Sudden! Two major ports are paralyzed! Ships are severely delayed and there is a huge backlog of cargo
Sunny Worldwide LogisticsIt is a logistics company with more than 20 years of experience, specializing in markets such as Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Southeast Asia. It is more of a cargo owner than a cargo owner~
Ports on India's west coast, especially Mundra, have been hampered by surges in cargo volume and extreme weather, resulting in vessel delays and cargo backlogs. Recovery is expected to take a week or more due to continued weather conditions. The difficulties at Mundra Port have had a ripple effect on the regional supply chain, and Nhavasheva Port is also facing severe traffic congestion.
Ports on India's west coast, especially the container shipping hub Mundra Port, are facing unprecedented operational pressures. This challenge stems not only from the tight capacity brought about by the continued growth of cargo volume, but also from the severe disruption caused by extreme weather events to port operations.
Last week, India's coastal areas were hit by heavy rains and floods, and Mundra Port, a key node for the country's container trade, was hit hard. Shipping companies reported severe delays for ships at the port, with the entire shipping system paralyzed by flooding for at least three days, leading to a massive backlog of cargo.
Adani Ports (APSEZ) is making every effort to clear the backlog and work to resume normal berthing of ships. However, due to the continued impact of the weather, it is expected that it may take a week or more to resume cargo flow.
In response to the current difficulties, Mundra Port will reportedly prioritize export-oriented ships to dock in order to alleviate some of the pressure. At the same time, as more than half of the port's cargo relies on rail transportation or inland container terminals (ICD) for transshipment, the normal operation of rail services has also been affected, and there is a backlog of inbound trains. However, the port has confirmed that it is working hard to clear stranded trains.
In addition, due to their partnership with Adani's terminal in Mundra, MSC and CMA CGM's ships appear to have priority berthing advantages, while other shipping companies have to face longer waiting times, and some ships even choose to jump to the port or Diversion to other coastal ports included the COSCO Philippines which sailed around Mundra last week.
The problems at Mundra Port have also triggered ripple effects in regional supply chains. Truckers and cargo terminal owners at the Jawasheva Port (JNPA) have expressed frustration over escalating delays in and out of cargo in recent days, calling on authorities to intervene and resolve the issue as soon as possible. Although the recently implemented road traffic restrictions are intended to simplify vehicle movement, they have unexpectedly increased traffic congestion in the JNPA area, with truck drivers reporting that it takes up to 20 hours to turn around.
Stakeholders such as the Indian Container Freight Stations Association also expressed concern over frequent road closures in the JNPA area, leading to severe disruptions and cargo backlogs. The association noted that exports were blocked and imports were delayed, which put huge pressure on transport companies and drivers, forcing They deliver on their promises to their customers.
It is worth noting that despite facing many challenges, the cargo volume of the Navasheva Port continues to grow, reaching a new monthly throughput high in August, reaching 639,336TEU, a significant increase compared with the same period in 2023.
