Freight & Logistics Update 25 July 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  

Air Freight

Imports: Services running smoothly. No major delays encountered.

Road Freight

All SA borders seeing delays with Customs due to a high volume of e-filing. This is impacting truck movements and extended border hinderances are being experienced. 

Sea Freight

Durban Port

Bayhead Road Rehabilitation Project – June to December 2025

As advised by Transnet, the road closure for this project commenced on Tuesday 17th June. Transnet and carriers do caution that congestion may occur. Notification from Transnet on 17 July advises that a RTG has broken down in Pier 1, impacting Block F3 28-48. The machine blocks 79 import containers. Containers will be made available as soon as the machine has been moved out of the block. Storage extension will be calculated for the blocked containers only. 

Terminal operations are performing as normal, with no extraordinary delays or challenges. All IDMs are moving as scheduled.

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

 

Cape Town Port

Vessel berth delays may vary.

Port operations have been relatively smooth.

Seasonal, inclement weather and strong winds may impact port operations. Normal volumes of traffic and operations continue as per normal. IDMs are moving as scheduled. 

All IDMs are moving as scheduled.

• CTCT: 0-4 days waiting time – carrier service dependent.
• MPT: 0 days waiting time

 

Port Elizabeth

Both ports are operating smoothly, with no congestion or delays.

Seasonal, inclement weather and strong winds may impact port operations. CFS has normal volumes of traffic and operations continue as per normal. IDMs are moving as scheduled.

• PECT: 0 days waiting time.
• NCT: 0-1day waiting time – carrier service dependent..

 

AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS  

Air Freight

Imports: Airfreight import services running smoothly.

Exports:  

• Cargo into Senegal (DSS), Sierra Leone (FNA) & Cameroon (NSI) on ETHIOPIAN AIRLINE slight backlog on the connections ex ADD. 
• All consignments imported into Kenya must be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin (COO) issued by a competent authority in the exporting country, effective from July 1, 2025,

Sea Freight

Berthing delays

There are berthing delays across major ports in East and West Africa. For more detailed info please follow below link.

 

Indian Ocean Islands

In recent discussions with carriers, berthing windows in Port Louis are a challenge and if a vessel, for unexpected reasons, misses the allocated berthing window, the vessel may omit Port Louis and proceed directly to next port of call. This may impact overall transit times of containers, as unscheduled transshipments and extended transits will be the result.

 

East Africa

Carriers have advised that containers are seeing unscheduled transshipments as a result of capacity constraints and vessel scheduling. Therefore containers may be off-loaded at unscheduled ports and delays in overall transit times may be experienced. Mombasa and Dar Es Salaam are services most anticipated to be impacted.

 

ANGOLA

• Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Luanda port.
• Slight overall improvement on delays in Luanda from earlier in July, but an increase from June. 
• Container dwell time for import containers at 4 days and export containers at 3 days.

 

GHANA

• Berthing delay of 3 day experienced at Tema port.
• Carriers have advised that there is bunching of off-window vessels, which has resulted in the increase in berthing delays.
• There is also a backlog created after power outage in the terminals.

 

IVORY COAST

• Berthing delay of 3 days experienced at Abidjan port.
• Severe yard congestion resulting in slow operations and berthing delays.

 

KENYA

• Berthing delays of 2 to 3 days experienced at Mombasa port. This is expected to last for some weeks.

 

MAURITIUS

• Berthing delay of 5 days experienced at Port Louis.
• Strong winds and heavy swell conditions have impacted vessel operations.
• Port Reunion (Reunion) is seeing 5 days waiting time, with scheduled maintenance planned.
• Toamasina (Madagascar) berthing delays at 2 days.

 

MOZAMBIQUE

• Both ports of Beira and Maputo are clear, with slight delays of 1 to 3 days being experienced by some carriers. Generally operations are clear.

 

NAMIBIA

• Berthing delay of 6 days experienced at Walvis Bay port.
• Walvis Bay has seen an increase in vessel delays due to congestion. 
• Container dwell time for import containers is at 9 days and export containers at 6 days.

 

NIGERIA

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Apapa port and 5 days at Tincan.

 

TANZANIA

• Berthing delays of 1-2 days experienced at Dar es Salaam ports. Berthing sequence will impact waiting time.
• Terminal gate and road is congested, resulting in further equipment movement delays.
• Adani terminal is undergoing maintenance works at the quay for the next 2 years.

 

NORTH AMERICA   

Air Freight

Imports: Services running smoothly.

Sea Freight

Volatility on schedules has seen vessel cut off dates being amended at last minute, vessel schedule changes / phase out-phase in and omitted port calls continues to impact the US / SA rotation.

 

CANADA

Current Routing: 

Shipments from Canada to South Africa are currently being routed via European hubs, which are experiencing heavy congestion. This may lead to delays and longer transit times.

New Surcharge Introduced:
Due to low water levels in the St. Lawrence River, carriers have implemented a Low Water Surcharge, effective 15 July 2025.

• The Canadian Coast Guard has forecast further drops in water levels.
• Surcharge examples:

MSC: $150 per 20′ container, $300 per 40′/45′ container

Hapag-Lloyd: $150 per TEU from South Europe to Montreal

SACO Shipping: $6 per W/M or minimum for LCL cargo to/via Montreal

 

Montreal

• Berthing delays of 2 days experienced.
• Yard utilization is at 50% and vessel productivity remains high. Vessel schedules are improving on time performance.
• Rail car supply is improving and rail dwell time now at 3.3 days average.

Toronto

• Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at this port.

Vancouver

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at this port. Berthing delays are improving and some carriers reporting that vessels are berthing on time.
• Yard utilisation is steady at 84%, with production levels remaining high.
• Average import rail dwell time is 3.5 days, with steady rail production.

 

USA

Starting in October, the current vessel-sharing agreement between Maersk and MSC on the USA–South Africa trade lane will be dissolved.

• Maersk will continue offering service on this route in partnership with Hapag-Lloyd.
• MSC will operate independently, deploying its own vessels on the trade.

At this stage, no pricing details have been released by either carrier.

Terminals Updates:

NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY

• Average vessel waiting time in New York terminals is at 0-3 days.
• At APMT, the final new crane on the East berth is expected to be operational by end of August 2025.
• APMT New York is currently facing high demand for gate appointments and may be unable to accommodate all requests – particularly on vessel cut-off days. Customers are encouraged to deliver export cargo within the first few days after the terminal begins accepting freight for a specific vessel. This high demand, as well as frequent changes to published vessel times and cut-offs, is creating further delays and resulting in containers not being loaded.

NORFOLK

• Vessel waiting time at 1 day.
• Average import dwell time is 4.1 days.

CHARLESTON

• Average vessel waiting time for Charleston terminals is 3 days.

LOS ANGELES/ LONG BEACH

• Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days for Los Angeles and for Long Beach.
• Import dwell time for the port of Los Angeles is on average 3 days; while port of Long Beach is at 4-8 days.

 

SOUTH AMERICA  

Air Freight

Imports: Services running smoothly. No delays encountered.

Sea Freight

ARGENTINA – Buenos Aires

• Berthing delays of 1 day.
• Terminal operations have been impacted by fog and extended delays may occur.

BRAZIL – Santos

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Santos port.
• All terminals are working normally.

MEXICO

Altimera

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Altamira port.

Veracruz

• Berthing delays of 3 days.

Manzanillo

• Berthing delays of 4 days.
• Yard is severely congested and the terminal is working on a FIFO mode.

 

NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN.  

Air Freight

Imports: Services running smoothly.

Sea Freight

It’s reefer export season from South Africa to Europe, and for the next 4–5 weeks, shipping lines will prioritize reefer cargo over other types.

Booking Priority:

1. Reefer cargo – top priority
2. Dry/general cargo – accepted, but higher risk of rollovers
3. Hazardous cargo (DG) – very limited bookings, high chance of rollovers

• Mixed DG classes in one container will not be accepted.
• Consolidation containers with DG may face delays and restricted space.

 

Port Congestion Alert:

Congestion and delays continue across key European ports and transshipment hubs:

• Algeciras and Las Palmas
• Rotterdam, Antwerp, and London Gateway

Expect longer transit times, schedule changes, and delayed departures.

 

BELGIUM

• Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Antwerp port.

 

FRANCE

• Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Le Havre port.

 

GERMANY

• Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Hamburg and 6 days at Bremerhaven.

 

ITALY

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Genova and 1 day delay at La Spezia port.

 

NETHERLANDS

• Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Rotterdam port.

 

SPAIN

• Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Barcelona port.

 

TURKEY

• Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Istanbul port.
• Berthing delays of 4 days at Izmir port.

 

UNITED KINGDOM

• Berthing delays of 0- 2 days experienced at London Gateway port.

 

MIDDLE EAST AND INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT  

Air Freight

Air freight movements in and out of the Indian Sub-continent are running smoothly.

Airfreight services in the Middle East have resumed with some delays encountered.

Sea Freight

INDIA

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Nhava Sheva and 2 days at Chennai.

 

SRI LANKA

• Berthing delay of 2 days experienced at Colombo port.
• FCL containers transshipping in Colombo have expected delays of 1-2 weeks.

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Jebel Ali.

 

ISRAEL

• Berthing delays of 5 days at Ashdod port and 2 days at Haifa.

 

ASIA PACIFIC (Including Oceania)  

Air Freight

Imports: Services running smoothly. No delays encountered.

Sea Freight

There are currently space constraints out of the Far East – resulting in delayed bookings, longer transit times and regular rate increases.  Please visit the link for a full analysis on this. 

 

HONG KONG

• Berthing delay of 1 days experienced at this port.

 

NANSHA

• Berthing delays of 1 days experienced at this port.

 

NINGBO

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port. Vessel bunching continues to be experienced and varies by terminal.

 

QINGDAO

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

 

SHANGHAI

• Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at this port. Heavy vessel bunching and congestion being experienced.

 

SHEKOU / YANTIAN

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at both Shekou and Yantian ports.
• 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 0 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. Vessel bunching and congestion being experienced.
• Container transshipments through Singapore may see 1-2 weeks delay.
• However, LCL cargo moving through our Singapore hub is not experiencing any delays outside of carrier activity and cargo transshipment is moving timeously.

 

KOREA

• Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Busan port. Bunching of mega vessels experienced.

 

TAIWAN

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

 

THAILAND

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

 

NEWS ARTICLES  

Drivers Work Long Hours as Harbour Carriers Battle Booking System

17/07/2025

Truck drivers servicing the Port of Durban are working extended hours, with many citing persistent delays in the Navis booking system as a key factor affecting productivity and earnings. The system, used to allocate slots for container collections, has been criticised for ongoing technical problems, connectivity issues, and alleged misuse by some controllers who reportedly overbook slots for resale. These delays have created pressure throughout the logistics chain, impacting companies and drivers alike.

Operators report that many drivers are opting out of National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) regulations, which set standard working hours and require deductions for industry funds. Instead, drivers often work “on a production basis,” being paid per container moved. While this arrangement can yield up to R22,000 per month for handling around 100 containers, it often involves long hours, with some drivers working for up to three weeks at a stretch and taking minimal time off to maximise earnings.

Industry stakeholders continue to call for improvements to the Navis system, noting that slot booking delays can extend container movements to 18 hours or more per job. Complaints about inefficiencies and allegations of slot manipulation have been raised with Transnet over time, with little resolution. Investigations into the reported operational challenges and claims of corruption are ongoing, as the sector looks for solutions to reduce delays and ease the strain on carriers and drivers. Source

Throughput at Durban on Strong Upward Curve

14/07/2025 

Latest data from ocean cargo platform Linernet indicates a notable improvement in performance across South Africa’s ports, with Durban showing the most significant gains. Analytics consultancy Linernet reports that monthly berthing activity in 2025 has consistently exceeded 60 vessels, a marked increase compared to the previous two years. From March onwards, monthly figures climbed above 70 vessels, with April reaching the year’s highest count. February was the only month this year to dip below 60, while January and subsequent months have remained in the 60–80 vessel range.

Supporting this trend, data from the South African Association of Freight Forwarders’ weekly Cargo Movement Update highlights shorter waiting times, with container ships increasingly berthing on arrival. Average waiting times and idling delays are now well below levels recorded in 2023 and 2024, when congestion peaked towards the end of the year. This indicates faster turnaround by Transnet Port Terminals and greater operational stability at the Port of Durban.

In addition to improved berthing efficiency, Linernet notes an overall rise in vessel calls and a significant reduction in time spent at berth compared to the crisis period of late 2023. The stronger upward trajectory in container handling performance provides opportunities to analyse impacts across various shipping sub-sectors, signalling a positive shift for the broader logistics ecosystem. Source

Ghana Cracks Down on Shipping Fees

16/07/2025

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has ordered a comprehensive review of all shipping fees to ensure they receive proper parliamentary approval, addressing concerns over rising and unapproved charges that threaten the competitiveness of ports such as Tema and Takoradi. During a 11 July 2025 meeting with the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Mahama directed Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe and Attorney General Dominic Ayine to engage with shipping lines to secure compliance. The initiative is supported by importers, who believe it could eliminate duplicate fees and strengthen Ghana’s position as a leading West African trade gateway.

The directive coincides with the Ghana Shippers Authority’s probe into foreign exchange practices among shipping lines and seeks to bring transparency to port operations. Industry stakeholders predict that enforcing parliamentary ratification of fees could reduce import costs, ease inflation, and bolster port efficiency. Tema, which handles over 80% of the nation’s maritime trade, and Takoradi stand to benefit most, provided shipping lines and lawmakers cooperate in implementing the reforms. Source

Carriers Introduce Surcharges as Congestion Builds at African Ports

15/07/2025

Carriers are introducing congestion surcharges on shipments into several African ports as the region faces the ongoing effects of the 12-day Israel–Iran conflict, which prompted many services to avoid Red Sea transits. CMA CGM has announced a $500 per TEU surcharge on dry cargo from India to multiple West African ports, including Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, effective 1 August, while MSC will apply a $300 per TEU surcharge on all cargo from India, Pakistan, and the Middle East to Conakry, Guinea, from 28 July. Both carriers cite severe congestion and increased operating costs, with similar measures expected from other lines, including Hapag-Lloyd.

Port delays continue across the continent, with Kuehne + Nagel reporting “heavily disrupted” operations at Conakry and Abidjan, where average waiting times range from three to seven days, and delays of two to five days reported at ports in Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania, Algeria, and Morocco. According to regional freight experts, the conflict has worsened already strained operations, with vessels increasingly rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Industry stakeholders expect these conditions—and associated surcharges—to persist in the near to mid-term as carriers contend with ongoing congestion and elevated risks. Source

US Retailers Upgrade Import Forecast After Tariff Deadline Extended to 1 August

09/07/2025

US import volumes are projected to peak in July 2025, marking the highest levels in at least 18 months, as retailers move quickly to secure inventory ahead of upcoming reciprocal tariffs. The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates’ latest Global Port Tracker (GPT) forecasts 2.36 million TEUs for July, nearly 11% above June’s projection and slightly ahead of July 2024 volumes. This surge follows the Trump administration’s recent decision to extend the pause on new tariffs until August 1, allowing retailers to advance holiday season orders.

However, the boost is expected to be short-lived, with GPT predicting month-to-month declines through November. August imports are projected at 2.08 million TEUs, 10% below August 2024 levels, while September and October volumes are forecast to fall nearly 20% year on year. November imports are expected to reach 1.7 million TEUs, down 16.2% from the same period last year. Analysts warn that ongoing tariff uncertainty and geopolitical volatility are complicating supply chain planning, particularly for smaller retailers that lack capacity to absorb higher costs.

To adjust to shifting demand, carriers are already scaling back transpacific capacity, with planned reductions of 6.2% in tonnage deployed from Asia to the US West Coast in August compared with July. The NRF and Hackett stress that a stable and predictable trade environment is critical for efficient supply chain operations, as retailers continue to navigate fluctuating demand, evolving tariffs, and holiday-season planning. Source

Strong H1 Volumes, Space Crunch Keep Antwerp Terminals Under Pressure

16/07/2025

Marine terminals at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges are experiencing significant congestion, with first-half 2025 container volumes rising 3.7% year on year to 6.91 million TEUs. Growth in trade with the United States, up 17.2% to 16.4 million tons, has further tightened already limited landside capacity, resulting in longer dwell times and heavier operational strain. The port emphasized that its ECA (Extra Container Capacity Antwerp) project is central to ensuring it can continue to support sustainable growth in the future.

Port authorities cited several factors contributing to the bottlenecks, including irregular vessel arrivals, rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea, and reshuffled shipping alliances that have led to simultaneous calls and larger load sizes. Containers are remaining in terminals for an average of seven to eight days, up from the usual five, while high peak season demand and schedule unreliability complicate planning. These challenges have also required additional container handling, adding pressure to personnel and equipment.

Operational difficulties have been compounded by nationwide industrial action in Belgium, including a May 20 strike that halted vessel handling and another “day of action” on June 25. North European congestion continues to ripple across the global supply chain, with carriers diverting services from congested import gateways and delays at major transshipment hubs such as Singapore, where port visibility data showed 35 vessels waiting to berth as of July 13. Source

Hauliers Add Surcharge For Collections From Congested London Gateway

10/07/2025

Container haulage operators serving London Gateway in the UK have introduced a £150 surcharge on import collections due to persistent gate delays affecting operations in recent weeks. Reports from freight forwarders indicate that some hauliers are experiencing waits of over five hours, leading to missed follow-up jobs and reduced daily revenues. In response, DP World, operator of London Gateway, has suspended peak charges on its vehicle booking system for the first half of July as a goodwill gesture and extended booking tolerances, alongside implementing new traffic flow measures to ease congestion.

The disruption has been linked to a surge in intermodal demand following the introduction of Gemini Cooperation’s deepsea services earlier this year, which increased truck handling requirements at the port. A power outage on 26 June further exacerbated the situation by disabling some automatic stacking cranes, though port authorities report that repairs have been completed and landside operations are now back to normal. Despite this, capacity provided to shippers and forwarders has risen significantly, with total liner capacity at the port up nearly 50% year on year, though actual volumes remain below planned levels due to over 30 port call omissions in June.

According to eeSea data, London Gateway experienced 738,000 TEU in capacity losses tied to omissions in Q2, with an absolute loss of 603,000 TEU after accounting for inducement calls and delayed arrivals. By comparison, Antwerp’s omission-related losses were considerably lower despite facing strike-related disruptions and barge delays. Some carriers have responded by diverting calls to other UK ports, with Gemini’s TA5 service shifting to Felixstowe and Maersk and CMA CGM’s Neo Samba/Safran 1 service temporarily calling Southampton.

However, recent figures suggest performance improvements, with London Gateway’s average vessel on-time performance rising from 38% in May to 52% in June and average delays dropping from three days to two. Analysts note that ongoing adjustments, including schedule changes and omitted calls, could help restore reliability in the months ahead as the port continues with terminal expansion projects aimed at addressing long-term capacity challenges. Source

MSC Switches Two More Asia-Europe Port Calls From Congested Antwerp

19/07/2025

MSC has adjusted its Asia–North Europe network in response to ongoing congestion at the Port of Antwerp, Europe’s largest container hub. The carrier has shifted the eastbound call of its Swan service to Felixstowe, a change that also affects Premier Alliance partners ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming, which hold slot charters on the route. Additionally, MSC has removed an inbound Antwerp call from its Britannia service while retaining the outbound call, highlighting the flexibility in its network as it navigates operational pressures at key ports.

These changes come as Antwerp-Bruges reported a 3.9% year-on-year increase in container throughput to 6.71 million TEU for the first half of 2025, with substantial capacity moving to Zeebrugge, particularly from Ocean Alliance carriers like CMA CGM and COSCO. The adjustment underscores MSC’s evolving North European hub strategy, with potential for a dual-hub model between Felixstowe and Antwerp. Other service revisions include Nansha replacing Ningbo and Colombo replacing Mundra on the Britannia service, while MSC’s Lion service continues to maintain its two calls at Antwerp. 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