Global container port congestion has reached elevated levels as stronger-than-expected peak-season demand, weather disruptions and operational constraints continue to tie up vessel capacity.
According to DHL Global Forwarding’s September ocean freight market update, global port congestion is approaching 4 million TEUs, keeping effective container shipping capacity under pressure. Global ocean freight demand has increased 5% year to date, supported by continued growth in Asian export volumes, while peak-season headhaul demand remains stronger than anticipated.
Linerlytica data cited by industry sources has put the amount of containership capacity waiting at ports even higher, at around 4.3 million TEUs. This represents about 12.6% of the global container fleet, although the proportion remains below the 15.7% share recorded during the pandemic-era congestion peak in 2022 because the global fleet has expanded substantially since then.
A major source of disruption has been East Asia, where successive typhoons have affected vessel schedules and created significant queues at major Chinese gateways. Vessel waiting times at Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan and other ports have reached several days, with some terminals reporting waits of up to 10 days.
The extended peak season is adding further pressure. The US National Retail Federation expects September to be the busiest import month of 2026 at major US container ports, with projected imports of 2.31 million TEUs, up 9.6% year on year. Weather-related delays and changes to Panama Canal routings have contributed to the extended peak.
Capacity constraints are also affecting freight rates and schedule reliability. DHL said global freight rates are continuing to rise, with the strongest pressure on transpacific eastbound services. Meanwhile, carriers are gradually increasing Suez Canal transits, creating another variable for network planning as services shift away from longer Cape of Good Hope routes.
For shippers, sustained congestion means longer transit times, tighter vessel availability and greater uncertainty around cargo delivery schedules. If congestion persists through the remainder of the peak season, carriers and terminals may continue facing pressure on equipment availability, berth capacity and schedule reliability.