Typhoons disrupt global container shipping, causing record delays

Global container shipping is experiencing severe disruptions, with punctuality hitting a low of 56.4% in July 2026, the worst performance since February 2025. The average delay for vessels has also climbed to 6.06 days, a figure not seen since January 2024. This widespread delay is not solely due to ships waiting to enter ports but reflects a significant loss of capacity across the entire network, impacting all major carriers.

Recent typhoons, including Bavi, Dolphin I, and Saudel, have exacerbated congestion in key Chinese ports like Shanghai and Ningbo. Hapag-Lloyd reported extended waiting times, with vessels serving the Gemini service facing five to seven days of delay in Shanghai's Yangshan terminals, and even longer for smaller ships or those outside the Gemini service. The company also warned of potential port closures due to Typhoon Saudel.

Compounding these issues, the Middle East, a critical transshipment point, has been significantly impacted by geopolitical events. The port of Jebel Ali, once a top global hub, has plummeted in rankings, with its throughput dropping by over 59% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year. This drastic reduction in capacity from a vital node has sent shockwaves through the supply chain.

Armators are rerouting the displaced cargo to alternative, already overloaded ports. This structural shift in cargo flow is identified as the primary cause of unprecedented congestion at quayside and operational paralysis observed in other key hubs. While overall global cargo volume might nominally increase, the disappearance of critical network nodes and the resulting bottlenecks mean the entire supply chain is being fundamentally broken.