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The two busiest ports in China, Shanghai and Ningbo, and the Port of Manila continue to experience congestion while the rest of Asia Pacific ports are seeing relatively stable operations
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Port operations across the Middle East and Africa remain mixed with major ports within the +5 days delay period due to congestion, vessel delays and inland transport constraints
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Durban is seeing the worst situation with more than 13 days of terminal waiting time
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Ports in the Americas and Europe are broadly stable
The two busiest ports in China, Shanghai and Ningbo, and the Port of Manila continue to experience congestion while the rest of Asia Pacific ports are seeing relatively stable operations, according to the DHL Ocean Freight Port Situation Update for September 2026.
In Shanghai, both Waigaoqiao and Yangshan are in the red or have delays of more than five days with heavy berth congestion. In Ningbo, the second busiest port globally after Shanghai, conditions were better but with delays still at two to five days.
In Manila, delays were within two to five days, also with heavy berth congestion.
Mundra Port in India was also experiencing delays of more than five days due mainly to equipment shortage.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific, the region with the largest cargo throughput, port operations “are gradually stabilizing following recent weather-related disruptions, with most locations operating normally,” DHL said in its report released on September 18.
Middle East & Africa
Port operations across the Middle East and Africa remain mixed with the major ports within the +5 days delay period due to congestion, vessel delays and inland transport constraints.
In the Gulf, the Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates and Dammam in Saudi Arabia are facing road/rail issues with just land bridge available.
In east Africa, the busy ports of Mombasa in Kenya and Durban in South Africa are also in the red category. In Mombasa, berthing delays is seven to 10 days. It is worse in Durban with the DBN Pier 2 experiencing more than 13 days of terminal waiting time.
READ: ICTSI’s Durban terminal waives fees as port faces ‘stark’ congestion
The ports of Casablanca in Morroco and Algiers in Algeria are also in the red.
In the Americas, port operations are broadly stable, with congestion and equipment constraints concentrated in selected gateway locations, while most markets continue to operate with manageable delays and no major widespread disruption, according to DHL.
European port operations also remain stable overall. However, recent industrial action in parts of Northern Europe, particularly strikes in Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Hamburg in Germany, continues to affect operations through congestion and inland transport disruptions.
READ: Congestion at Asian ports drives global cargo vessel delays
