Global container liner schedule reliability continues to hover at low levels, and port congestion is eroding usable shipping capacity at an accelerating pace. Latest industry analysis shows that roughly 1.7 million TEU of containership capacity is currently rendered effectively unavailable due to widespread port delays worldwide.
To put this figure in perspective: that is roughly equivalent to the entire fleet size of Evergreen Marine, trapped within the global supply chain by terminal backlogs. Meanwhile, the total volume of containers waiting for processing at global ports has already surpassed 3.7 million TEU.
What was once viewed as a purely operational issue has evolved into a core factor shaping global container shipping capacity and freight rate dynamics.
1.7 Million TEU of Capacity Trapped by Delays
According to the latest global liner performance data from Sea-Intelligence, worldwide container schedule reliability stood at only around 60% to 65% in June 2026. This means roughly one-third to 40% of vessels fail to arrive on their published schedules — a sharp drop from the pre-pandemic norm of 70% to 80% on-time performance.
More concerning than the volume of late vessels is the growing severity of delays. Before the pandemic, a delayed vessel typically arrived 3 to 4 days behind schedule. Today, average delay lengths have widened to approximately 5 to 5.5 days.
For carriers and shippers alike, this means the same number of vessels in service delivers less usable capacity for new cargo.
5% of Global Fleet Capacity Absorbed by Delays
Combining delay frequency and average delay duration, Sea-Intelligence calculated how much global containership capacity is consumed by port and related operational hold-ups.
The findings show that in June 2026, about 5% of global container capacity was absorbed by delays. By comparison, the historical average between 2011 and 2019 — a period of relatively stable liner operations — stood at roughly 2.2%.
This puts current effective capacity loss about 2.8 percentage points above normal historical levels. In absolute terms, that equals roughly 1.7 million TEU of capacity temporarily removed from productive service.
Even after deducting the normal 2.2% baseline delay level, the additional capacity lost to abnormal congestion still reaches about 1 million TEU — roughly the size of HMM’s entire containership fleet.
More New Ships, But No Loosening of Market Tightness
This data helps explain a seemingly contradictory trend in container shipping: despite massive new vessel deliveries, available market capacity has not loosened significantly.
The answer lies in a simple truth: theoretical fleet capacity does not equal actual effective capacity.
Asian shipyards have continued delivering large numbers of newbuilds, steadily expanding the global fleet size. But when vessels spend extra days waiting at ports due to congestion, route rerouting and schedule disruption, they remain “on the water” but cannot complete voyage rotations at normal frequency.
A few extra days of waiting for one vessel can trigger cascading effects across an entire service network: port waiting extends voyage times, slows vessel turnaround, reduces effective capacity, tightens space availability and puts upward pressure on freight rates.
This is why port congestion has re-emerged as a key variable influencing container freight rates.
3.7 Million TEU of Containers Backlogged at Ports
Beyond vessel delays, container equipment itself is piling up at terminals worldwide. A recent industry update from DHL Global Forwarding indicates that over 3.7 million TEU of containers are currently stacked at global ports — a figure even larger than the 1.7 million TEU of vessel capacity locked up by schedule delays.
Recent typhoon weather has further disrupted operations at major Chinese ports. Strong export demand from Asia continues to strain port and inland transport infrastructure, with particularly noticeable impacts across North Asia.
This confirms that port congestion is no longer a localized issue for individual terminals. It is rippling through the entire supply chain via vessels, containers, trucking, rail and warehousing networks.
Maersk: Congestion Outweighs New Vessel Supply
Carriers are already feeling the impact of this shift. Maersk recently raised its full-year earnings guidance, citing global port congestion as one of the key contributing factors.
Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk, noted that strong, broad-based demand from the Far East since 2024 has created greater trade imbalances, putting significant pressure on port and inland transport infrastructure.
Maersk has also stated explicitly that the upward rate impact of current port congestion is now outweighing the downward pressure from new vessel deliveries.
This marks a major shift in market dynamics. Previously, widespread industry concern focused on a looming capacity surplus driven by mass new ship deliveries. But if port congestion persists, additional vessels cannot be fully converted into usable effective capacity. The result: fleet size keeps growing, but effective supply release remains constrained.
Port Congestion May Become the New Normal in H2 2026
Current data suggests global container shipping is entering a new phase. Vessel fleets keep expanding, but port capacity, inland transport and supply chain infrastructure have not grown at the same pace.
As long as demand stays strong, trade imbalances persist, and disruptive weather events such as typhoons continue to strike, port congestion is likely to worsen further.
For shippers and freight forwarders, this means second-half shipping planning cannot focus only on space availability and rate movements. It must also account for a more fundamental question: will the vessel actually arrive on schedule?
With 1.7 million TEU of vessel capacity swallowed by delays and 3.7 million TEU of containers stranded at ports, the real market constraint is no longer raw vessel count — it is the effective turnover capacity of the entire global logistics network.
Navigate Port Congestion With Huazong Logistics
As a professional freight forwarder with deep carrier partnerships and real-time global port monitoring capabilities, Huazong Logistics helps shippers mitigate congestion risks and maintain stable delivery schedules:
- Proactive Capacity Reservation – We secure advance space allocations with major liners, locking in confirmed bookings even during peak congestion periods to minimize cargo rollover risks.
- Real-Time Schedule Alerts – Our operations team monitors vessel schedules and port status 24/7, providing instant delay notifications and updated ETAs so you can adjust production and delivery plans ahead of time.
- Flexible Alternative Routing – When primary ports face severe backlogs, we offer transshipment or alternative discharge port options to bypass congestion and keep cargo moving toward its destination.
- End-to-End Visibility – Full tracking from warehouse pickup to final delivery, with transparent updates on yard status, customs clearance and last-mile progress.
For exporters navigating today’s volatile shipping environment, partnering with Huazong Logistics adds resilience to your supply chain and reduces disruption from global port congestion.
