June 26th, 2025 – North European ports are expected to remain congested for months, with ongoing disruption caused by a combination of high terminal occupancy, labor strikes, late-arriving vessels, and inland transport delays. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe’s busiest, is facing full container yards and limited truck slot availability, with some ships waiting up to three days to berth. Similar issues are reported in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Rotterdam, where terminal utilization rates range from 80% to 85%.
Persistent strong demand has kept pressure on the ports. Container Trades Statistics (CTS) reported that 1.64 million TEUs moved westbound from Asia to Europe in April – a year-over-year increase of 8.6%. In the first four months of 2025, Asia-Europe volumes rose 9% to 6.13 million TEUs, with particularly sharp growth on the Asia–Mediterranean route.
Capacity reshuffling among major carrier alliances is also creating short-term operational challenges, as vessels now arrive at different times and terminals than before. Southern European ports are seeing increased congestion too, as importers rush to replenish low inventories ahead of the winter season, often rerouting cargo around the Cape of Good Hope due to Red Sea tensions.
Labor unrest is further compounding the situation. A nationwide strike in Belgium in May shut down vessel activity at Antwerp-Bruges, and more union action is scheduled. Sweden is also experiencing port strikes, with terminals like APM Gothenburg affected.
Despite a modest global improvement in vessel schedule reliability – from 51.4% in January to 58.7% in April, according to Sea-Intelligence – North Europe is still dealing with unpredictable cargo flows. A lack of transparency in the supply chain continues to frustrate logistics operators. Terminal operators often don’t know the next mode of transport for arriving containers, making it difficult to plan barge or truck movements efficiently.
The accumulation of these factors – congestion, strikes, shifting alliances, and weak supply chain visibility – means that relief for North European ports is unlikely in the short term. With no spare capacity in the system, even small disruptions have ripple effects, further delaying cargo and complicating planning across the logistics chain.
Trans-Border will continue to monitor the situation and advise customers accordingly. Should you have any questions, please send us an email or give us a call at 518-785-6000.
