Overview

• Waiting times at major European ports, including Bremerhaven, Antwerp, and Hamburg, have risen significantly, with delays up 77% in Bremerhaven since late March.
• Labor shortages and low water levels on the Rhine River are key factors contributing to the worsening congestion in Europe.
• The US-China tariff pause, set to expire on August 14, has not yet triggered a major trans-Pacific shipping surge, adding to market unpredictability.
• President Trump has delayed the implementation of a proposed 50% tariff on EU exports until July 9, but uncertainty over trade policy is disrupting transatlantic shipping plans.
• Shipping carriers, including MSC, are introducing rate hikes and peak season surcharges starting in June, reflecting the mounting pressures on global trade routes.