Blank sailings out of Asia will continue into May as carriers adjust capacity to match seasonal demand. Congestion issues have developed at the UK’s London Gateway port following the Easter holiday period. Meanwhile, the ongoing US–China trade dispute is having a marked effect on Asia–US services.
Sea Freight Services: Blank Sailings and Routing Patterns Continue
Carriers have announced further blank sailings for Asia–Europe routes into May, continuing the strategy of managing supply with current demand levels. Some planned shipments may be affected by short-notice schedule changes as a result of these adjustments, however the overall picture remains steady. All services are still taking the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope, which remains the preferred option in light of ongoing concerns in the Red Sea region. Although we are seeing some port congestion in Europe, particularly where schedules have been disrupted by public holidays, this is not currently affecting overall network performance.
The alliance service structures introduced earlier this year continue to provide a stable foundation across key trade lanes. Departures are running to schedule and, encouragingly, vessel arrival performance has now improved as well (albeit we are experiencing some temporary but limited port congestion). Overall, compared with 2024, we are seeing better service reliability and shorter transit times. We will continue to monitor performance closely, but the signs for the months ahead are positive.
UK Port Update: Congestion at London Gateway
Operations at the UK’s London Gateway port have been impacted by high import volume and limited truck and rail activity over the Easter weekend, with many drivers and port workers off over the holiday period. This created a backlog in landside container movements, as ships continued to arrive over the holiday period but cargo discharge and onward transport were limited due to reduced staffing.
The result has been high yard utilisation and slower turnaround times for collections. The port is now focused on maximising deliveries and moving containers through as efficiently as possible. We understand that hauliers are experiencing longer than usual wait times and we appreciate your patience while operations gradually normalise. There are no similar issues reported at Felixstowe or Southampton at this time.
US–China Trade War: Demand Dip Hits Asia–US Services
The ongoing trade dispute between the US and China is now clearly affecting demand. Carriers have removed 43% of capacity on Asia–US West Coast services, and around 25% of US East Coast services in response to a significant slowdown in bookings. Many US retailers are pausing the shipping of orders due to uncertainty around tariffs and the wider trade environment.
It is expected that retailers will continue to take a wait-and-see approach in the coming weeks, holding off on shipping anything but essential orders, until there are signs of negotiation or resolution between the two countries.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your shipment, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 01376 533039 or email [email protected].
