JANUARY 2026
Spain – Rail and Weather Update – 27 January
Train services between Barcelona and Bilbao remain suspended following last week’s incident. At this stage, no restart date has been confirmed.
In parallel, adverse weather conditions continue to affect vessel schedules, resulting in delays across several services. Customers with affected orders have been informed directly. To support shipments impacted by the current situation, alternative routing solutions are available.
Planned Drivers’ Strike (9–11 February) – A driver’s strike remains scheduled for Monday, 9, Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 February. High-level discussions with authorities are ongoing to resolve the dispute ahead of the planned dates.
At this stage, the expected impact on services remains limited. We continue to monitor developments closely and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.
UK – 26 January
There are no current issues in the UK. However, it’s been a continuous situation at London Gateway, which has been severely congested. This has caused delays in ETAs and deliveries due to issues with container collection. There are multiple crane failures daily. Turnaround times at the quay are currently 3 to 4 hours, severely impacting vehicle flow and, in turn, the timely arrival of deliveries. Southampton Port is also suffering from congestion. To alleviate congestion at London Gateway, numerous vessels are omitting Gateway and discharging at Southampton and Felixstowe. Any affected customers will be informed.
Italy – 26 January
Rail congestion continues across the Italian network, while storms in the Bay of Biscay are causing slight delays. Customers will be kept updated if affected.
Spain – 26 January
Bad weather continues in the Bay of Biscay, causing significant delays in sailings. Customers are being updated as soon as vessel departures are confirmed. The rail service between Barcelona and Bilbao has been disrupted following a recent train crash. Services have been cancelled from last week until after 26 January.
Portugal – 26 January
Vessel transit times are affected by bad weather in the Bay of Biscay. Customers will be kept updated and advised.
Severe weather across Europe – 26 January
- Severe rain warnings are in effect in Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, and Romania.
- There are severe snow warnings in Denmark, Poland and Romania.
- There are also extreme snow warnings in parts of Germany.
- There are severe wind warnings in Romania, Serbia and Germany.
The Netherlands and Belgium – 26 January
Rotterdam and Antwerp are experiencing delays due to severe congestion, port strikes, and yard density. Bad weather in Rotterdam is also causing delays.
Australia and New Zealand – 26 January
Space constraints due to shipping lines prioritising reefer/fresh produce space. This is placing pressure on direct and transhipment services, potentially extending transit times. Although some direct sailings are becoming available again, we are still experiencing these constraints.
Schedule integrity across Australia and New Zealand remains an issue, with ongoing port omissions, blank sailings, and port delays in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne regularly occurring due to poor weather. Any customers affected will be advised.
USA – 26 January
Port of Oakland (Northern California)
- Delayed Departures: Changes in shipping alliances have led to adjustments to vessel schedules, resulting in delays in Oakland departures. Some carriers have rerouted services or shifted schedules, impacting the predictability of sailings.
- Vessel Congestion: Currently, 10 ships are anchored in San Francisco Bay awaiting berths, with over 15 vessels drifting offshore, increasing waiting times.
- Capacity Issues: With the ongoing reshuffling of capacity between alliances, there has been a significant reduction in available space on certain vessels. These changes are making it more difficult to secure bookings, particularly for specific routes between Oakland and Europe.
- Tariff Impacts: New tariffs on Chinese imports have led to 20–30% weekly sailing cancellations, reducing inbound traffic but adding unpredictability.
Port of New York and New Jersey (East Coast)
- Terminal Congestion: High demand is causing vessels to wait up to 1.5 days for a berth, extending cargo dwell times.
- Equipment Shortages: Limited availability of empty containers; early appointment booking is critical.
- Labour Negotiations: Though a strike was averted earlier this year, ongoing ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association) negotiations carry some risk of disruption.
General Guidance for All U.S. Ports
- Expect variable conditions across ports due to global demand shifts, tariffs, and supply chain volatility.
South America – 26 January
Space and equipment are still limited, especially 20 ft. In the short term, this may worsen as European countries prioritise shipments to the US, further reducing equipment availability. Please note that any omissions or cut-and-run situations will result in a cascading effect, and bookings are likely to be rolled. Customers affected by any of these issues will be kept updated.
Winter is coming to an end in South America. The weather, however, can still pose an issue at the border crossing between Argentina and Chile, e.g., rolled bookings and container backlogs. Affected customers will be informed.
Lebanon – 26 January
Due to the current situation in Lebanon, inland transportation is difficult to secure. Any customers affected will be advised.
UK Ports – Operational Update – 23 January
Farmer protest activity earlier today temporarily affected landside access at the Port of Felixstowe and Bristol Port. Shipping and vessel operations were not disrupted. Any impact was limited to inconvenience to landside traffic. Access has now been restored at both ports. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates should circumstances change.
UK – 19 January
London Gateway has been severely congested, causing delays in the estimated time of arrival and deliveries due to issues with container collection. There are multiple crane failures daily. Turnaround times on the quay are currently three to four hours, which is severely impacting vehicle flow and, in turn, the timely arrival of deliveries.
Southampton Port is also suffering from congestion. To alleviate congestion at London Gateway, numerous vessels are omitting Gateway and discharging at Southampton and Felixstowe. Affected customers will be informed.
Italy – 19 January
Rail congestion continues across the Italian network. Customers will be kept updated if affected.
Spain – 19 January
Bad weather in the Bay of Biscay will impact vessels this week. Customers will be kept updated.
Portugal – 19 January
Vessel transit times are affected by bad weather in the Bay of Biscay. Customers will be kept updated and advised.
Europe – Severe wind warnings and low temperatures – 19 January
There are severe wind warnings in parts of Germany and severe low temperatures in parts of Austria, Croatia and Poland. Any customers affected will be kept updated.
The Netherlands and Belgium – 19 January
Bad weather in Rotterdam is causing delays. Furthermore, Antwerp and Rotterdam have been experiencing delays due to severe congestion, port strikes and yard density at the moment.
Australia and New Zealand – 19 January
Space constraints due to the shipping lines prioritising reefer and fresh produce space. This is placing pressure on direct and transhipment services, potentially extending transit times. Although some direct sailings are becoming available again, we are still experiencing these constraints. Schedule integrity across Australia and New Zealand remains an issue, with continual port omissions, blank sailings, and port delays in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne regularly occurring due to poor weather. Any customers affected will be advised.
USA – 19 January
Port of Oakland (Northern California)
- Delayed Departures: Changes in the shipping alliances have resulted in adjustments to vessel schedules, which have led to delays in Oakland departures. Some carriers have rerouted services or shifted schedules, impacting the predictability of sailings.
- Vessel Congestion: Currently, 10 ships are anchored in San Francisco Bay awaiting berths, with over 15 vessels drifting offshore, increasing waiting times.
- Capacity Issues: With the ongoing reshuffling of capacity between alliances, there has been a significant reduction in available space on certain vessels. These changes are making it more difficult to secure bookings, particularly for specific routes between Oakland and Europe.
- Tariff Impacts: New tariffs on Chinese imports have led to 20–30% weekly sailing cancellations, reducing inbound traffic but adding unpredictability.
Port of New York and New Jersey (East Coast)
- Terminal Congestion: High demand is causing vessels to wait up to 1.5 days for a berth, extending cargo dwell times.
- Equipment Shortages: Limited availability of empty containers; early appointment booking is critical.
- Labour Negotiations: Though a strike was averted earlier this year, ongoing ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association) negotiations carry some risk of disruption.
General Guidance for All U.S. Ports
Expect variable conditions across ports due to global demand shifts, tariffs, and supply chain volatility.
South America – 19 January
Space and equipment are still limited, especially 20ft. In the short term, this may worsen due to European countries prioritising shipments to the US, further reducing equipment. Please note that any omissions and cut-and-runs will result in a cascade effect, and bookings are likely to be rolled. Customers affected by any of these issues will be kept updated.
Winter is coming to an end in South America, but the weather can still pose an issue at the border crossing between Argentina and Chile (e.g. rolled bookings, backlog of containers at the border). Any affected customers will be informed.
Lebanon – 19 January
The current situation in Lebanon makes inland transportation difficult to secure. Any customers affected will be advised.
UK – Potential Impact on UK Rail Services – 12 January
A national strike in Italy on 12 January will have an impact on the UK rail network.
London Gateway has been severely congested, causing delays in ETAs and deliveries due to issues collecting containers. There are multiple crane failures daily. Turnaround times at the quay are currently 3 to 4 hours, severely impacting vehicle flow and, in turn, the timely arrival of deliveries. Southampton Port is also suffering from congestion. To alleviate congestion at London Gateway, numerous vessels are omitting Gateway and discharging at Southampton and Felixstowe. Affected customers will be informed by our team.
Italy – Rail strikes in Lombardy – 12 January
Rail strikes on 12 January across the Lombardy region will affect the rail network. Customers will be informed if their shipments are affected.
Spain – 12 January
Bad weather in the Bay of Biscay will impact vessels this week. Customers will be kept updated.
Portugal – 12 January
Vessel transit times are affected by bad weather in the Bay of Biscay. Customers will be kept updated and advised.
The Netherlands and Belgium – 12 January
Adverse weather in Rotterdam is causing delays.
Antwerp and Rotterdam are experiencing delays due to severe congestion, port strikes, and yard density.
Europe: Extreme snow warnings and low temperatures – 12 January
Extreme and severe snow warnings across most of Germany, and severe low temperatures in southern Austria. There are also severe snow warnings in the western Czech Republic, Poland, central Greece and Norway. Any customers affected will be kept updated.
Lebanon – 12 January
Due to the current situation in Lebanon, inland transportation is difficult to secure. Any customers affected will be advised.
Australia and New Zealand – 12 January
Space constraints due to the shipping lines prioritising reefer and fresh produce space. This is placing pressure on direct and transhipment services, potentially extending transit times. Although some direct sailings are becoming available again, we are still experiencing these constraints.
Schedule integrity across Australia and New Zealand remains an issue, with continual port omissions, blank sailings, and port delays in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne regularly occurring due to poor weather. Any customers affected will be advised.
USA – 12 January
Port of Oakland (Northern California)
- Delayed Departures: Changes in the shipping alliances have resulted in adjustments to vessel schedules, which have led to delays in Oakland departures. Some carriers have rerouted services or shifted schedules, impacting the predictability of sailings.
- Vessel Congestion: Currently, 10 ships are anchored in San Francisco Bay awaiting berths, with over 15 vessels drifting offshore, increasing waiting times.
- Capacity Issues: With the ongoing reshuffling of capacity between alliances, there has been a significant reduction in available space on certain vessels. These changes are making it more difficult to secure bookings, particularly for specific routes between Oakland and Europe.
- Tariff Impacts: New tariffs on Chinese imports have led to 20–30% weekly sailing cancellations, reducing inbound traffic but adding unpredictability.
Port of New York and New Jersey (East Coast)
- Terminal Congestion: High demand is causing vessels to wait up to 1.5 days for a berth, extending cargo dwell times.
- Equipment Shortages: Limited availability of empty containers; early appointment booking is critical.
- Labour Negotiations: Though a strike was averted earlier this year, ongoing ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association) negotiations carry some risk of disruption.
General Guidance for All U.S. Ports
- Expect variable conditions across ports due to global demand shifts, tariffs, and supply chain volatility.
South America – 12 January
Space and equipment are still limited, especially 20ft. In the short term, this may worsen due to European countries prioritising shipments to the US, further reducing equipment. Please note that any omissions and cut-and-run will result in a cascade effect, and bookings are likely to be rolled. Customers affected by any of these issues will be kept updated.
Winter is coming to an end in South America. However, the weather conditions can still pose issues at the border crossing between Argentina and Chile, e.g., rolled bookings and container backlogs. Any affected customers will be informed.
The Netherlands and Belgium – Operational Update Following Weather Conditions – 8 January
Heavy snowfall on 7 January temporarily halted operations at most ports and terminals across the Netherlands, with operations expected to resume.
The border between Belgium and France was closed to heavy goods vehicles, while rail services continue to operate, although delays are expected.
Heavy weather is forecast for the North Sea today, 8 January, and tomorrow, 9 January, resulting in reduced vessel capacity for the second half of the week.
We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as it develops. Our teams are working to minimise any disruptions.
Severe Winter Weather – Transport and Operations Update – 7 January
Severe winter weather across parts of the Netherlands, France, Germany and Northern Italy is currently impacting transport operations.
Rotterdam: CLdN Ports Terminal is now open again for trailer deliveries and pick-ups following earlier disruption caused by heavy snowfall.
Rail operations at RSC Rotterdam remain unavailable at this time.
LoLo services at CLdN Distriport (Cork and Dublin) remain operational.
Road transport in Benelux, Germany and Italy: Overnight snowfall on 6 January has resulted in truck driving bans and temporary parking requirements in several regions, causing delays across affected lanes.
France: A temporary heavy goods vehicle ban is in place in 38 departments, affecting areas from Charente to the Belgian border, including Île-de-France and Centre-Val de Loire. Restrictions may be extended depending on weather conditions.
Our team is monitoring the situation and working closely with our partners to minimise disruption. We’ll continue to keep you updated.
UK – 5 January
Some congestion in Italy following the limited service over the Christmas period.
London Gateway has been severely congested, causing delays to ETAs and deliveries due to issues with container collection. There are multiple crane failures daily. Turnaround times at the quay are currently 3 to 4 hours, severely impacting vehicle flow and, in turn, the timely arrival of deliveries. Southampton Port is also suffering from congestion. To alleviate congestion at London Gateway, numerous vessels are omitting Gateway and discharging at Southampton and Felixstowe. Affected customers will be informed.
Italy – 5 January
There is continued congestion on the rail network due to the peak season. Our team is monitoring the situation, and any customers affected will be kept informed.
Belgium and the Netherlands – 5 January
Antwerp and Rotterdam are experiencing delays due to severe congestion, port strikes, and yard density.
Spain – 5 January
Bad weather in the Bay of Biscay will impact vessels this week. Customers will be kept updated.
Portugal – 5 January
Vessel transit times are affected by bad weather in the Bay of Biscay. Customers will be kept updated and advised.
Australia and New Zealand – 5 January
Space constraints due to the shipping lines prioritising reefer and fresh produce space. This is placing pressure on direct and transhipment services, potentially extending transit times. Although some direct sailings are becoming available again, we are still experiencing these constraints. Schedule integrity across Australia and New Zealand remains an issue, with continual port omissions, blank sailings, and port delays in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne regularly occurring due to poor weather. Any customers affected will be advised.
South Africa – 5 January
ETDs are frequently delayed by a couple of days due to congestion in Cape Town port. Customers affected will be advised.
Lebanon – 5 January
Due to the current situation in Lebanon, securing inland transportation is difficult. Any customers affected will be advised.
USA – 5 January
Port of Oakland (Northern California)
- Delayed Departures: Changes in the shipping alliances have resulted in adjustments to vessel schedules, which have led to delays in Oakland departures. Some carriers have rerouted services or shifted schedules, impacting the predictability of sailings.
- Vessel Congestion: Currently, 10 ships are anchored in San Francisco Bay awaiting berths, with over 15 vessels drifting offshore, increasing waiting times.
- Capacity Issues: Due to ongoing capacity reallocations across alliances, available space on certain vessels has decreased significantly. These changes are making it more difficult to secure bookings, particularly for specific routes between Oakland and Europe.
- Tariff Impacts: New tariffs on Chinese imports have led to 20–30% weekly sailing cancellations, reducing inbound traffic but adding unpredictability.
Port of New York and New Jersey (East Coast)
- Terminal Congestion: High demand is causing vessels to wait up to 1.5 days for a berth, extending cargo dwell times.
- Equipment Shortages: Limited availability of empty containers; early appointment booking is critical.
- Labour Negotiations: Though a strike was averted earlier this year, ongoing ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association) negotiations carry some risk of disruption.
General Guidance for All U.S. Ports
- Expect variable conditions across ports due to global demand shifts, tariffs, and supply chain volatility.
South America – 5 January
Space and equipment are still limited, especially 20ft. In the short term, this may worsen due to European countries prioritising shipments to the US, further reducing equipment. Please note that any omissions or cut-and-runs will have a cascading effect, and bookings are likely to be rolled. Customers affected by any of these issues will be kept updated.
Winter is coming to an end in South America. However, the weather can still pose an issue at the border crossing between Argentina and Chile, e.g. rolled bookings, backlog of containers at the border. Any affected customers will be informed.