Nhava Sheva

Customer Advisory: India and China Container Shipping Disruption

Aug 12, 2026 | , , , ,

Container shipping markets in India and China are experiencing significant operational disruption, resulting in longer transit times, reduced schedule reliability, constrained equipment availability and rising freight costs.

Metro is working closely with shipping lines, terminals and inland partners to minimise disruption and identify practical alternatives for affected cargo. Customers are advised to plan shipments as early as possible and allow additional time throughout their supply chains.

India market update

The Indian container market is under sustained pressure across both export and import supply chains.

A combination of strong export demand, restricted carrier capacity, equipment shortages and ongoing congestion at key gateway ports is making vessel space increasingly difficult to secure. These conditions are contributing to vessel rollovers, revised sailing schedules, extended transit times, peak season surcharges (PSS) and highly volatile freight rates.

The India–US and Latin America trades remain under the greatest pressure, particularly for cargo moving to the US East Coast.

Freight rates and surcharges

Spot-market freight levels for India–US East Coast shipments are currently ranging from approximately USD 10,000–12,000 per 40HC, depending on port pairing, routing and available capacity.

Carriers continue to introduce Peak Season Surcharges for both spot and contract cargo. These charges increased through August, with further increases being announced for September.

On the India–US East Coast trade:

  • Average August PSS levels are around USD 5,000 per 40HC
  • Maersk has announced a PSS increase to USD 7,500 per 40HC, effective 1 September
  • Further PSS increases remain possible across other India export markets

Rate volatility is expected to continue into September as carriers maintain tight capacity controls and place further pressure on allocations.

Port congestion and equipment availability

Active monsoon conditions are affecting port operations and inland transport across India’s west coast. The disruption is expected to continue in the near term and may cause further delays to container movements, terminal operations, rail services and road transport around major gateways. 

Major Indian gateways, particularly Nhava Sheva/JNPT, continue to experience congestion caused by vessel bunching, terminal capacity pressure, rail delays and limited transport equipment availability.

Key gateways potentially affected include:

  • JNPT / Nhava Sheva: India’s busiest container gateway and a major export hub for US-bound cargo
  • Mundra: India’s largest private container port, handling significant volumes of US-bound exports
  • Hazira: An important feeder and export gateway for manufacturing cargo from Western India

Container availability, particularly for 40HC equipment, remains inconsistent at several export locations. This may delay booking confirmation and require longer lead times for exporters.

Customers should anticipate additional variability in shipment timing, particularly where cargo depends on inland positioning or feeder connections.

China port disruption

Typhoon Dolphin has created further disruption at Chinese ports following the impact of Typhoon Bavi just weeks earlier.

The storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to Zhejiang province before moving on as a tropical storm. Authorities have warned of continued risks from torrential rain, flooding and landslides, while flight cancellations and transport disruption have also affected the wider region.

Port and vessel impact

Temporary closures at Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan and surrounding feeder ports disrupted cargo handling and vessel movements.

Current impacts include:

  • Vessels delayed, held at anchorage or diverted to alternative ports
  • Service schedules changing at short notice
  • Delays of 7–21 days remaining common on affected services, with some potentially longer
  • Ongoing congestion as terminals process accumulated cargo
  • Localised disruption to rail, road and barge transport, despite conditions gradually improving

Port productivity is beginning to recover in some locations, but congestion and schedule disruption are expected to persist while backlogs are cleared.

Metro will continue to monitor developments closely and work with carriers and partners to secure capacity, explore alternatives and keep customers informed of material changes.

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Peak season survey reveals cautious confidence as demand strengthens

Aug 5, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Metro's Q3/26 Peak Season Survey suggests businesses are entering the second half of the year with growing confidence, despite ongoing uncertainty across global supply chains.

While current shipping volumes remain mixed, the outlook for the next three months is positive. More than three-quarters of respondents expect shipping volumes to either increase or remain stable, with no respondents anticipating a decline. 

The findings indicate that businesses are continuing to adapt to market disruption, focusing on flexibility, resilience and proactive supply chain planning rather than waiting for conditions to return to normal.

Demand is being driven by real business growth

Unlike previous peak seasons, where activity was often influenced by front-loading or supply chain disruption, this year's demand appears to be supported by underlying market conditions.

Half of respondents identified genuine customer demand as the primary driver of shipping activity, while 37.5% pointed to inventory replenishment and restocking. Only 12.5% believed customers were bringing orders forward, and the same proportion cited carrier actions creating tighter supply. No respondents believed an earlier-than-usual seasonal peak was driving demand. 

Current shipping volumes remain varied. While 37.5% reported moderately higher volumes than the same period last year and 12.5% reported increases of more than 20%, an equal 37.5% said volumes were lower than a year ago. 

Looking ahead, confidence remains encouraging.

A quarter of respondents expect shipping volumes to increase significantly over the next three months, while 37.5% anticipate a slight increase and a further 37.5% expect volumes to remain stable. Significantly, none of those surveyed expect demand to decline during the remainder of the peak season. 

The results suggest businesses are planning for sustained activity rather than a short-lived seasonal spike.

Peak season has already begun

Three-quarters of respondents believe the traditional peak shipping season is already well underway, while only 12.5% believe it has yet to begin. A further 12.5% remain unsure. 

This reflects the continued resilience of international trade despite geopolitical tensions, longer shipping routes and higher transport costs.

However, an early start does not necessarily mean peak season will finish early. Over the past three years, an earlier summer peak has typically been followed by a second, smaller surge in demand during the fourth quarter, bookended by Golden Week in early October and the build-up to Chinese New Year. Many shippers are therefore planning for sustained demand through the remainder of 2026 rather than a single seasonal spike.

Red Sea transits remain under close review

As container carriers continue trial transits through the Suez Canal and Red Sea, businesses are monitoring developments carefully.

Three-quarters of respondents were already aware of the resumed transits. However, only a minority have fully reviewed their cargo insurance arrangements. Instead, 62.5% said insurance reviews are currently underway, while 25% have yet to assess whether their existing cover is suitable for regular Red Sea transits. 

The findings suggest confidence in the route is improving, but these results came before the recent Houthi attacks, so risk management remains a priority.

Flexibility is becoming the preferred strategy

Businesses are responding to market conditions by adapting existing supply chains rather than making wholesale changes to transport modes.

The most common response (37.5%) has been to alter shipping routes while maintaining the same mode of transport. Another 25% are considering alternative transport solutions if conditions deteriorate further, while 12.5% have already introduced sea-air services and a further 12.5% have switched some shipments to road transport. Meanwhile, 37.5% have not changed their transport strategy. 

Among those making changes, every respondent (100%) cited long transit times as the primary reason, with vessel capacity and port congestion receiving no responses. 

Agility is becoming more important than storage

When asked about warehousing priorities, 83.3% of respondents identified flexible transport alternatives as their greatest requirement, compared with 33.3% who highlighted low-cost short-term storage solutions. 

The findings suggest businesses are placing greater emphasis on maintaining supply chain agility than simply increasing storage capacity.

What the survey tells us

The results paint the picture of a market that remains resilient despite continued disruption.

Demand is being driven primarily by genuine customer activity rather than precautionary ordering, businesses are broadly optimistic about shipping volumes over the coming months, and most believe peak season is already underway.

At the same time, companies continue to manage risk carefully. Red Sea insurance arrangements are being reviewed, alternative routing remains under consideration, and flexibility has become a higher priority than simply securing additional warehouse space.

As peak season develops, Metro can help keep your supply chain agile. We'll review your transport strategy, identify opportunities to improve resilience and help you respond quickly to changing market conditions while maintaining service levels and controlling costs.

We’d be interested in your views too. EMAIL Managing Director, Andrew Smith

Blanking is biting

Why blank sailings have become the new normal for container shipping

Aug 5, 2026 | ,

Spot freight rates have eased from their summer highs, but the container market remains far from settled. While demand has softened following an unusually early peak season, ocean carriers continue to tightly control available vessel space through blank sailings. 

The result is a market where freight rates are easing only gradually, despite significant growth in the global container fleet.

For shippers, this represents an important change. Blank sailings are no longer simply a response to weak demand, they have become a fundamental part of how carriers manage capacity and support market stability. 

Capacity is growing but available space isn't

Since 2019, container shipping lines have invested heavily in new vessels, significantly increasing fleet capacity across the major East-West trades.

However, much of that additional capacity is never reaching the market.

Sea-Intelligence data shows that blanked capacity has grown substantially faster than overall fleet capacity on every major trade lane. On Asia-North America East Coast services, scheduled capacity has increased by 46% since 2019, yet blanked capacity has risen by 215%. Similar trends can be seen on Asia-Mediterranean (56% versus 159%), Asia-North Europe (20% versus 83%) and Asia-North America West Coast (16% versus 62%). 

Rather than allowing new vessel deliveries to create excess supply, carriers are actively withdrawing sailings to maintain higher vessel utilisation and prevent freight rates falling too quickly.

This represents a significant shift from the pre-pandemic market, when fleet growth generally translated into greater shipping availability.

Blank sailings remain high through August

The latest market data suggests carriers have no intention of relaxing that discipline.

Across the major East-West trades, 58 blank sailings are scheduled between weeks 32 and 36 (3 August to 6 September), representing around 8% of all planned departures. 

Despite these cancellations, 92% of scheduled sailings are still expected to operate, demonstrating that carriers are making targeted adjustments rather than widespread service reductions. 

The greatest concentration of cancellations is on the Transpacific eastbound trade, followed by Asia-North Europe/Mediterranean services and the Transatlantic. 

Freight rates are softening but only gradually

Container spot rates have softened through the end of July, but, the pace of decline remains measured, because rather than allowing prices to fall sharply after the early summer peak, carriers are relying on blank sailings, selective discounting and careful capacity management to support the market. 

Additional attempts to introduce general rate increases during August suggest shipping lines remain determined to defend current pricing levels, even as demand becomes more balanced. 

For shippers, this means freight rates are likely to remain more resilient than previous market cycles would suggest, with a Q4 spike likely to apply further upward pressure.

Network disruption hasn't disappeared

Capacity management is only one factor influencing schedules. As Chinese ports continue to recover from recent typhoon disruption and prepare for the arrival of Typhoon Dolphin, ongoing congestion and vessel bunching is still affecting service reliability across several trade lanes. Although roll pools have reduced significantly since the summer peak, carriers continue to omit selected port calls and adjust networks to maintain schedule integrity. 

These operational pressures reinforce the importance of securing space well in advance, particularly as the market approaches the expected fourth-quarter demand increase.

The container market is becoming more disciplined rather than more predictable and lower demand no longer leads automatically to sharply lower freight rates. Instead, carriers are using blank sailings as a strategic tool to balance supply with demand and maintain network efficiency.

For shippers, planning assumptions based on pre-pandemic market behaviour are becoming increasingly unreliable.

Booking earlier, allowing greater flexibility around sailing schedules and reviewing inventory strategies will help businesses manage a market where capacity remains carefully controlled even as freight volumes become more balanced.

As carrier networks continue to evolve, Metro helps customers stay ahead of changing market conditions. From securing capacity and monitoring sailing schedules to identifying alternative routings and managing inventory risk, we'll help keep your supply chain moving efficiently, whatever the market throws at it.

EMAIL Managing Director, Andrew Smith to learn more.

Hormuz satellite

Middle East conflict is reshaping global shipping once again

Jul 22, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea is facing renewed disruption with 14 Iranian attacks on vessels since June 25th, the breakdown of the US-Iran ceasefire and a Houthi threat to target Saudi-linked shipping in the Bab al-Mandab.

The tanker Kavomaleas, initially reported on fire in the Strait of Hormuz, has since been confirmed as the target of an attack on Monday. Its crew abandoned the vessel, which remained adrift and on fire. UK Maritime Trade Operations also reported that another tanker in the Strait’s southern transit corridor had been attacked and set alight, with its crew also abandoning ship.

These incidents have further weakened confidence in the safety of the Strait, which has historically carried around one fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas.

Traffic has fallen sharply during the latest period of escalation, with only six vessels crossing the Strait in a day, the lowest level in five weeks, while hundreds remained at anchor outside the waterway.

For shippers, the concern extends well beyond regional security. Rising fuel costs, higher insurance premiums, longer voyage times and reduced network capacity all have the potential to increase transport costs and reduce schedule reliability across global supply chains.

Hormuz remains the world's most important energy chokepoint

The attacks on Kavomaleas and a second tanker follows earlier incidents in July involving three vessels, including a Qatari-flagged LNG carrier.

Iran subsequently accused vessels of transiting without its permission, using its interpretation of the MoU agreement to assert control over passage through the Strait.

While the United States insists the waterway remains open to commercial traffic and has deployed a naval blockade, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threat to execute attacks on unauthorised vessels cannot be ignored.

The impact extends far beyond the Gulf itself. Because such a significant proportion of the world's crude oil and LNG exports move through Hormuz, even relatively limited disruption can trigger sharp movements in energy markets as traders price in the risk of prolonged restrictions.

Brent crude briefly climbed above US$90 per barrel following the latest escalation, increasing expectations of higher bunker costs and transport surcharges across both ocean and air freight markets.

Red Sea uncertainty threatens container shipping

While Hormuz is primarily an energy concern, the Red Sea remains critical to global container shipping.

Recent threats to Saudi-linked shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait have renewed concerns that carriers may once again reduce Red Sea transits or suspend recently restored Suez services.

Maersk recently returned its Gemini AE15 service to the Suez route and planned to add Jeddah from August. Its MECL service also calls at the port.

CMA CGM operates several Asia-Europe services through Suez. Recent schedules show some Jeddah calls omitted on the MEX and BEX2 services, although not all calls have been removed.

Should security risks increase again, those services could once more be rerouted around southern Africa.

Such diversions add thousands of nautical miles to Asia-Europe voyages, increasing fuel consumption, extending transit times and reducing the effective capacity of the global container fleet. Even though no vessels are removed from service, longer round voyages mean fewer sailings can be completed each year, tightening capacity and placing upward pressure on freight rates.

Marine insurance remains available for vessels transiting the Gulf, but at substantially higher prices.

War risk hull premiums reportedly stood at a fraction of 1% of insured vessel value before the crisis began in February. They have since risen to between 3% and 10%.

For a tanker valued at US$100 million, this could increase the premium for a single transit from around US$250,000 to as much as US$10 million.

The Lloyd’s Market Association has stated that the decline in traffic is not primarily the result of insurance being unavailable. It said owners are choosing not to transit because of safety concerns.

These costs ultimately feed through to supply chains via emergency surcharges, bunker adjustment factors and higher freight rates.

Although neither the Strait of Hormuz nor the Red Sea is theoretically closed, commercial conditions remain highly fluid.

Container carriers continue to review sailing schedules, tanker operators are assessing voyage risks on a daily basis and insurance markets remain volatile. Further attacks or additional security measures could quickly alter routing decisions across both regions.

Visibility turns uncertainty into control

Geopolitical events cannot be prevented, but their impact can be managed with real-time visibility and timely data.

Metro combines global freight expertise with advanced digital visibility through our MVT platform, providing customers with real-time shipment tracking down to SKU level across all transport modes. Metro helps businesses identify disruption early, make informed decisions and keep products flowing through increasingly complex global supply chains.

To learn how Metro can strengthen the resilience and visibility of your international supply chain, EMAIL Managing Director Andrew Smith today.

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