New Zealand
AIR TERMINALS
- Both Air NZ and Menzies are currently operating as normal.
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- Auckland rail line CRL upgrade closure dates are past the half way mark of being in place from the 27th December 2024 to 27th January 2025. The service between Port of Tauranga and Metroport terminates in Hamilton with containers bound for destination Metroport being carried from Hamilton by ‘road bridge’ from the Hamilton rail siding to Metroport. We are pleased to advise that so far the road bridging operation has been working well, containers are generally moving to destination in good time.
- Container VBS costs in Auckland will increase yet again on the 1st February, this time the increase is due to the container depots raising their VBS tariff across the board starting in February.
Australia
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- Currently, 20’ containers are in short supply across multiple carriers for exports from Australia. Please speak with your Customer Services Representative for options.
- Increases around the Landside and Ancillary IFS charges at Australian ports in January 2025.
Asia
AIR
- Imports – Consols are moving as booked, with capacity available on most carriers.
- Exports – Consols are moving as booked, with capacity available on most carriers.
OCEAN
- Lunar New Year celebrations are less than 2 weeks away now and there definitely is a flurry of activity as suppliers look to get bookings away prior to going on leave however demand does not seem to be as strong as shipping lines originally expected, so there are still opportunities to get bookings should you need space.
- The late blanking of a sailing from SE Asia due to the CMA CGM Marlin having technical issues has resulted in a bit of a backlog that will take a few weeks to clear in Singapore and Port Klang. This has come at a time where demand has been softening for a few weeks, so should not have too much ongoing impact but, in the short term we may see some delays.
- Port congestion remains an issue in the major transshipment ports and second leg transits will be affected by this.
- Space remains tight on most services to and via Asian ports. We recommend booking at least 4 weeks in advance in order to secure. Some Carriers are fully booked to March. Please check with your customer service representative for options.
Trans-Tasman
AIR
- Imports – Consols are moving as booked, with capacity available on most carriers.
- Exports – Consols are moving as booked, with capacity available on most carriers.
OCEAN
- Cosco and OOCL have added a third vessel to their ANE service. The “Pride C” joined the service in December, enabling a weekly direct schedule between Melbourne, Bell Bay, Sydney, Auckland, and Tauranga.
- There are 20ft equipment shortages ex Adelaide.
- The USA blank sailings will become a problem for shipments ex Adelaide. If necessary, containers may need to rail to Melbourne.
- Most export services are experiencing increased demand extending booking lead times. Vessels are heavily booked, especially from Auckland.
Europe
AIR
- Imports – Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers.
- Exports – Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers.
OCEAN
- BMSB season started on September 1st with the same policies and procedures as last year.
- On-going attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea has made all container carriers to NZ avoid the Suez Canal until further notice. There will be delays of approximately 2 weeks and extra costs as shipping lines reroute via Cape of Good Hope.
- Vessels are off window arriving into Europe from the Cape. On time arrivals are as low as 21%. This is causing the weekly schedules to be disrupted. This is particularly bad from the UK, where containers are regularly being left behind at the terminal.
- Maersk have removed the popular Rotterdam and Hamburg 45-day routing via Panama.
- Container shortages are happening particularly at depots that are further inland, e.g., Czech Republic, Austria.
- There are equipment shortages in Turkey.
- 20’ reefers are in low supply across Europe.
North America
AIR
- Imports – Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers.
- California wildfires may have an impact on flight delays and scheduling in the future.
- Exports – Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers.
- California wildfires may have an impact on flight delays and scheduling in the future.
OCEAN
- US East Coast & Gulf International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Negotiations – With agreement being made
between the ILA and the USMX all strike surcharges have been removed. - Vancouver vessel berthing delays have reduced to 3-5 days. Import rail dwell average has increased from 5.5 to 7.1 days, and delays are expected to remain as the terminal continues to recover from the recent industrial action. Rail car supply has improved. Severe winter conditions are impacting rail services.
- Winter Storm Cora – The winter storm produced dangerous travel conditions via a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain over parts of many southern U.S. states and the Ohio Valley. Please expect slight delay with transport in this region.
- Panama Canal services for ANP/OC1 service – Continuing low lake levels in the Panama canal are adversely affecting vessel deadweight capacity. Space is restricted and vessels are booked 4+ weeks in advance of departure.
- West Coast North America – There are only 3 WSN departures every month until the end of February 2025.
- Los Angeles Fires – The Port of Los Angeles remains fully operational. Please be aware there may be delays with onward transport, due to transport shortages, closures of key transportation routes and disruption of distribution networks in the Southern California.
- East Coast snowstorms are causing rail delays which could have an impact on the supply chain.
- ANL/CMA are still proceeding with their GRI of US500/US1000 from the USA to Australia and New Zealand, effective 15th January 2025. This will not impact Oceanbridge LCL rates ex USA.
- Seattle sailings – After the Long Beach Express 503N ETD Tauranga 7 | Feb the next departure is not until March 6th due to a blank sailing in week 8.
- US Terminal Operations:
- New York – berthing delays of up to 2.5 days
- Charleston – berthing delay of up to 1 day
- Savannah – average wait time for a berth is 2 days
- Houston – waiting time up to 1.5 days for a berth
- Oakland – berthing delays, port congestion is seeing an average of 4 days for uplifting containers from port.
- Seattle – No berthing delays. Terminal 18 is now open 5 days per week having previously closed on Fridays. Rail import dwell time is 1-3 days.
- Long Beach – Congestion on port is seeing delays of 4-8 days
