Northern Europe’s major ports are currently experiencing significant congestion, amid industrial action, strain on infrastructure and the introduction of new shipping alliances. Inland transport bottlenecks have also contributed to difficulties, which have caused delays and operational disruption.
Among those affected are the key container gateways at Bremerhaven and Rotterdam, as well as Felixstowe and Antwerp-Bruges, with the latter experiencing 96% yard utilisation and reefer plugs over capacity at 112%.1
For its part, Antwerp has experienced a substantial increase in container traffic, with a 4.5%2 rise in TEU throughout in Q1 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. And, according to Lloyd’s List, industrial action brought the port to a near standstill in the final week of April, with more than 100 ships either awaiting clearance to berth or leave terminals on April 30.3
Industrial action has also taken a swipe at Rotterdam and Le Harve, with unresolved automation disputes at the latter contributing to labour-related delays. Though the strikes at Delta II took place in February, the knock-on is still being felt – and like Le Harve, negotiations are still ongoing, so the risk of further action remains high.
Meanwhile, landslides and line closures near Hannover have forced lengthy retail detours, impacting traffic to and from major ports including Hamburg and Rotterdam, and adding to the strain at Bremerhaven where a high percentage of vessels are reportedly waiting for berths.
Stretched rail and road networks are also being tested further as low water levels on the Rhine are limiting barge capacity and shifting freight onto road and rail. The resolution of that particular situation rests largely on the weather.
Unless rainfall increases over the next three months, the passage will remain unreliable though early summer. As a result, logistics will fragment, with carriers and forwarders relying more on intermodal solutions. It is likely a sign of things to come in the long-term. Low Rhine levels have become almost annual as result of hotter, drier summers, prompting LSPs to explore low-draft barge design and decentralised warehousing to hedge against future disruption.
Elsewhere in Europe, the ports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton tell a similar story with each managing congestion that is the result of vessel diversions pushing volumes. In particular, the rollout of new shipping alliances – among them Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s Gemini Cooperation – have disrupted trade flows and increased the number of port calls.
While new rotations and port calls have created short-term congestion, volume will likely start to rebalance by the end of Q3 this year as schedules become fixed and stabilised. The clarity will benefit carriers, and in turn forwarders and shippers who will be better able to adjust their logistics planning. In the UK, therefore, we can expect to a smoothing of demand spikes toward the end of the year.
Author: Tom Holmes
1. https://theloadstar.com/congestion-and-rising-costs-at-europes-box-ports-to-last-into-summer
2. https://trans.info/en/antwerp-rotterdam-q1-409181
3. https://mykn.kuehne-nagel.com/news/article/calm-before-the-storm-european-port-congestio-02-May-2025
Source: Ti Insight
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