Freight & Logistics Update 27 March 2025

SOUTH AFRICA

There is a possibility that due to geopolitical risks internationally, we could foresee a fluctuation in freight rates in the upcoming months.

Air Freight

Globally: Air cargo volumes are predicted to rise by 5.8% year on year (IATA) , 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.
British Airways has a backlog out of JNB – most shipments are trucked to Cape Town for departure, +/- 5 day in advance booking required.

Sea Freight

Imports:

South African Ports continue to face congestions and delays primarily due to severe shortage of equipment and weather conditions.
Port Operations have recently been 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 / stack dates.
Please note: 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.

Exports: Services running smoothly with borders operating as normal
DRC Remains open as unrest hasn’t yet effected the southern regions serviced via road, though we remain in communication with our road freight teams servicing the area as the situation progresses. Source

Port Updates

DURBAN

The port has experienced windy weather during the week. Appointment slots are constrained due to high volume of containers moving through Durban terminals.

Pier 1 : 0-2 days delay
Pier 2 : 0-1 days delay
Durban Point : 3 days delay

CAPE TOWN

The port has experienced windy weather during the week. Normal volumes of traffic and operations continue as per normal. IDMs are moving as scheduled.

CTCT : 5-8 days with intermittent wind experienced.
MPT : 3 days with intermittent wind experienced.

PORT ELIZABETH

The port has experienced windy weather during the week.

PECT : 0-1 days delay
NCT : 0 days delay – expected to increase to 0-2 days in week 12.

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 are experiencing major delays connecting via NBO, due to reduced capacity ex NBO – JNB Airport, expect a 7–10-day delay on these flights. Currently there is a backlog of roughly 20tons of cargo, with perishable cargo and AOG cargo taking preference for space.
Ethiopian airlines has a huge backlog ex Addis Ababa to DSS and BKO +/- 1 week delay due to passenger baggage.

Cross Trade:

Routes from Nacala / Pemba have been washed away
We have been advised by some sources that Pemba is currently unreachable.
We continue to monitor the situation and will keep you updated.

Sea Freight

Imports: Port congestions continue & erratic sailing schedule.

Exports: Port Louis – Cyclone Garance has struck Mauritius forcing the closure of Port Louis.

Majority Indian Ocean Island , Australia and New Zealand cargo will be routed via Hambantota, Sri Lanka, there after proceeding to Port Louis by Mid-March. Please expect vessel 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

East African ports continue to experience congestion. Export scheduling to the region is erratic at present resulting in multiple changes to published schedules.

ANGOLA

Berthing delays of 7 days experienced at Luanda port.

GHANA

Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Tema port.

IVORY COAST

Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Abidjan port.

KENYA

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Mombasa port.

MAURITIUS

Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Port Louis.

MOZAMBIQUE

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Maputo port.

NAMIBIA

Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Walvis Bay port.

NIGERIA

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Apapa port. High levels of congestion continue to be experienced.

SENEGAL

Berthing delay of 1 day 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 2 days experienced at this port. Vessel productivity is strong and winter navigation restrictions are slowly being lifted as the weather continues to improve.

TORONTO

Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at this port.

VANCOUVER

Berthing delays of 8 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. While berth space remains limited, the upgrades will allow two vessels to be worked simultaneously. APMT New York is facing high demand for gate appointments and may not be able to accommodate all requests, especially on the cut-off day.
NORFOLK– Vessel waiting time is up to 3 days.
CHARLESTON – Vessel waiting time is up to 4 days. Substantial completion of the toe wall project has been reached and only one minor item remains. Berth deepening started on March 13,2025, restricting Wando Welch Terminal to two berths causing some schedule disruptions.
SAVANNAH – Vessel waiting time is up to 5 days.
MIAMI – Vessel waiting time is up to 4 days.
HOUSTON – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days.
OAKLAND – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days. TRAPAC restricted to 1 crane on berth 30 until further notice. OICT has 2 cranes out of order.
LOS ANGELES/ LONG BEACH – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days.
SEATTLE – Vessel waiting time is up to 6 days.

Vessel Scheduling Amendments (information below is correct at time of weekly publication):

Maersk Vallvik – with voyage 509N will perform discharge at call at CTMPT and load call will remain at CTCT.

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 3 days experienced at Buenos Aires port.

BRAZIL

Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Santos port. Brasil terminal continues to work with 2 piers.

MEXICO

Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Altamira port, 4 days and Veracruz port, and 2 days at Manzanillo port.

NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN

Collision in North Sea

On Monday 10th at 10am A US-chartered oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, was anchored in the North Sea about 13 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, when it was struck by a container ship, the Solong. Ongoing investigations are underway as to exactly what happened. Further articles:

Strikes in Italy

Scheduled from 16 to 19 March
Impact to air and rail cargo and delays anticipated

Strikes in France

Operation « dead port » 18 March
72 hours of work stoppage 18-19-20 March
4 hours of work stoppage 24-26-28 March
Having started in January, this strike is strongly impacting maritim activity. Many vessels are delayed, creating congestion to the French ports (extending to Antwerp and Rotterdam too). These impacts generate additionnal costs (detention and demurrage).

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 port strikes, the situation will continue to be closely monitored.

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

Vessel schedule delays continue to impact the region. Amended port rotations and port omissions on the carrier services, as well as vessel changes, cascading / rolled schedules and blank sailings may result in amended LCL cargo loading schedules.

BELGIUM

Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Antwerp port.

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 hours of stoppages on 2 or 3 days per week. For WK12 72 hours strike action has been announced on 18/19/20.03. Apart from the strike actions no operational challenges to report.

GERMANY

Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Hamburg port and 1 day at Bremerhaven port.

ITALY

Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Genova port and 3 days at La Spezia port.

NETHERLANDS

Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Rotterdam port.

SPAIN

Berthing delays of 3 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 4 days experienced at Istanbul port.

UNITED KINGDOM

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at London Gateway port.

Vessel Scheduling Amendments (nformation below is correct at time of weekly publication)::

Santa Rita – with voyage 250N will do a northbound call at NCT after Durban. Vessel will be omitting Cape Town. Imports for Cape Town will discharge in Durban and connect to the Mehuin.

INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & MIDDLE EAST

There is still a risk of the continuation of the Red Sea crisis much further into 2025.

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 Chennai port and 1 day at Nhava Sheva port.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Jebel Ali port.

SRI LANKA

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

ASIA PACIFIC (Including Oceania)

Air Freight

Exports: All services running smoothly.

Sea Freight

Imports:

Singapore is still facing congestion due to space constraint caused by vessel delays from S.A. and Far East ports from various shipping lines, please factor in a +/- 2-week delay.
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: Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecasted to make landfall as a Category 2 cyclone between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast later this week.

As a precaution, Brisbane Ports and Brisbane CFS Depots are closed. The timeline for reopening will depend on the cyclone’s impact, and we anticipate service disruptions possibly through to early next week.

Port Updates

HONG KONG

Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.

KOREA

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

MALAYSIA

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Port Kelang. FCL containers transshipping in Tanjung Pelepas have expected delays of 1-2 weeks.

NANSHA

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port.

NINGBO

Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port. Vessel bunching experienced. Berth situation differs from terminal to terminal.

QINGDAO

Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port. Vessel bunching experienced.

SHANGHAI

Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. Vessel bunching experienced.

SHEKOU / YANTIAN

Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Shekou and Yantian ports.

XIAMEN

Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port.

XINGANG

Berthing delays of 6 days 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 delay of 1 day experienced at Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong ports.

NEWS ARTICLES

Global shipping crisis deepens as Red Sea becomes no-go zone

18/03/2025

The security situation in the Red Sea has deteriorated, prompting most of the global merchant fleet to avoid the region indefinitely. Following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations, Israel intensified airstrikes on Gaza, triggering a stronger maritime stance from the Houthis in Yemen. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has vowed to target U.S. vessels in retaliation for American strikes on Yemen. In response, Houthi rebels have launched multiple attacks on U.S. naval assets, while also resuming assaults on Israeli-linked ships due to humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Analysts warn that escalating U.S. airstrikes will likely provoke further Houthi aggression, increasing risks to all vessels in the area.

The Red Sea crisis has led to significant disruptions in global shipping. Data shows a rise in ship diversions, with 90% of containership traffic avoiding the region compared to 2023 levels. Dry bulk, crude, and product tanker diversions have also increased, while LNG and LPG shipments continue bypassing the area. The crisis has severely impacted the Egyptian economy, as the Suez Canal Authority experiences a steep decline in revenue. With tensions escalating, the European Union has extended its maritime security operation, EUNAVFOR Aspides, through early 2026, allocating over €17 million to uphold freedom of navigation.

The uncertainty surrounding maritime security has far-reaching implications for global trade. Major shipping companies, including Maersk, are bracing for financial losses, with earnings projections for 2025 ranging from zero to $3 billion, depending on when the Red Sea corridor reopens. Analysts suggest that further geopolitical escalation, particularly linking Houthi attacks to Iran, could extend disruptions to other key maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. As the crisis unfolds, shipping companies and global markets remain on edge, awaiting resolution. Source

Botswana backlogging – four days minimum to get through Kopfontein

26/03/2025

Truck drivers are facing an average four-day wait at South Africa’s Kopfontein Border Post into Botswana due to severe congestion caused by the closure of Groblersbrug Border Post after the Limpopo River flooded. This bottleneck has left long-distance drivers stranded without emergency amenities such as food, water, or sanitation. Mike Fitzmaurice of the African Union’s Organisation for Transport and Logistics called the situation inhumane and unacceptable, criticizing authorities for failing to provide assistance. Short-haul drivers heading to Gaborone are also severely affected, with queues stretching up to 10 kilometers. Stephen Segal of Value Logistics stated that their shipments to Botswana’s capital are significantly delayed, adding that rigid cargo scanning at Tlokweng Border Control further compounds the issue.

While authorities claim repairs at Groblersbrug are progressing, with a tentative reopening date of March 27, many in the industry remain skeptical. A fuel tanker operator delivering to the Democratic Republic of the Congo expressed doubts, citing past inconsistencies in border reopening announcements. Alternative routes through Zimbabwe remain costly and inefficient due to high border fees, poor road conditions, and frequent inspections for smuggled goods. Segal noted that the financial strain of extended border delays is substantial, yet companies are absorbing the costs rather than passing them on to clients. The Border Management Authority has yet to comment on measures to ease the crisis. Source

Flights Resume at Heathrow After Fire Forced Its Closure

21/03/2025

London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest air hubs, was forced to shut down early Friday due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, disrupting global travel. The outage, deemed “unprecedented” by Heathrow’s chief executive, led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights and raised concerns about the airport’s infrastructure. While authorities have found no immediate signs of foul play, counterterrorism specialists are leading the investigation due to the significant impact on critical national infrastructure.

Operations began resuming late Friday, with British Airways and United Airlines among the first to restore limited flights. However, delays are expected to persist through the weekend as airlines scramble to manage diverted flights and stranded passengers. The National Grid has reconfigured its network to provide temporary power, but the incident has highlighted Heathrow’s reliance on a single power source, prompting scrutiny over its resilience.

The shutdown caused a ripple effect across global travel, with flights rerouted to airports in the UK, Europe, and even Canada. At Heathrow, terminals remained eerily empty, with escalators frozen and departure screens blank. Meanwhile, airlines and logistics companies brace for ongoing disruptions, as the airport works to restore full operations and address critical infrastructure concerns. Source

U.S. Tariffs Spark Global Trade Tensions

13/03/2025

The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, prompting Canada and the EU to retaliate with billions in tariffs on U.S. goods, raising fears of a trade war. President Trump also threatened a 200% tariff on EU alcohol unless the bloc removes its 50% tariff on U.S. whiskey.

Understanding Tariffs Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, often passed on to consumers. The U.S. has historically imposed lower tariffs than other countries, but Trump’s aggressive stance could drive up prices globally.

Trump’s Trade Strategy Trump argues tariffs will boost U.S. manufacturing, reduce trade deficits, and curb illegal trade activities. However, economists warn of economic turbulence, and U.S. stock markets reacted negatively.

Impact on Steel & Aluminum Trade The 25% tariffs took effect on March 12. Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, top U.S. steel suppliers, face higher costs. Canada, the primary aluminum supplier, initially faced a tariff hike, but this was reversed after suspending retaliatory energy surcharges.

Global Reactions Canada imposed a 25% tariff on C$29.8bn of U.S. goods, including steel, sports equipment, and computers. The EU targeted €26bn worth of U.S. goods, including steel, bourbon, and motorcycles. The UK, exporting steel and pharmaceuticals, is taking a “pragmatic approach.”

Tariffs on Canada & Mexico The U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on select Canadian and Mexican goods starting March 4, exempting cars meeting USMCA rules. Canada planned to retaliate with C$30bn in tariffs but delayed further action after exemptions. Mexico deployed troops to curb smuggling and welcomed U.S. concessions on car tariffs.

China-U.S. Trade Dispute The U.S. imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese goods on February 4, doubling to 20% in March. China retaliated with 10-15% tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and sanctions on American firms. Beijing warned of further escalation if tensions persist.

Economic Impact Steel and aluminum prices in the U.S. rose by 2.4% and 1.6% during Trump’s first tariff wave. Washing machine tariffs from 2018-2023 led to a 34% price hike. The U.S. has yet to announce specific EU or UK tariffs, but Trump hinted at further actions soon. Source

South Africa to host harbour masters’ conference

26/03/2025

South Africa will host the second African Harbour Masters’ Committee (AHMC) Conference from April 2-4 in Cape Town, bringing together around 200 industry leaders from at least 20 countries. Under the theme Navigating the Future: Sustainable Port Management in Africa, the event will focus on improving port performance, climate change, sustainability, handling dangerous cargo, and skills development. The AHMC, a chapter of the International Harbour Masters’ Association, facilitates knowledge-sharing among African harbour masters to enhance maritime port operations. AHMC President Thulani Dubeko emphasized the committee’s role in advancing the African Union’s 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy to promote environmental and economic progress.

The conference is supported by key partners, including the Port Management Associations of East, Southern, West, and Central Africa. Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Chief Executive Phyllis Difeto reaffirmed TNPA’s commitment to developing and transforming the maritime sector, highlighting the importance of trade facilitation and safe port operations. Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa is set to deliver the opening address on April 2. The event serves as a vital platform for industry leaders to collaborate on sustainable solutions for Africa’s maritime future. Source

First results being seen from Singapore – Rotterdam green corridor

26/03/2025

The ports of Rotterdam and Singapore have strengthened their partnership through a cooperation agreement to advance decarbonisation and digitalisation efforts under the Rotterdam-Singapore Green & Digital Shipping Corridor, established in 2022. With 28 partners involved, the initiative focuses on implementing alternative fuels and digital solutions to enhance efficiency along the 15,000 km route between Europe and Asia. Port of Rotterdam CEO Boudewijn Siemons emphasized that closer collaboration with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) enables greater progress than working independently. MPA Chief Executive Teo Eng Dih highlighted the success of public-private partnerships in transforming sustainability initiatives from concept to execution. The ports’ teams meet regularly, and their work on digital standardisation, such as optimising just-in-time arrivals through unified data definitions, is now showing results.

In March 2025, the first phase of global standard trials and digital solutions began, with further testing scheduled for later in the year. Both ports have already started bunkering methanol, aligning their procedures to improve safety. The next phase will explore the feasibility of bio-methane, methanol, and ammonia bunkering to support cleaner fuel adoption along the corridor. Additionally, the ports aim to develop financial instruments to address cost challenges associated with low- and near-zero-emission fuels, ensuring the long-term viability of sustainable shipping solutions. Source

Container volumes trending upwards

14/03/2025

Global container volumes continue to rise, with January 2025 recording 15.4 million TEUs, a 5.8% year-on-year increase, according to Container Trade Statistics (CTS). Adjusted for nautical distance, global TEU miles grew 8.1%, reflecting genuine demand rather than rerouting effects from the Red Sea crisis. Head-haul container trade saw a strong 12.9% increase, though analysts caution that shifting Chinese New Year timing may affect the data. Utilisation trends provide additional insights, with Asia-Europe experiencing an early decline in January, contributing to falling spot rates, while Asia-North America saw stronger utilisation and more stable rates. In contrast, Europe-North America witnessed a sharp drop in utilisation without a significant decline in spot rates—at least for now. Source

Construction at £1bn London Gateway expansion to start in May

21/03/2025

DP World will begin expanding its London Gateway terminal in May, a four-year project that will add two 400-meter all-electric berths, making it the UK’s largest container port. This follows the completion of berth four last year, which increased capacity by a third. The expansion will also include a second rail terminal to shift cargo from road to rail, improving efficiency and reducing emissions. As part of the Thames Freeport, the upgraded terminal will accommodate six of the world’s largest container ships, serviced by Europe’s tallest quay cranes.

DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem highlighted the investment’s role in strengthening UK trade, supporting businesses, and enhancing supply chain resilience. The company has invested over £5 billion in its UK operations, creating more than 5,500 jobs. Additionally, DP World has committed £60 million for new quay cranes at its Southampton terminal, set to arrive in mid-2026. To support the London Gateway expansion, DP World has secured an agreement with the Gemini Co-operation for its Asia-Europe and Middle East-Europe services, with the first vessel already calling at the port. Despite an 8.3% increase in container volumes in 2024, DP World reported a decline in profit due to broader market conditions. Source

SOURCES & REFERENCES

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

Freight & Logistics Update 27 March 2025

SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS

NORTH AMERICA

LATIN AMERICA

NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN

INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & MIDDLE EAST

ASIA PACIFIC (Including Oceania)

SOURCES & REFERENCES

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

CONTACT INFORMATION

FOLLOW US

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CONTACT INFORMATION

FOLLOW US

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES