Prime Freight’s summary of an April 2021 report by The Loadstar. Read the original for the full story.
In April 2021 The Loadstar reported that the after-effects of the Suez Canal blockage were likely to disrupt North European supply chains until June.
To get ships back to Asia quickly, carriers were landing Asian imports at whichever European port could take them and prioritising empty containers for China, often leaving export cargo behind on the quay. Many importers learned that their cargo had been discharged at the wrong port, with no date for onward shipment. Carriers and feeder operators said there was no spare tonnage to relay the boxes, feeder voyages planned at ten days were taking 14 to 16, and charter owners were demanding longer, costlier fixtures. Contargo reported barges waiting an average of 34 hours at Rotterdam and 41 at Antwerp.
Sea-Intelligence expected the hit to Asia–North Europe capacity to be over by week 22, after nine weeks of disruption, and carriers’ focus on fast turnarounds meant schedules could recover sooner than if ships had waited at anchor.
What it meant for shippers
When cargo is discharged at a port other than the one booked, moving it on can take weeks and add cost. During major disruptions, confirming the actual discharge port before arrival and agreeing who pays for onward transport avoid disputes and storage charges.