Analysing Transit Time Delays Along Key Global Trade Routes

Transit times, a crucial metric for ensuring smooth operations, have been significantly impacted across key trade routes compared to last year.

Globally, there is an average increase of approximately 30% in transit times and around 20% increase in overall container journey times. 

Factors such as the ongoing Red Sea crisis, blank sailings, restrictions in the Panama Canal, adverse weather conditions and port congestion have all contributed to increased transit times.

Map showing the increase in transit times globally:

Asia to Europe:

Asia to North America:

North America to Europe:

Transit times increase in other regions:

African Ports: African ports experienced congestion due to increased vessel calls for bunkering services and rerouting necessitated by the Red Sea crisis. The surge in ship calls and the handling of larger vessels strained African ports, which were not fully equipped to manage the sudden influx. South African ports, particularly Durban Pier 2, experienced severe delays, with berthing times lagging 22-26 days behind schedule. Seasonal market demands further exacerbated transit time delays, reaching up to 45 days in April.

Middle East: In March, shipments originating from the Middle East experienced a sharp spike in transit times. This increase followed the Houthi missile attack on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, which prompted retaliatory strikes by the US military. While the number of days reduced in subsequent months, transit times remained higher than average, reflecting ongoing disruptions along this route.

Sources: Supplychaindigital, Portcast