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Global Port Congestion Is “Erasing” 1.7 Million TEU of Capacity

Global port congestion is removing 1.7 million TEU of effective shipping capacity. Discover how port delays, vessel disruptions and global logistics bottlenecks are impacting freight rates, supply chains and international trade. MAQUA GROUP provides insights into global shipping and logistics trends.

MAQUA GROUP

8/19/20264 min read

Stacked orange shipping containers against a deep blue sky in Neu-Ulm

a large cargo ship in the middle of the ocean

GLOBAL PORT CONGESTION IS “ERASING” 1.7 MILLION TEU OF SHIPPING CAPACITY

Global port congestion is effectively taking around 1.7 million TEU of container capacity out of the market — almost the size of an entire major shipping line’s fleet. As delays increase and vessel turnaround times deteriorate, the real challenge is no longer simply a shortage of ships, but the inability to operate existing capacity efficiently.

THE GLOBAL SHIPPING MARKET HAS MORE SHIPS — BUT LESS EFFECTIVE CAPACITY

A new analysis from Sea-Intelligence highlights a major issue affecting global container shipping: port congestion is increasingly reducing the amount of capacity that can actually be used.

Around 5% of the global container fleet, equivalent to approximately 1.7 million TEU, is currently being absorbed by vessel delays and port congestion.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, this figure was approximately 2.2%.

The difference is significant.

It means that a substantial amount of nominal shipping capacity exists on paper, but is not operating efficiently in the real market.

And this is one of the reasons why freight rates can remain under pressure even while shipping lines continue to receive new vessels.

DELAYS ARE GETTING LONGER

The problem is not only the number of delayed vessels.

It is also the length of those delays.

Historically, a delayed vessel might lose around 3–4 days from its schedule.

Today, delays of approximately 5–5.5 days have become increasingly common in affected areas.

This creates a domino effect throughout the shipping network:

Port congestion → vessel delay → missed schedules → slower container turnaround → equipment shortages → further congestion.

A delay involving one vessel can therefore affect multiple voyages and ports across an entire service network.

WHY ARE SHIPPING LINES STILL TALKING ABOUT CAPACITY PRESSURE?

At first glance, this seems contradictory.

Over the past several years, shipping lines have placed large numbers of new vessels into service.

So why does the market still experience periods of tight capacity?

Because ships only create capacity when they can operate efficiently.

A vessel must be able to:

Arrive at the port on schedule
Load and discharge efficiently
Depart on time
Complete its voyage
Return within its planned rotation

When congestion increases, the entire vessel rotation becomes longer.

The result is simple:

More ships do not automatically mean more effective capacity.

Sea-Intelligence estimates that even after excluding a certain level of “normal” operational delays, around 1 million TEU of additional capacity may still be effectively lost due to congestion.

That is a critical distinction.

The market may have enough ships — but not enough efficiently operating ships.

RED SEA, PANAMA CANAL AND PORT BOTTLENECKS ARE ADDING PRESSURE

Global shipping congestion is not caused by a single problem.

It is the result of several disruptions happening simultaneously.

Severe weather can temporarily disrupt major Chinese ports.

Restrictions and operating conditions around the Panama Canal have affected vessel movements.

Security risks in the Red Sea continue to influence shipping routes and vessel deployment.

Meanwhile, congestion at several European and North American ports continues to put pressure on the wider logistics network.

When vessels are forced to take longer routes or spend additional time waiting at ports, their entire rotation becomes less efficient.

And when this happens across thousands of vessels, the impact becomes a global capacity issue.

MAERSK: CONGESTION MAY MATTER MORE THAN NEW VESSEL SUPPLY

Another important signal comes from Maersk.

The company has highlighted the growing impact of congestion and disruption across global supply chains, particularly as strong demand from Asia has created significant cargo flows and increased pressure on ports and inland transportation networks.

This leads to an important conclusion:

Global shipping capacity cannot be measured simply by counting the number of vessels.

The real question is:

How much capacity can actually be deployed efficiently?

If vessels cannot maintain their schedules and rotations, part of their theoretical capacity effectively disappears from the market.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS?

From MAQUA GROUP’s perspective, this is where businesses need to look beyond the headline freight rate.

In a volatile logistics environment, the cheapest freight option is not necessarily the cheapest logistics solution.

A lower freight rate may become expensive if the service comes with:

Unreliable transit times
Frequent vessel delays
Equipment shortages
Difficulty securing space
Higher storage or demurrage risks
Uncertain delivery schedules

For businesses shipping agricultural products, wood products, industrial materials, commodities and other time-sensitive cargo, reliability can sometimes be more valuable than saving a small amount on freight.

The mindset needs to change from:

“Find the cheapest freight rate.”

to:

“Find the logistics solution with the lowest total cost and manageable risk.”

That is the difference between buying freight and managing logistics.

1.7 MILLION TEU “TRAPPED” — WHAT DOES IT REALLY TELL US?

The 1.7 million TEU figure is more than just a statistic.

It reveals a fundamental reality of modern global trade:

Shipping capacity depends not only on the number of ships, but on how efficiently the entire logistics system operates.

One congested port.

One disrupted route.

One vessel forced to divert.

One container taking longer to turn around.

One schedule falling behind.

Each disruption can create a chain reaction across the global shipping network.

That is why businesses need to think more strategically about logistics planning.

MAQUA GROUP’S VIEW

At MAQUA GROUP, we believe logistics is no longer simply about:

“Moving cargo from Port A to Port B.”

It is about managing:

Cost + Time + Capacity + Risk + Control.

As congestion continues to reduce effective global shipping capacity, companies that can plan earlier, secure space, diversify routes, control documentation and prepare contingency options will have a stronger competitive position.

Because in international trade:

A shipment does not simply need to move at a good price.
It needs to arrive at the right place, at the right time, with risks that can be controlled.

This is the approach MAQUA GROUP is building around international trade and logistics:

Connecting suppliers, global markets, shipping and supply-chain solutions into one more proactive system.