The global flow of goods is feeling the effects of another lockdown in China and the increasing obstacles caused by the war in Ukraine. And that while the chains have not yet recovered from the disruptions caused by corona. Maritime transport notices these obstacles in the increasing waiting times.
According to Evofenedex, the business association for trade and logistics, the increasing waiting times are the result of a combination of the sanctions against Russia, the after-effects of corona and the tight labor market that leads, among other things, to a shortage of loaders and unloaders in the Netherlands. the harbor. In Northern European ports, the waiting time for export and transhipment is said to have increased by about forty percent compared to early February.
Much longer waiting times, not much of which can be seen in the port of Rotterdam, a spokesperson said. "It is busy at the container terminals and it is great that the transhipment continues despite the accumulation of Russian containers."
Forbidden goods
Among other things, the European Union has banned the export of goods that can be used for military purposes. After the promulgation of that export ban, some 6000 containers were detained in Rotterdam. Customs say that containers are still being added and that about 1000 containers are now stacked up that must first be checked.
The increasing waiting times for sea transport in Northern European ports:
The international flow of goods was already hampered in Ukraine before the war. As a result of the pandemic, there was a container crisis , in which world trade was disrupted by, among other things, lockdowns and prices went through the roof.
The logistics system has been thrown out of balance and you can also feel the extra control on containers in Rotterdam, says Victor van der Chijs, chairman of Deltalinqs, the business association of logistics, port and industrial companies. "The port is full of containers, so you can't get something like that."
And in addition to longer waiting times, sea transport to Russia is also coming to a standstill because shipping companies such as Maersk, MSC, ONE and Hapag-Lloyd previously decided not to take new bookings for container transport to Russia.
Miracle
Due to the stacking of containers in the port, companies have moved to other places in the port area of Rotterdam. Van der Chijs: "You have to see Rotterdam as a miracle of logistics: everything is very tightly coordinated. If even one container arrives late, you can see the system getting stuck a bit. Port of Rotterdam really worries."
Because about 15 percent of the transhipment in the port of Rotterdam is related to Russia. The port of Rotterdam is an important player when it comes to the transhipment of coal (20%), oil products (20%), LNG (25%) and crude oil (30%) from Russia.
But the Port Authority says it will only really notice the consequences of the war in Ukraine if there is a boycott on oil and gas from Russia.
According to the Dutch Petroleum Industry Association, there are currently no oil shortages. Director Erik Klooster: "The stock of diesel is tight, but there is no question of a physical shortage. And to replace trade with Russia, companies are currently looking for alternatives as best they can."