route; compounding erratic schedules, delays, and vessel amendments. Please be guided accordingly.
- Carriers have advised extensive delays in East African ports.
MOZAMBIQUE
- Maputo currently reflecting 2 days and Beira reflecting around 23 days vessel waiting time (some carriers are reporting in excess of 30 days delays in Beira).
- Maputo – No wind forecast for the week ahead.
- Beira – vessel berthing delays experienced due to high port congestion. No wind forecast for the week ahead.
KENYA
- Berthing delays of up to 7 – 10 days experienced at Mombasa port (published).
- 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 5 – 7 days experienced at terminals, as a result of berth sequence. Terminal gate and road congestion is contributing to delays.
- Adani terminal has maintenance work on the quay over the next 2 years.
NORTH AMERICA
Air Freight
Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.
Sea Freight
CANADA
SACO and WWA LCL services ex Canada into South Africa are routed over European hubs.
Alternate string is available with routing over New York – should alternate routing be required, this must be advised at time of shipment booking, by the booking party.
Montreal
- Congestion delays of 5 days experienced at this port.
- All services calling Montreal are facing severe weather on the North Atlantic.
- Rail car supply is steady with average dwell time at 4.4days.
Vancouver
- Congestion delays of 4 days experienced at this port.
- Steady productivity and consistent rail cargo supply; however poor weather conditions and labour remains a concern.
USA
Carrier service has seen routing change on southbound service – after Freeport, vessels scheduled to call Tema and Tincan prior to Durban. Transshipments are not the norm for published vessel rotation. Severe winter storms continue to impact operations across several regions of the USA. As at Monday 2nd February, Ports of Virginia and South Carolina were impacted by winter storm closures, with Charlotte CFS and Greensboro CFS seeing closures and limited truck movement. Delayed cargo deliveries and pick ups, as well as delayed IPI (IDM) truck movements to be expected throughout various regions.
Terminals Updates:
NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY
- Average vessel waiting time in New York terminals is at 1 – 3 days.
- APM Terminals Elizabeth and Maher were closed Monday 26th January due to severe weather.
SAVANNAH
- Average vessel waiting time for Savanah terminals is 2 days.
LOS ANGELES/ LONG BEACH
- Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days for Los Angeles and 3 days for Long Beach.
SOUTH AMERICA
Air Freight
Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.
Sea Freight
ARGENTINA – Buenos Aires
- Berthing delays of 2 days. Terminals are working normally.
BRAZIL – Paranagua
- SACO service is loaded ex Santos CFS and containers are trucked to Paranagua for loading onto the east bound vessels. This is due to a change of the carrier rotation for service into South Africa.
- Congestion delays of 0 – 1 day in Paranagua. Some extended waiting times are being experienced due to poor weather conditions.
MEXICO
Altimera
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Altamira port.
- Terminals are working normally.
Veracruz
- Berthing delays of 3 days.
- Terminals are currently working normally, however cold fronts may impact operations and terminal will work on FIFO operations.
Manzanillo
- Berthing delays of 3 days.
- Port is working normally.
NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN.
Air Freight
Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.
Sea Freight
- Cold weather conditions continue across Europe. Terminals are operating as per normal schedules, however delays and congestion do remain.
- Vessel schedule integrity is erratic and port omissions being experienced and carriers transferring container bookings onto amended vessels.
- Extensive delays are being experienced on all NWC and Med services; with vessels being delayed due to severe winter storms in the Bay of Biscay in week 5.
- We will endeavour to maintain schedule integrity; however delayed loadings, schedule amendments, changes to port rotations and port omissions may be experienced. Vessel port rotations are subject to amendment and unscheduled transshipments may be experienced, as dictated by carriers and last minute scheduling changes.
- Reefer containers currently have priority due to fruit exports and the demand for reefer may result in carriers not accepting DG cargo on certain routes. Delays on the movement of DG cargo can be anticipated during this time
The below notification was received from received from Hapag Lloyd:
We kindly inform you about the current weather conditions are impacting all shipments.Due to ongoing extreme weather conditions in the Gulf of Biscay, nearly all services to and from Northern Europe are currently facing delays.
These conditions are expected to have a significant impact on vessel movements and port operations, which may result in delays to vessels. This also includes the Port of Tangier Med. Vessels are being diverted and are sheltering or waiting. In some cases, vessels already en route through the Biscay toward Asia (e.g. Al Nefud) have turned back to Northern Europe to take shelter. Even services or vessels not directly affected by conditions in the Biscay may still experience knock-on effects due to delayed vessels.
Maersk has published the latest update (Update 4):
Update 4 – the latest on Bay of Biscay and Western Mediterranean ports
After vessel crossings have resumed through the Bay of Biscay, and terminals have resumed operations, weather in the region has now deteriorated beyond initial expectations. This means that terminals are expected to close for longer than anticipated, and vessels will be leaving their berths for safety at the latest tonight, 3 February. This unfortunately also means that vessel schedules will be further delayed, again impacting operations in the Western Mediterranean, Northern Europe and beyond. Our teams are assessing the situation and the impact of longer than expected severe weather conditions.
BELGIUM
- Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Antwerp port.
- Yard utilisation is very high and AGW terminal sees cargo opening times now 6 days prior to vessel ETA.
FRANCE
- Berthing delays of 8 days experienced at Le Havre port.
- Yard utilisation is stable.
GERMANY
- Berthing delays of 8 days experienced at Hamburg and 2 days at Bremerhaven.
- High yard density is being experienced and. Severe winter weather will challenge terminals and vessel bunching is expected.
ITALY
- Terminals are congested with berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Genova and 3 days at La Spezia port.
- Container transshipment delays may be experienced at Las Palmas, Sines and / or Algeciras.
NETHERLANDS
- Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Rotterdam port.
SPAIN
- Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Barcelona port.
- Container transshipment delays may be experienced at Las Palmas, Sines and / or Algeciras.
TURKEY
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Istanbul port and 1 day at Izmir port.
- Container transshipment delays may be experienced at various hubs (Las Palmas, Algeciras).
UNITED KINGDOM
- Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at London Gateway port.
- Terminals and yard operations impacted by inclement weather; delays may be experienced.
- Pilot stations anticipate disruption due to inclement weather.
Transhipment Hubs
Due to deteriorating weather conditions in the Atlantic, the Tangier Port Authority has announced the temporary closure of Tanger Med Port to ensure the safety of vessels, crews, cargo, and port operations.
Closure details:
- Start: Feb 4th, 00:00 hrs (local time)
- End: Feb 5th, 17:00 hrs (local time)
- Duration: 41 hours
- Forecast: Wind gusts exceeding 120 km/h and a dangerous swell of up to 5 meters
Status of other regional ports:
- Algeciras Port, it will close today at 20:00 hrs, prospects to open on Thursday, 17:00hrs.
- Other nearby ports – including Casablanca, Lisbon, Leixões, and Vigo – remain open, with no official closures announced at this time.
MIDDLE EAST AND INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT
Air Freight
Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.
Sea Freight
INDIA
- Congestion delays of 2 days experienced at Nhava Sheva and 1 day at Chennai.
SRI LANKA
- Congestion delays of 1 day experienced at Colombo port.
- Delays for window berthing vessels for the next few weeks, as terminal is impacted by adverse weather conditions.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Jebel Ali.
UPDATE – UAE Advance Filing (MPCI)
The grace period for implementing Advance Filing (MPCI) expires 31 March 2026.
Effective 31 July 2025, the MPCI program requires advance submission of shipment information. Ocean carriers and freight forwarders may file from this date. No penalties or enforcement will apply during the grace period (until 31 March 2026).
Scope of Filing
- Shipping Lines:
- Direct Bill of Lading (non-consolidated shipments), or
- Master Bill of Lading (consolidated shipments)
- Freight Forwarders / NVOCCs:
- House Bills of Lading (HB/L) for consolidated shipments
Filing Options
- Shipping Lines: File directly with the National Advance Information Center (NAIC)
- Freight Forwarders / NVOCCs:
- File directly with NAIC or
- File via an NAIC-accredited service provider
The following are excluded from MPCI filing requirements:
- Export shipments from the UAE
- Non-containerized maritime cargo (breakbulk, liquid bulk, Ro-Ro, etc.)
- Wooden vessels (current implementation phase)
- Empty containers (SOC tanks with residue must be declared as filled)
- Crew’s personal effects
Primarily Bill of Lading data, including:
- Bill number, issue date, and location
- Ports (receipt, loading, transshipment, discharge, delivery)
- Container details and seal numbers
- Goods details and HS codes
- Parties involved (shipper, consignee, notify party, freight forwarders, agents)
- MPCI Party ID (unique identifier issued by NAIC)
Additional MPCI Party ID requirements:
- Shipping Lines must include the MPCI Party ID of the NVOCC or freight forwarder (for consolidated shipments)
- Master co-loader (NVOCC, if applicable) must include MPCI Party IDs of:
- Freight forwarders, and
- Shipping line
- Freight forwarders must include the MPCI Party ID of:
- Master co-loader (NVOCC, if applicable), or
- Shipping line
Other standard Bill of Lading information remains mandatory.
Registration – All shipping lines, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, and shipping agents must register with NAIC before filing:
https://naic.icp.gov.ae/portal/registration/landing. For more information, refer to NAIC’s FAQs and MPCI portal:
https://naic.icp.gov.ae/portal/mpci/info
ASIA PACIFIC (Including Oceania)
Air Freight
Operations are running smoothly with no significant delays.
Sea Freight
Ahead of Chinese New Year (17th to 3rd March) capacity is tightening out of the region. Blank sailings out of the region have been published by some carriers in weeks 7 and 9. Capacity is tightening with the carriers.
HONG KONG
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.
NANSHA / GUANGZHOU
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port. There is some congestion being experienced at Nansha.
NINGBO
- Berthing delay of 2 days experienced at this port.
QINGDAO
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. Some congestion is being experienced.
SHANGHAI
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. Some congestion is being experienced.
SHEKOU / SHENZHEN
- Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Shekou and 1 day at Yantian ports.
XIAMEN
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port.
XINGANG / TIANJIN
- Berthing delay of 3 days experienced at this port.
SINGAPORE
- Berthing delays of 1 day being experienced at this port
KOREA
- Berthing delays of 1 day (KRPUS) and 1 day (KRBNP – New Port) experienced at Busan port. Mega vessel bunching is creating some congestion at PNIT Terminal.
TAIWAN
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Kaohsiung and 2 days at Keelung ports.
THAILAND
- Berthing delay of 3 days experienced at Bangkok and 1 day at Laem Chabang ports.
NEWS ARTICLES
Exporters Consider Legal Action Amid Ongoing CTCT Delays
02/02/2026
South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry has intensified engagement with Transnet and is considering legal remedies over continued operational failures at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT). Industry body Hortgro cited sustained underperformance at the terminal, causing significant financial harm to exporters despite years of constructive engagement and recent equipment investments. Productivity at CTCT remains below 20 gross crane moves per hour, well under global benchmarks of 25–30.
Since the start of the 2025/26 export season, direct industry losses have exceeded R350 million, with exposure increasing daily as delayed vessels reach destination markets. By week two, export volumes were down 9% year to date, while inspection volumes rose 37%, leaving around 1,688 containers in cold storage and placing an estimated R1 billion in fruit inventory at risk.
To maintain market access, exporters have been forced to divert cargo at substantial cost, including a 140% rise in volumes via Port Elizabeth with additional transport costs exceeding R133 million, roughly 900 reefer containers routed through Durban, and about 1,200 containers via Walvis Bay. These diversions have added further costs related to trucking delays, cold storage, and quality claims, eroding margins and straining rural economies.
Hortgro attributes CTCT’s underperformance to five interlinked structural failures, including labour management, safety governance, equipment and infrastructure, operational processes, and communication and accountability. The industry argues that incremental fixes are no longer sufficient and is calling for a coordinated, expert-led turnaround with clear accountability and private-sector involvement, warning it cannot continue absorbing losses without a decisive and lasting improvement in port performance. Source
South African Ports Add New Mooring Units to Improve Vessel Efficiency
03/02/2026
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has acquired eight new hydraulic shore tension mooring units to improve vessel safety and operational efficiency at the ports of Cape Town, Durban and Ngqura. The investment forms part of TNPA’s broader port infrastructure development programme aimed at mitigating weather-related disruptions and supporting growth in containerised trade.
The new units are designed to securely moor larger, modern vessels, allowing safer and more productive cargo handling alongside berths, even during strong winds and heavy swells. Four units are already operational at the Port of Cape Town, while Durban and Ngqura have each received two units that are nearing full commissioning. This latest delivery brings the total received to 32 units out of a planned 52, with Cape Town allocated the largest share.
TNPA said the R534 million investment is expected to reduce vessel delays and improve turnaround times as container volumes continue to rise. From April to December 2025, container throughput reached approximately 3.4 million TEUs, 2.3% above budget, with volumes forecast to reach 4.5 million TEUs in the 2025/26 financial year, driven largely by agricultural exports. Source
South Africa and China Sign Framework to Deepen Trade and Investment Ties
06/02/2026
South Africa and China have signed a Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity (CAEPA), establishing a platform to strengthen bilateral economic relations. Signed by South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau and China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, the agreement sets the stage for an Early Harvest Agreement, targeted for completion by the end of March.
The follow-up agreement is expected to provide duty-free access for selected South African exports into China and encourage increased Chinese investment into South Africa. The CAEPA framework covers trade and investment cooperation, new energy collaboration and multilateral engagement, and is designed to align with World Trade Organization principles while supporting the development objectives of both countries.
Both governments aim to expand bilateral trade, with a focus on increasing South African agricultural and high-value manufactured exports to China. Current exports include products such as citrus and rooibos tea, while opportunities are also emerging in mining, renewable energy and technology. China has announced plans to send an inward buying mission to South Africa and has invited participation in major trade and investment events, including the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
South Africa remains a leading recipient of Chinese investment in Africa and is also the continent’s largest investor into China. Minister Tau said investment flows in both directions were increasing, including growing participation by Chinese automotive companies in South Africa. He added that the agreement would include safeguards to protect South Africa’s industrial capacity and provide a stable foundation for expanded trade and private-sector cooperation. 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
