Freight market update - 24 April 2025

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• The port at WGQ was closed for 2 hours on April 7th due to dense fog.

• The YS port was closed for 11 hours on April 9th because of dense fog.

• At QQCT, heavy berth congestion is occurring, with waiting times of 1.5 to 2 days.

• Multiple ports, including Chittagong, WGQ, YS1, WP, and PKG, are currently facing serious berth congestion.

• Due to severe congestion in PKG, several shipping lines have rerouted their vessels and cargo to Singapore (SGSIN).

• The escalation of U.S. tariff policy is creating major disruptions for global businesses.

• A baseline tariff of 10% is now applied to all imports into the U.S.

• Carriers introduced a General Rate Increase (GRI) in early April, leading to higher freight rates on both West Coast and East Coast routes.

• For Gemini, 3 out of 4 services on both coasts have achieved 100% schedule reliability.

• Within the Premier Alliance, 3 out of 7 Transpacific services have also reached 100% schedule reliability.

Read on for more in-depth updates.

Asia → North America

US/CA

Transpacific Trends and Market Updates

• Overcapacity in India and Bangladesh is driving further softening of freight rates into Europe and the UK.
• Most carriers have applied downward adjustments to April FAK (Freight All Kinds) rates.
• Chittagong saw a modest rate drop in the second half of March, though the decline was less sharp than in India.
• North India's inland container depots are again experiencing equipment shortages, posing a critical challenge for exporters.
• Port throughput has surged at Mundra, Colombo, and Nhava Sheva, with year-on-year increases driven by volume diversions due to the Red Sea crisis.

Shanghai

• The port at WGQ was closed for 2 hours on April 7th due to dense fog.
• Berth congestion continues, causing delays of 2 to 2.5 days in week 15.
• The YS port was closed for 11 hours on April 9th because of dense fog.
• In YS1, delays are now exceeding 3 days due to high berth demand and vessel bunching.
• On April 9th, 17 vessels arrived but are still waiting for berths.

Qingdao

• Overall port operations were stable in week 15.
• At QQCT, heavy berth congestion is occurring, with waiting times of 1.5 to 2 days.
• The congestion is mainly due to the bunching of arriving vessels.

Singapore

• PSA port continues to face operational challenges.
• There is moderate berth congestion, with average waiting times of around 1.5 days.
• Congestion in PKG has caused some shipping lines to reroute vessels and cargo to Singapore.
• CMA’s waiting times and delays are under control, averaging around 1 day in week 15.
• T/S inventory slightly dropped to 50–55k TEUs compared to week 14.
• Due to many CMA calls in Singapore, congestion is expected to remain dynamic.
• Group vessel delays are likely to stay around 1 day in week 16.

Malaysia

• The WP terminal is experiencing heavy berth congestion in week 15.
• Delays of 3 to 4 days are being recorded due to slower vessel turnaround.
• Yard utilization is at 85%, which is affecting operational efficiency.
• Conditions are expected to improve by early May as backlogs clear.

Port Congestion Issues

• Multiple ports, including Chittagong, WGQ, YS1, WP, and PKG, are currently facing serious berth congestion.
• Delays range between 1 to 5 days across these locations.
• The main causes are vessel bunching, high demand, and ongoing efforts to clear backlogs.
• Ports such as YS1 and Chittagong have vessels waiting at anchorage or off-terminal due to a shortage of available berths.
• These delays can reach up to 3 to 4 days.
• Backlog clearance is ongoing and improvements are expected by early May.
• Due to severe congestion in PKG, several shipping lines have rerouted their vessels and cargo to Singapore (SGSIN).
• This shift has added to the complexity and dynamic nature of congestion at Singapore ports.

Turkey → North America

• Carriers introduced a General Rate Increase (GRI) in early April, leading to higher freight rates on both West Coast and East Coast routes.
• Overall capacity remains stable compared to last month.
• However, select East Coast services have announced new blank sailings.
• Space availability is generally reasonable across key origins but could tighten in the latter half of April based on booking volumes.
• No significant equipment shortages are being reported at major load ports.
• Equipment availability remains strong across Asia, including inland container depots.
• Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) are not currently part of long-term agreements and are under ongoing review by carriers based on shifting market dynamics.
• Gemini services show strong schedule performance:
• 3 out of 4 services on both coasts have achieved 100% schedule reliability.
• MSC continues to improve:

Averaging 82% schedule reliability on the West Coast

Averaging 68% on the East Coast

• Within the Premier Alliance, 3 out of 7 Transpacific services have also reached 100% schedule reliability.

North America → Turkey

• The escalation of U.S. tariff policy is creating major disruptions for global businesses.
• A baseline tariff of 10% is now applied to all imports into the U.S.
• Higher tariffs target specific regions:

20% on imports from the European Union

24% on Japanese goods

34% on Chinese products—with the possibility of an additional 50% based on recent developments

• The broader impact on global trade volumes is still uncertain.
• However, demand and freight rates are expected to be affected as the policies roll out.
• Financial markets have already reacted negatively, with major stock indices seeing significant declines.
• The situation remains highly fluid and dynamic.
• Spot rates have slightly softened, but demand remains strong across the board.
• Vessels are running at full capacity from both North Europe and the Mediterranean.
• Exporters are front loading cargo in anticipation of upcoming U.S. tariff changes, contributing to sustained high utilization.

Terminal Updates

Vessels heading to North America via the North Atlantic Sea are expected to have a change in schedule due to severe weather conditions.

New York:

• Non-Gemini vessels at APMT are experiencing maximum waiting times of 1 day.
• Maher Terminals LLC reports shorter vessel waits, averaging around 6 hours.
• Average gate turn times are 42 minutes for single transactions and 64 minutes for double transactions.
• New cranes at APMT are set to be commissioned within the next two weeks, allowing two vessels to operate simultaneously, despite ongoing berth space constraints.
• APMT New York is facing high gate appointment demand, especially near vessel cut-off days.
• Exporters are advised to deliver cargo early, during the initial freight acceptance window, when appointment slots are more available.

Norfolk:

• Berth waiting times are up to 12 hours at both Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) and Virginia International Gateway (VIG).
• Average gate turn times are 24.9/40.3 minutes at NIT and 47.9/83.4 minutes at VIG for single/double transactions respectively.
• VIG is back in operation, though multiple cranes are down for modifications or electrical work, with limited estimated return times.
• At NIT, Crane #4 remains out of service since April 16 with no update on its return.

Charleston Terminal:

• 6 hours waiting time for Wando Welch Terminal and 3 hours waiting time for North Charleston Terminal.
• Average truck turn times are 21 minutes at Wando Welch Terminal and 21 minutes at North Charleston Terminal.
• Average truck turn time at Leatherman is 14 minutes.

Savannah:

• The average waiting time for vessel berth at the terminal is 1 day for class 1 and 0.5 days for class 2 vessels.
• Average gate turn times are 34 minutes for single transactions and 54 minutes for double transactions.
• Import dwell time is 7.4 days.
• Rail dwell time is 1.11 days.

Houston:

• Up to 2 days waiting time for vessel berthing at Barbours Cut Terminal and 15 hours waiting time at Bayport Container Terminal.
• Average gate turn times at Barbours Cut Container Terminal are 35 minutes for single transactions and 56 minutes for double transactions.
• Average gate turn times at Bayport Container Terminal are 29 minutes for single transactions and 46 minutes for double transactions.
• Loaded import dwell is 3.7 days at Barbours Cut and 3.6 days at Bayport.

Oakland:

• Berth waiting times at Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT) are up to 12 hours.
• Import deliveries are averaging up to 4 days, with gate turn times at 96 minutes.
• Three cranes at OICT are currently out of service.
• OICT is undergoing berth maintenance, with one berth down at a time through Week 19.

Seattle-Tacoma:

• No waiting time at Husky and no waiting time at Washington United terminal at Tacoma.
• No waiting time in Seattle.
• Import rail dwell are 2.5 days at Husky and 3 days at T18.
• The average gate turn times are as follows: 30 minutes for T18 and 75 minutes for Husky.
• Husky is offering continuous hoot gates. Next week’s gates will be April 15, 16 and 17, 2025, for most transaction types.

Los Angeles/Long Beach:

• Port of Los Angeles dwell time for local import cargo is 3.1 days.
• On-dock rail dwell is 4.2 days.
• Import units on the street are averaging at 3.8 / 6.3 days for 20 ft and 40+ ft containers respectively.
• Port of Long Beach dwell times for local imports remain at 4-8 days.
• The average terminal gate turn time is between 43-52 minutes, depending on the terminal.

Chassis Pools

All pools are operating as normal except:

• Chicago – Constrained on 40’ chassis.
• Nashville – Constrained on 40’ chassis.
• New Orleans – Constrained on 40’ chassis.

Intermodal Operations

Truck power can be secured within 1-3 days for the majority of locations, including marine terminals, rail ramps, and depots.

Port Status

Final Thoughts

In light of the latest updates and trends, the market is currently in the course of showing robust performance and is equipped with ample capacity and resources. Individuals and businesses involved in import/export activities must stay well-informed about market dynamics and strategies to make informed decisions.

To ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience with your import/export operations, it is recommended to seek guidance from industry experts. Taking proactive measures and staying proactive in your approach will help you navigate the market effectively. We greatly appreciate your continued readership and encourage you to subscribe to our weekly market updates to stay abreast of the latest developments and insights.