Good Day Clients & Partners,
Please find below the Freight & Logistics Update 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
Globally: Air cargo volumes are predicted by IATA to rise by 5.8% year on year, supported by e-commerce and Red Sea-related demand.
Imports: All services running smoothly.
Exports: Services ex ZA are all running smoothly, no major delays experienced this week, rates remain stable.
Sea Freight
Imports:
- South African Ports continue to face congestions and delays primarily due to severe shortage of equipment and weather conditions.
- Port operations were plagued by unfavourable weather.
- Cape Town has also been identified as one of the ports most affected by climate change.
- Container bookings are still a huge problem. Transporters continue to voice frustrations over persistent inefficiencies in the booking process.
Exports:
- Minimal vessel departure delays experienced at Durban Port.
- Services running much smoother than previous quarter.
- Cape Town’s windy weather conditions are affecting vessel departure / stacks.
- Please note, that all local export surcharges (annual tariff increase) and transportation costs are set to increase as of the 01st of April 2025
Road Freight
Local: Services in full swing and running smoothly.
Port Updates
DURBAN
The port has experienced low wind speeds during the week. Appointment slots are constrained due to high volume of containers moving through Durban terminals.. All IDMs continue to move as scheduled.
- Pier 1 : 0-1 days delay
- Pier 2 : 0-1 days delay
- Durban Point : 3 days delay
CAPE TOWN
The port has experienced strong winds during the week. Normal volumes of traffic and operations continue as per normal. IDMs are moving as scheduled.
- CTCT : 2-4 days due to wind delays.
- MPT : 0 days delay with limited wind delays experienced.
PORT ELIZABETH
The port has experienced windy weather during the week. Normal volumes of traffic and operations continue as per normal. IDMs are moving as scheduled.
- PECT : 0 days delay however high swells expected. Terminal maintenance planned.
- NCT : 0 days delay however high swells expected.
AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
East African ports continue to experience congestion. Export scheduling to the region is erratic at present resulting in multiple changes to published schedules. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates accordingly.
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly.
Exports: All services running smoothly.
- Air France is no longer servicing: Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, Bamako Mali, N’djamena, Niamey. Cargo into Senegal on Ethiopian Airline has a +/- 2 week in advance booking due to capacity ex ADD-DSS.
- Kenya Airways have pulled all flights into Bangui – Central Africa Republic
Cross Trade – Air: Rates and availability are back to normal and services running well.
Sea Freight
Imports: Port congestions continue & erratic sailing schedule.
Exports: All services running smoothly, with no major delays.
Road Freight
- Local freight operating as normal – some minor delays have been experienced due to local heavy rains in Johannesburg.
- Road freight exports operating as normal. Borders to Botswana have mostly normalised after previous floodings at the Groblersbrug Border Post.
Port Updates
ANGOLA
- Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Luanda port.
GHANA
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Tema port.
IVORY COAST
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Abidjan port.
KENYA
- Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Mombasa port.
MAURITIUS
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Port Louis.
- Port Louis is also recovering from the low productivity & delays of Q4 last year & waiting time has reduced.
MOZAMBIQUE
- Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Maputo port.
NAMIBIA
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Walvis Bay port.
NIGERIA
- Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Apapa port. High levels of congestion continue to be experienced leading to long queues for offloading and collecting containers. Please expect a potential disruption to delivery schedules.
SENEGAL
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Dakar port.
TANZANIA
- Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Dar es Salaam port.
NORTH AMERICA
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly with minor delays during transhipment.
Exports: All services running smoothly. Rates are stable.
Sea Freight
Imports: Port congestions continue as a result of the strikes & erratic sailing schedule.
Exports: Services are running smoothly with minimal delays.
Port Updates
CANADA
MONTREAL
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port. Vessel productivity is strong, but winter navigation restrictions are now in full effect.
TORONTO
- Berthing delays of 8 days experienced at this port.
VANCOUVER
- Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at this port.
USA
Terminals Updates:
- NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days. New cranes have arrived at APMT and are currently being assembled and commissioned. High levels of congestion are being experienced. Port Liberty Bayonne and Port Liberty New York gates will be closed on February 17, 2025.
- NORFOLK– Vessel waiting time is up to 5 days. High stack volumes and continuous rain throughout the week are negatively impacting overall productivity.
- CHARLESTON – Vessel waiting time is up to 4 days.
- SAVANNAH – Vessel waiting time is up to 9 days. Fog continues to impact our vessel operations with many river closures creating a significant backlog. GPA continues to do everything in their power to clear this backlog, port expects to be back to normal in approximately 4 weeks.
- MIAMI – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days.
- HOUSTON – Vessel waiting time is up to 4 days.
- OAKLAND – Vessel waiting time is up to 3 days. OICT will be closed on February 10 and February 17, 2025, for President’s Day.
- LOS ANGELES/ LONG BEACH – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days.
- SEATTLE – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days. Washington United Terminal will be closed on February 17, 2025, for President’s Day.
Vessel Scheduling Amendments (information below is correct at time of weekly publication)::
- Nele Maersk – with voyage 502S will have a change in rotation and call Port Elizabeth ahead of Cape Town.
LATIN AMERICA
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly.
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Sea Freight
Imports: Vessel Scheduling Amendments (NB to note that these schedule amendments will impact both inbound and outbound cargo and container movements). Scheduling changes are announced by carriers with short notice.
Exports: All services running relatively smoothly.
Port Updates
ARGENTINA
- Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Buenos Aires port.
BRAZIL
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Santos port. Brasil terminal only working with 2 piers.
MEXICO
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Altamira and Veracruz ports, and 7 days at Manzanillo port.
- Veracruz port closed during the week due bad weather (strong winds & heavy swell) with a domino effect expected.
NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN
Air Freight
Imports: Services running smoothly.
Exports: All services running smoothly. No major delays experienced this week, rates remain stable.
Sea Freight
Imports:
- Vessel schedule delays continue to impact the region & extreme weather conditions delaying port operations.
- Ongoing strikes in Le Harve are expected to cause significant port operation delays.
Exports: Terminal delays experienced with exports into France. Considering the below port strikes, the situation will continue to be closely monitored.
Port Strikes in France:
- Restarted in January, the port conflict is intensifying.
- A new 48-hour work stoppage, accompanied by a dead port operation, is planned Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 February 2025 in all French ports.
- The FNPD/CGT union is maintaining scheduled work stoppages and added a 48-hour strike at the end of February. If the Government’s response is unfavourable, unions will reconvene on February 24 to decide on further actions.
English Channel: Extreme Weather conditions continue in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay, severely impacing vessel movement and port operations and might cause delays to South Africa bound vessels and vessels sailing North to Rotterdam/London. We will keep you informed if there are any significant deviations to the schedules.
Port Updates
BELGIUM
- Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Antwerp port. Terminal slightly impacted by fog this week but no major delays.
- On Thursday, February 13, the recognized trade unions in Belgium are calling on their members to participate in a national strike. Although this strike is not directly related to the organization and operations of the Port of Antwerp, minimal operational impact expected.
FRANCE
- Berthing delays of 7 days experienced at Le Havre port. CNMP/GMP/TNMSC: Strike actions continue for all French ports including Le Havre with 4 hrs. stoppages on 2 or 3 days per week. (This week 10 + 12 + 14/02). For WK08 another 4 hours announced for 18 + 20/02.
GERMANY
- Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Hamburg port and 1 day at Bremerhaven port.
ITALY
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Genova port and 2 days at La Spezia port.
NETHERLANDS
- Berthing delays of 7 days experienced at Rotterdam port.
- Delta II: Collective labour agreement under dispute between terminal operator and union. Terminal with strike actions and reduced number of moves for an unknown duration. Consequently, impact to operations cannot be ruled out however, vessels are still being handled.
SPAIN
- Berthing delay of 1 days experienced at Barcelona port.
- FCL containers transshipping in Algeciras have expected delays of 1-2 weeks due to port congestion.
SWEDEN
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Gothenburg port.
TURKEY
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Istanbul port.
UNITED KINGDOM
- Berthing delays of 7 days experienced at London Gateway port. Pilot station closure on last week Friday caused some disruption but resulted in no backlog.
Vessel Scheduling Amendments (information below is correct at time of weekly publication):
- Kalahari Express – with voyage 250N will omit Cape Town and sail to Europe from Durban. The Cape Town imports will discharge in Port Elizabeth (NCT) and load onto the Santa Clara.
INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & MIDDLE EAST
Air Freight
Imports:
- Services are running smoothly.
- In the Middle East however, airlines have suspended services to and from some countries/territories.
Exports: All services running smoothly. Rates are stable. No major delays experienced this week.
Sea Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly.
Exports: All services running relatively smoothly.
Port Updates
INDIA
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Nhava Sheva and Chennai ports.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Jebel Ali port.
SRI LANKA
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Colombo port. FCL containers transshipping in Colombo have expected delays of 1-2 weeks.
Vessel Scheduling Amendments (information below is correct at time of weekly publication)::
- Fayston Farms – with voyage 510N will be advanced due to berthing availability at Durban Container Terminal.
ASIA PACIFIC (Including Oceania)
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Sea Freight
Imports: Space constraints are anticipated after the Chinese New Year with blank sailings from week 6.Ports are currently facing congestions. The worse affected Ports includes Shanghai, Tokyo, Ningbo, Busan & Manila, although the lengths of delays varies by container line.
Exports: All services running relatively smoothly.
Port Updates
HONG KONG
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.
KOREA
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Busan port.
MALAYSIA
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Port Kelang.
- FCL containers transshipping in Tanjung Pelepas have expected delays of 1-2 weeks.
NANSHA
- No berthing delays experienced at this port.
NINGBO
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. Vessel bunching experienced. Berthing situation is different from terminal to terminal.
QINGDAO
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. Vessel bunching experienced.
SHANGHAI
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.
SHEKOU / YANTIAN
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Shekou port and 1 day at Yantian port.
XIAMEN
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port.
XINGANG
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.
SINGAPORE
- Berthing delay of 1 day being experienced at this port. FCL containers transshipping in Singapore have expected delays of 1-2 weeks.
TAIWAN
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Kaohsiung port.
THAILAND
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Bangkok port.
VIETNAM
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Ho Chi Minh port and 1 day at Hai Phong port.
NEWS ARTICLES
SA-US trade relations walk a tightrope
10/02/2025
The future of South Africa’s trade relations with the United States is uncertain following an executive order by President Donald Trump to halt foreign aid to the country. This move has sparked concerns over South Africa’s continued duty-free access to US markets under the African Growth & Opportunity Act (Agoa), which benefits 30 African nations. Business South Africa (Busa), the country’s leading business advocacy group, has expressed deep concern, noting that approximately a quarter of South Africa’s exports to the US—worth $3.6 billion in 2023—depend on Agoa. With the agreement up for renewal in September, the outlook remains uncertain, and Busa CEO Khulekani Mathe has warned that prospects are not promising. A high-level South African delegation is set to visit Washington in an attempt to salvage trade relations, despite growing signs of a potential breakdown.
Trump’s decision to cut aid is linked to South Africa’s recent foreign policy actions, including its legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the newly enacted Expropriation Act, which allows land expropriation without compensation. Trump condemned the legislation, alleging it targets Afrikaner farmers and constitutes human rights violations. Additionally, he announced that Afrikaners facing “unjust racial discrimination” would be eligible for refugee status in the US. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his recent State of the Nation Address, reaffirmed South Africa’s foreign policy stance, rejecting external pressure while maintaining the government’s support for Palestine. He also confirmed that a delegation would engage internationally to clarify South Africa’s position on these issues.
The US provided nearly $440 million in aid to South Africa in 2023, with $364 million allocated to health programs, particularly through the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar). Business Day reports that Trump’s executive order overrides a previous exemption that allowed parts of Pepfar funding to continue despite broader foreign aid freezes. Stavros Nicolaou, chair of the Pharmaceutical Task Group, warned that potential disruptions to NGO funding could severely impact South Africa’s HIV/Aids programs and put pressure on the healthcare system due to an influx of patients from neighboring countries. While South Africa does not rely on Pepfar for direct antiretroviral supply, the program funds salaries for over 15,000 health workers, making its potential loss a major concern.
The political fallout has sparked sharp reactions domestically. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen criticized Trump’s approach, arguing that while his party opposed certain ANC policies, punishing vulnerable communities and weakening the economy was not the solution. The DA announced plans to send its own delegation to Washington to advocate for the preservation of Agoa benefits and also launched a legal challenge against the Expropriation Act, citing risks to property rights and economic stability. Meanwhile, the ANC condemned Trump’s executive order as an attack on South Africa’s sovereignty, accusing the Afrikaans lobby group AfriForum of orchestrating misinformation to provoke US action. AfriForum, while critical of Ramaphosa’s policies, rejected Trump’s offer to relocate Afrikaners to the US, emphasizing that they should remain in South Africa. As tensions rise, diplomatic efforts in Washington will be crucial in determining the future of South Africa’s trade relations with the US. Source
Port of Rotterdam braces for more disruption as industrial dispute heats up
14/02/2025
The port of Rotterdam is facing continued disruption due to an ongoing dispute between labor unions and terminal operator Hutchison Ports’ Delta II Terminal. Workers from the FNV Havens and CNV unions initiated a two-day unplanned strike on Sunday, leading to delays of up to 48 hours. Maersk was forced to omit a scheduled call, while Kuehne + Nagel warned customers about significant slowdowns. Hutchison stated that the labor actions, which range from slowdowns to full strikes, are unpredictable and difficult to manage. The dispute, centered around concerns over port automation, has been ongoing since last year, with unions threatening further strikes until a resolution is reached.
A spokesperson for the port of Rotterdam emphasized that the disruption is isolated to the Delta II terminal, though the situation remains fluid. Talks between management and unions are ongoing, but the port authority maintains a neutral role, only facilitating sector-wide discussions. The spokesperson expressed optimism that a guarantee for severance pay could be issued soon, potentially resolving the dispute. However, sources suggest that the issues at Delta II are exacerbating broader congestion problems at the Dutch gateway. Terminals are reportedly at full capacity, and many are refusing to accept new containers unless equivalent volumes are moved out, adding to the logistical strain.
Inland shippers have also been severely impacted, with barge operators facing persistent delays. For years, delays of up to 24 hours have become standard due to inefficiencies and competition among partially filled barges vying for access. This week, Contargo reported delays of 76 hours at Rotterdam and 70 hours at Antwerp, while Kuehne + Nagel cited 72-hour delays for feeder vessels. The ongoing labor unrest is only compounding these long-standing inefficiencies, putting further pressure on Rotterdam’s already strained supply chain. Source
Maersk eyes ‘cut and run’ moves as port congestion brings delays
10/02/2025
Maersk has warned customers that increasing congestion in East Asia and Africa may force it to resort to “cut and run” tactics to maintain connections at transshipment ports. The carrier reported significant delays at the Kenyan port of Mombasa due to higher-than-expected yard density and equipment challenges, resulting in vessel berthing and departure disruptions. According to the eeSea database, Mombasa currently has 11 vessels in port and seven waiting, while Dar Es Salaam is facing even greater congestion with 20 vessels waiting to berth. Additionally, Maersk noted arrival delays from Far East Asia due to long waiting times at Shanghai, Ningbo, and Singapore; however, both Maersk and PSA Singapore later clarified that Singapore was mistakenly included in this advisory and removed it from their website.
These delays have led to schedule adjustments for Maersk’s Mashariki and Mawingu services, which connect key Asian ports to Mombasa and other African destinations. The carrier warned that estimated times of arrival (ETAs) may continue to shift, and in some cases, vessels may be unable to accommodate all scheduled containers, leading to last-minute changes. Customers were asked to remain patient as Maersk works to prioritize affected shipments. According to Xeneta’s chief analyst, Peter Sand, increased reliance on intra-regional transshipment services—partly due to Suez Canal diversions—has contributed to massive congestion, with Singapore at the center of the disruption. As congestion worsens, Maersk and other carriers are turning to alternative ports such as Tanjung Pelepas and Port Klang, though this has driven up rates for shippers looking to reroute their cargo.
Meanwhile, additional congestion challenges persist in South Asia, particularly at Chittagong, where a haulier strike in Bangladesh further disrupted port operations. The eeSea database reported 11 vessels in port and 13 waiting to berth at Chittagong, while nearby Colombo, a key transshipment hub for Bangladesh-bound cargo, also faces delays with 10 vessels in port and 11 waiting. Though the strike ended on Friday, backlogs remain, and ports are working to clear the accumulated congestion. As global shipping routes continue to face logistical disruptions, shippers must brace for ongoing schedule changes and potential cost increases due to shifting carrier strategies. Source
Red Sea ‘peace’ at risk because of mounting tension in Israel
10/02/2025
Maritime trade experts predict that shipping traffic in the Red Sea could normalize by the second quarter of 2025, provided that peace is maintained in the region. However, tensions in the Middle East are rising due to threats from the United States and Israel. President Donald Trump has warned Hamas to release all hostages taken on October 7, 2023, or risk renewed military intervention, potentially with increased American involvement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has echoed this warning, stating that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) will return to Gaza if hostages are not released, despite the existing ceasefire agreement requiring their gradual release.
As an uneasy peace holds in the Red Sea, Yemen’s Houthi movement has threatened to resume attacks on maritime traffic and Israeli targets if the IDF renews its operations in Gaza. The Houthis, who control significant territory in Yemen under the banner of Ansar Allah, have linked their ceasefire to Israel’s adherence to the truce with Hamas. A spokesperson for the group stated that they would retaliate against Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom if hostilities resumed, warning that any airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas would prompt a swift and decisive response. Despite their pledge to avoid targeting non-Israeli vessels, skepticism remains due to past incidents of misdirected attacks and misinformation.
The continued uncertainty has disrupted shipping through the Red Sea, with traffic through the Bab el Mandeb Strait yet to return to pre-conflict levels. The Houthis had previously threatened to target vessels bound for Israel from the Mediterranean and those supplying the country if an offensive on Rafah occurred. While attacks have temporarily ceased, concerns persist that renewed conflict in Gaza or military strikes on Yemen could reignite hostilities. With the situation remaining highly volatile, global trade routes remain at risk, and the possibility of further escalation looms. 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
