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Delays mount as port disruption in Asia ties up 3m teu of box capacity

A surge in vessel delays, driven by typhoons and port disruption in Asia, has left 8.5% of the global container fleet effectively unavailable. New analysis from Sea-Intelligence suggests this equates to some 3m teu of vessel capacity - a fleet roughly equivalent in size to that of the world's fifth-largest carrier. Schedule reliability fell to just below 50% in August, following an already sharp deterioration in July. Sea-Intelligence said reliability had fallen 12.7% over the two months, with only three periods since measurement began in 2011 recording a steeper decline. The average delay of vessels arriving late also increased, to 6.8 days, a level exceeded only during the worst disruptions of Covid. The consultancy said June-August had represented the largest two-month increase in vessel delays in its dataset. "The main driver of the worsening delays, and hence capacity absorption, is a continuing stream of typhoons impacting major ports in Asia," Sea-Intelligence explained. It argued that the impact on available capacity was particularly significant against the pre-pandemic baseline. Between 2011 and 2019, an average 2.2% of global capacity was absorbed by vessel delays. The current 8.5% represents a deviation of more than six percentage points, which Sea-Intelligence said was having a significant effect on the global supply/demand balance. The consultancy also warned that the congestion could persist well into next year. It explained that during the pandemic, capacity absorption from congestion peaked at 13.8%, before falling to 3.6%, over 16 months. During the Red Sea crisis, absorption reached 6.5% before declining to 3.7% within six months. Those episodes suggest congestion can improve by around 0.5-0.6 percentage points a month. Applying that recovery rate to current conditions, Sea-Intelligence estimated it could take seven to ten months for capacity absorption to return to the low point recorded in June 2025. And, by this calculation, a return just to the level at the end of 2025 could take six to eight months. And the analyst added: "The current situation is therefore unlikely to be fully resolved before Chinese New Year peak in 2027." That holiday falls on 6 February, meaning Asian ports could still be dealing with congestion as carriers and shippers prepare for the pre-CNY cargo surge. The consultancy said the extent to which the current disruption proved temporary, or developed into a more persistent constraint on capacity, would become clearer as the typhoon season and its effects on Asian port operations subsided.

CMA CGM completes $1.4bn FedEx Supply Chain takeover

CMA CGM announced today that it has completed its $1.4bn takeover of FedEx's contract logistics business, FedEx Supply Chain, which is set to be folded into the shipping line's contract logistics arm Ceva. The deal will see Ceva's North American footprint almost treble in size, according to CMA CGM, with the addition of around 34m sqft of warehouse space offering combined operations across 150 warehouses in region and employing around 20,000 staff. "The completion of this acquisition marks an important step in the development of CMA CGM and CEVA Logistics in North America," Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and chief executive of the CMA CGM group, said. "By significantly expanding our contract logistics capabilities, we are strengthening our ability to offer customers integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions across ocean, air, land and logistics. "It also reinforces CMA CGM's long-term commitment to investing in the United States, a strategic growth market for the group, and supporting the resilience and efficiency of its supply chain," he added. The deal is central to Mr Saadé's strategy of expanding CMA CGM's less-cyclical logistics activities. Earlier this month, he said the group would continue to grow "organically in container shipping, while focusing acquisitions on logistics". An additional clause in the deal also sees FedEx "enter into multi-year commercial agreements" with CMA CGM's ocean freight operations and CMA CGM Air Cargo. "CMA CGM will become a preferred ocean carrier for FedEx, offering transport and carrier services under a non-exclusive agreement," a CMA CGM statement said. "The two companies also plan to collaborate on an air cargo capacity agreement on key strategic routes, including Asia-Europe. "This will strengthen their respective global networks, improving aircraft utilisation and providing greater flexibility on long-haul routes," it added. Under the proposed air cargo agreements, Ceva Logistics could gain access to FedEx's wider capacity network, potentially including space bought from third-party airlines alongside its own freighters. While neither company has yet to clarify the arrangements, such access could help CMA CGM expand its air freight offering without acquiring scarce freighter aircraft. The potential cooperation highlights how control of capacity and customer relationships can create competitive advantage, allowing integrators and forwarders to buy airline space cheaply and sell it as part of a higher-value, end-to-end service.

Swissport returns to French market with EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse cargo operation

Swissport has returned to the French market by establishing a new cargo operation at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse. The Swissport Cargo Services France operation comprises a 3,000 sq m cargo warehouse, including a 1,000 sq m French customs zone and 2,000 sq m of international handling space for the build-up and breakdown of airline pallets. Initially, Swissport Cargo Services France will focus on airline cargo handling activities. While operating as an independent entity for the French market, the new operation will work closely with Swissport's established Basel cargo operation, benefiting from its expertise and Swissport's global standards in safety, quality and operational excellence, said the handler. "France is an important aviation market with significant long-term potential for Swissport," said Bruno Stefani, regional chief executive Switzerland, Italy and France at Swissport. "The launch of Swissport Cargo Services France marks a significant step in strengthening our presence in the country. Beyond cargo, we see opportunities to bring our global expertise in airport ground services and hospitality to the French market and to build strong, long-term partnerships with airlines and airports." "The new operation allows us to build on the strong expertise of our established Basel cargo team while developing a dedicated presence in France," added Andreas Behnke, head of cargo Switzerland, Italy and France and station manager Basel-Mulhouse at Swissport. "Our focus is on bringing the same commitment to teamwork, safety and operational excellence to our new operation and providing a strong foundation for its future development." The launch strengthens Swissport's European cargo network, which forms part of a global network of more than 120 cargo centres. Worldwide, Swissport handles over 5m tons of airfreight annually, combining global scale and standardised processes with local operational expertise. The ground handler has announced several major growth developments this month, including entering the Indonesian air cargo market by establishing a joint venture (JV) with Jakarta-based UNEX Aviation Services, and entering the Colombian market through the acquisition of Giraldo Hermanos International (GHI).