Globally, a pivotal shift in shipping dynamics can be witnessed. According to a recent Port Congestion Report, ports are quickly recovering from congestion with a 77.2 percent improvement since Q2, 2023 and global congestion now at just 0.36 days. Data suggests pre-pandemic "normal" levels could be reached in about two quarters. However, the acceleration and regional divergence in this recovery is striking. Ports like Piraeus in Greece, Tanjung Perak in Indonesia, and Chittagong in Bangladesh are seeing significant congestion increases against the global trend. This article discusses the status of port congestion in different parts of the world.
North America
"North American ports have shown remarkable improvement over the past three months," says Fraser Robinson, Founder of Beacon. Average congestion dropped by 0.628 days during that timeframe, which is a 68.4 percent improvement. Several ports, including Savannah, show sustained recovery after dramatically reducing congestion by over 69 percent year-over-year. During that same time frame, average anchor times dropped to just 0.30 days and are now among the lowest globally. "Based on our analysis, I expect North American port efficiency to continue improving and we're projecting the region to maintain its strong performance through 2025," commented Robinson.
Africa
Sub-Saharan ports also show strong improvement and lead global recovery with a 73 percent year-over year improvement. Mombasa's (Kenya) transformation from one of the most congested ports to near-normal operations demonstrates that rapid recovery is possible with the right approach. Durban has also shown a dramatic improvement in congestion compared to the previous year. "Fresh produce out of these ports, including citrus from South Africa, should experience more reliable departure and delivery times," shared Robinson.
South America
In addition to Africa, South American ports are similarly encouraging, with Santos, Brazil showing steady improvement and the region averaging a 37.8 percent year-over-year congestion reduction. "Given that North American ports are also operating efficiently, inbound fresh produce shipments from these regions should be experiencing some of the most reliable transit times we've seen in years." With a lot of trade happening between South America and North America, this is a great development for seasonal imports. Both source regions and destination ports are operating at optimal efficiency levels.
Asia
"Asia is where the real concern is." Certain Southeast Asian hubs face mounting pressures. Indonesia in particular is experiencing significant deterioration as Tanjung Perak has seen congestion surge by 182.5 percent in just three months. Chittagong in Bangladesh – a critical gateway for Asian trade – now averages over four days of anchor time, making it the most congested port globally. From an average of 3.25 days in Q2, 2024 processing time went up by 24 percent to 4.04 days in Q2, 2025.
For fresh produce, this creates a double challenge. While products may leave North American ports efficiently, they are increasingly likely to face delays upon arrival in key Asian markets. The unpredictability stems from this regional imbalance rather than outbound congestion from North America. "I would recommend fresh produce exporters to build additional buffer time into Asian-bound shipments and consider alternative routing through less congested ports," Robinson mentioned. East Asian hubs like Shanghai – while showing some pressure – remain significantly more efficient than Southeast Asian alternatives.
Difference in performance explained
What causes the difference in performance between these ports globally? "What we are seeing is that North American ports have successfully invested in infrastructure and operational improvements that are now paying dividends," Robinson said. The contrast with other regions – particularly Southeast Asia – is quite stark. North American ports are processing vessels faster and more efficiently than they have in years. For fresh produce imports, this means more predictable berth availability and faster cargo processing once vessels arrive.
The impact on shipping rates
"While Beacon focuses primarily on operational data rather than rate analysis, there's typically a strong correlation between port congestion and shipping costs," commented Robinson. The efficiency gains that are visible in key trade lanes should theoretically put downward pressure on rates, though this can be offset by broader market dynamics. The current pricing structure is fluid due to the volatile tariff hike situation which interlinks with carriers increasing or decreasing capacity on certain routes. This in turn will have an impact on the freight rates based on supply and demand.
The improved efficiency in North American and African ports suggests carriers can maintain more predictable schedules and better asset utilization, which historically translates to more stable pricing. However, the emerging bottlenecks in Southeast Asia could create premium pricing for services to those regions as carriers factor in delay costs and extended voyage times.
For fresh produce specifically, the reliability improvements on key inbound routes – South America and South Africa to North America – should help reduce the premium that is typically paid for expedited or guaranteed services, as carriers can offer more confident delivery windows.
Port selections are critical
The global shipping landscape is rapidly rebalancing after years of disruption. For fresh produce importers and exporters, this creates both opportunities and challenges. The good news is that traditional North-South trade lanes – particularly between the Americas and from Africa to North America – are operating at their most efficient levels in years. However, businesses with significant Asian exposure need to build additional contingency planning into their supply chains. "The data clearly shows we're entering a period where port selection and route optimization will be critical competitive advantages."
It is Robinson's recommendation for growers and shippers to work closely with their logistics partners to leverage the improved efficiency data in rate negotiations, particularly for routes where Beacon's data shows sustained improvement trends. "The logistics industry is at an inflection point. Those who harness this data to anticipate bottlenecks and identify efficiencies will gain a significant competitive advantage in the months ahead."
For questions or supporting documentation, please contact:
Fraser Robinson / Gitte Willems
Beacon
[email protected]
www.beacon.com/port-congestion