Kuehne+Nagel Port Operations Update: Vessel Waiting Times in Ningbo and Shanghai Exceed Two Days

According to Kuehne+Nagel's port operations update covering October 27–November 3, 2026, operations at several Asian ports continue to face pressure following weather-related disruptions.

In China, the average seven-day vessel waiting times at the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai stood at 2.23 days and 2.12 days, respectively. In Vietnam, Vung Tau recorded an average vessel waiting time of around one day, but yard utilization remained high at approximately 90–95%.

Ningbo: Waiting Times at Some Terminals Reach 3 - 4 Days

According to Kuehne+Nagel, the Port of Ningbo, China, continues to experience congestion after suspending operations for 30 hours due to a typhoon. The port's average seven-day vessel waiting time currently stands at approximately 2.23 days.

Waiting times are even longer at certain terminals. MSICT has reported waiting times of around three days amid high yard density. At YZCT, waiting times have reached approximately four days due to a combination of vessel-related incidents and the post-typhoon vessel backlog.

Kuehne+Nagel forecasts that conditions at the port are unlikely to improve before Week 46.

Shanghai: Operations Resume, but Congestion Persists

The Port of Shanghai resumed normal operations on October 26, 2026, following the passage of Typhoon Champi. However, congestion at the port has yet to be fully resolved.

The average seven-day vessel waiting time in Shanghai currently stands at approximately 2.12 days. Kuehne+Nagel noted that waiting times remain elevated as high yard density and the backlog of vessels following the typhoon continue to put pressure on terminal operations.

Vung Tau: Yard Utilization Remains at 90–95%

In Vietnam, the average seven-day vessel waiting time at Vung Tau is approximately one day, lower than the figures recorded in Ningbo and Shanghai over the same period.

However, port operations in the area remain under pressure from high yard utilization, currently estimated at 90–95%. This is a factor that shipping lines and logistics companies should take into account when planning vessel operations and container movements.

At Gemalink Terminal (GML), vessel waiting times have improved slightly. Nevertheless, vessels arriving outside their scheduled berthing windows (off-window) may still face waiting times of two to three days.

Data Notes

Kuehne+Nagel notes that the average seven-day vessel waiting time is calculated based on the waiting times of mainline container vessels at designated anchorage areas before entering port. The indicator excludes waiting times for feeder vessels, vessels without a published next port of call, vessels slow-steaming on their way to the anchorage area, and vessels passing through the anchorage area without plans to call at the port.

Therefore, vessel waiting time should be distinguished from container dwell time at the terminal and the total transit time of a shipment when assessing port operations and planning transportation.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Kuehne+Nagel)

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