Ocean schedules on major trade lanes from Asia are expected to worsen following a significant explosion aboard the Yang Ming vessel YM Mobility, which led to the closure of the Ningbo port, a key Chinese export hub. The incident, caused by an explosion in a container with dangerous goods, has resulted in delays across the supply chain, exacerbating disruptions already caused by Typhoon Gaemi.
Before the explosion, ships were already experiencing significant berthing delays at Ningbo and other major ports like Shanghai, Xiamen, and Hong Kong due to bad weather. The Ningbo port’s closure is expected to add to the congestion and delays, particularly affecting peak import demand in the U.S. and Europe.
The congestion is also being felt in North European ports, where Maersk and other carriers have had to adjust port calls due to extended waiting times. Delays are further complicated by vessels rerouting to avoid the Red Sea, contributing to bottlenecks from Asia to Europe. Shipping schedules are being frequently adjusted to manage these disruptions, but experts predict the congestion will persist, particularly in ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp.
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