Global shipping isn't lacking in vessels, but there is a significant issue with congestion affecting a growing number of ships.
Currently, about 12% of the global container ship capacity is tied up in port congestion, which is the highest level seen in four years, as reported in C.H. Robinson’s October Edge Report.
The report indicates that congestion is significantly impacting regions like East Asia, Northern Europe, and the Indian Subcontinent, limiting the actual capacity available to shippers, even though the overall supply of vessels remains quite stable.
C.H. Robinson points out that while there is capacity in the ocean network, port congestion and the measures taken by carriers to get their schedules back on track can affect when and where that capacity is really accessible.
As a result, the ocean freight market is becoming increasingly uneven as we approach the fourth quarter.
Trans-Pacific services are facing capacity cuts around China’s Golden Week holiday from October 1-7, while services from India to North America are limited by a lack of vessel space and disrupted connections via Colombo. In Asia-Europe, prices are lowering slightly as supply begins to improve.
C.H. Robinson also noted that schedule dependability has worsened due to congestion, vessel bunching, typhoons, and restrictions in the Middle East and Panama Canal affecting carrier networks.
Recent typhoons in Asia have led some carriers to skip port calls, while congestion at major transshipment hubs has resulted in missed connections and lengthy cargo backlogs. Containers stuck at congested terminals also make it harder to reposition empty containers to where they are needed.
This situation is important because skipping a port can be more disruptive than a planned cancellation.
Shippers can usually plan for a blank sailing before their cargo departs, but when a carrier skips a port mid-voyage, containers might have to wait for another feeder vessel, go through a different transshipment hub, or be redirected elsewhere.
The strain is particularly noticeable on routes from Asia to North America.
As Golden Week approached, space tightened as exporters rushed to move cargo before factories shut down, and planned blank sailings are expected to limit effective capacity until around mid-October. The first departures after the holiday may face higher risks of rollovers as factories resume operations and export volumes rise again.
Whether this pressure will persist largely depends on how strong the rebound is after the holiday.
A strong influx of cargo could keep preferred sailings fully booked and maintain recent rate levels. A weaker recovery, however, might allow space to stabilize later in October.
Overall, the focus is shifting toward usable capacity rather than just the total fleet capacity.
With over 10% of global vessel capacity effectively caught in congestion, shippers need to pay close attention to port choices, transshipment risks, container availability, and how well carriers can recover their schedules when connections fail.