Port Congestion Briefing — Week of Feb 9–15, 2026

60-second executive take

Weather-driven volatility is the headline: myKN flags multiple closures across the Mediterranean / Iberia (Tanger Med closed; Algeciras & Valencia closed due to Storm Leo), plus cold-weather friction across North Europe.
“Long waits” are concentrated, not universal: Portcast’s latest weekly snapshot shows very high percentile waits clustered in a handful of gateways (e.g., Beira, Casablanca, Mombasa, Aden, Semarang), while many major hubs remain statistically “low” on median wait.
Yard density is the silent multiplier in China: myKN calls out extremely high yard utilisation (e.g., Shekou laden yard density 98%, Ningbo MSICT yard 96%, Nansha yard 91%)—meaning disruptions can amplify quickly even if average waits don’t look “catastrophic.”

Risk tiers definition (how to read this)

Critical: Port closed and/or severe, multi-day vessel delays (myKN 7-day avg wait typically >4 days, or Portcast P90 in double digits), with high risk of rollovers and missed inland connections.
High: Material delay risk but not a full shutdown (myKN 7-day avg often 2–4 days, or Portcast P75/P90 elevated); requires proactive cutoffs, alternative routings, and customer messaging.
Stable (monitor): Operations workable, but watchpoints exist (yard/rail/truck constraints, weather windows, short-term works, or “long-tail” volatility).

Global risk board (sorted Critical → High → Stable)

Location	Key signals	Tier	Likely impact	What LSPs should do now
Beira, Mozambique	myKN: 7-day avg wait ~17.44 days; Portcast (week 01–07 Feb): P50 10.66 / P75 23.04 / P90 25.90	Critical	Severe queueing; schedule integrity breaks; high rollover risk; inland knock-ons	Gate-in by appointment; pre-book inland; consider alternate gateways; push customers to accept wider delivery windows
Casablanca, Morocco	myKN: 7-day avg wait ~5.56 days; Portcast: P50 6.94 / P75 9.84 / P90 13.83; weather-related slow operations	Critical	Extended anchorage; berth delays; unreliable ETDs	Tighten documentation & VGM timing; prioritize equipment availability; add buffers to transit promises
Tanger Med, Morocco	myKN: port currently closed (severe weather/high swells); Portcast shows medium waits in the week snapshot	Critical	Service interruptions; vessel bunching post-reopen; transshipment misconnects	Prepare re-opening surge playbook; pre-alert customers on likely bunching; watch carrier advisories in real time
Mombasa, Kenya	Portcast: P50 6.70 / P75 9.20 / P90 14.51	Critical	East Africa reliability hit; inland handoffs delayed	Lock trucking/rail early; align consignee readiness; consider split shipments / earlier ETD options
Tema, Ghana	myKN: 7-day avg wait ~4.92 days, crane outages, operational constraints	High	Berth delays; window vs non-window variability; discharge uncertainty	Validate carrier window status; enforce earlier cutoffs; offer premium options where available
Bejaia, Algeria	myKN: 7-day avg wait ~11.5 days; backlog after severe weather	High	Prolonged delay; downstream storage/DEM/DET exposure	Set DEM/DET expectations early; pre-arrange storage; review alternate Algerian routings where feasible
Mostaganem, Algeria	myKN: 7-day avg wait ~9.0 days	High	Service delay; potential bunching	Proactive booking controls; confirm equipment; plan contingencies
Annaba / Oran, Algeria	myKN: severe weather disruption; Oran ~5.5 days	High	Delay risk persists as backlog clears	Add buffer; confirm roll risk; stage inland resources late, not early
Aden, Yemen	Portcast: P50 7.58 / P75 9.64 / P90 10.08	High	High unpredictability; limited recovery options	Only commit with buffers; push milestone-based updates vs fixed ETA promises
Semarang, Indonesia	Portcast: P50 4.79 / P75 5.78 / P90 7.33	High	Consistent multi-day waits; higher risk for time-sensitive cargo	Review service strings; consider alternates; escalate exceptions early
Nansha / Ningbo / Shekou, China (South China focus)	myKN: Nansha ~2.6 days, yard 91%; Ningbo ~2.26 days, MSICT yard 96%; Shekou laden density 98%	High	Yard pressure → gate-in controls, slow turns, “hidden” delay potential	Stagger gate-in; confirm terminal acceptance windows; secure chassis/yard capacity upstream
Shanghai, China	myKN: ~2.05 days, yard 81% (WGQ); strong winds forecast (6–7 Feb)	Stable (monitor)	Weather window can create short-term bunching	Plan for cutoffs slipping; keep customer ETAs conditional
Tianjin, China	myKN: ~1 day avg but “overall situation remains poor,” terminals heavy; 2–3 day general waits noted; dredging reduces berth utilisation	Stable (monitor)	Volatility and localised delays	Avoid tight transshipment connections; confirm berthing outlook with carrier
Rotterdam, Netherlands	myKN: ~1.23 days; 7–10 Feb closure for infrastructure works (no trains/barges/trucks handled)	Stable (monitor)	Short, sharp landside disruption; appointment and inland ripple	Pull forward/hold moves around the closure; re-time barge/rail; warn customers of possible milestone gaps
Antwerp, Belgium	myKN: ~1 day; yard and truck turn stable (Q913/Q869); crane arrivals delayed by weather	Stable (monitor)	Generally workable; watch for weather-driven slips	Keep routings; maintain normal buffers; monitor weekend labor and yard balance
Chattogram, Bangladesh	myKN: strike suspended Feb 5 (48h); Portcast: P50 1.29 / P75 3.03 / P90 4.04 (medium)	Stable (monitor)	Restart friction; residual backlog possible	Confirm terminal productivity daily; avoid aggressive delivery promises
Port Klang, Malaysia	myKN: ~1.13 days, yard density improved to 73%; Portcast P50 0.25	Stable (monitor)	Improving conditions	Keep routings; validate cutoffs normally

Critical tier deep dives

1) Beira, Mozambique — extreme queues with a “long tail” that won’t forgive tight plans

What’s happening
Beira is this week’s clearest “do not plan tightly” signal. myKN reports a ~17.44-day 7-day average vessel waiting time alongside ongoing congestion and severe weather. Portcast’s week 01–07 Feb snapshot reinforces the severity: P50 10.66 days, but the tail is brutal at P75 23.04 and P90 25.90.

What this means
Even “typical” moves can slip by weeks once a vessel misses its intended berth window. The gap between P50 and P90 suggests high variability—your service may look acceptable one day and collapse the next as backlogs reshuffle berthing priorities.

What to tell customers

“Beira is running with very long vessel queues; actual arrival-to-availability timelines are highly variable.”
“We’ll share milestone-based updates (arrival at anchorage, berth, discharge complete) rather than fixed-day promises.”

Action checklist

Set longer lead times for inland dray/rail and avoid early truck staging.
Pre-negotiate storage and align consignee readiness (avoid surprise fees).
Where feasible, evaluate alternate Moz/East Africa gateways and transshipment options, but validate end-to-end inland capacity before switching.
For time-sensitive freight, propose split shipments or earlier sailings to reduce exposure.

2) Morocco (Casablanca + Tanger Med) — weather closures now, backlog/bunching next

What’s happening
myKN reports Tanger Med is currently closed due to severe weather and high swells, while Casablanca is “mostly back to normal” but still operating slower with high swell, strong winds, and rain—keeping the 7-day average wait elevated (~5.56 days). Portcast data shows Casablanca is firmly in the high-delay bracket for the week: P50 6.94 / P75 9.84 / P90 13.83.

What this means
Expect a two-phase disruption: (1) immediate service interruptions (closures/slowdowns), then (2) post-reopen bunching where multiple late vessels arrive together, stressing yard and berth plans. Transshipment schedules are especially vulnerable if carriers compress rotations.

What to tell customers

“Weather-related closures and slowdowns are impacting Morocco gateways; we expect schedule volatility even after reopening due to vessel bunching.”
“We may recommend revised cutoffs and alternative routings depending on carrier recovery plans.”

Action checklist

Tighten pre-carriage planning: confirm gate acceptance windows and avoid late deliveries into the terminal.
Build buffer for DOC/VGM and avoid same-day “just-in-time” documentation.
Monitor carriers for blank sailings / port omissions that can appear after closures.
Prepare a customer option set: wait and absorb delay vs reroute (with transparent trade-offs).

3) Mombasa, Kenya — sustained multi-day waits with elevated extremes

What’s happening
Portcast flags Mombasa as one of the most delayed ports in the weekly snapshot: P50 6.70 / P75 9.20 / P90 14.51. That profile implies persistent queueing with a high likelihood of extreme cases.

What this means
For East Africa flows, plan for connection risk to inland legs and consignee delivery windows. The P90 suggests that even if some vessels berth in ~1 week, a meaningful portion will wait closer to two.

What to tell customers

“Mombasa is experiencing sustained congestion; we recommend adding buffer to delivery commitments and using milestone updates.”

Action checklist

Pre-book inland capacity early, but time dispatch closer to confirmed discharge to avoid idle costs.
Prioritize critical SKUs for earlier sailings or alternative services where possible.
For project/urgent moves, consider air or sea-air alternatives only after validating feasibility and cost.

4) China (South China terminals) — yard utilisation is the risk signal, not just anchorage wait

What’s happening
myKN highlights “high yard utilisation” across China’s terminals. Specific stress indicators include: Nansha with ~2.6 days 7-day average waiting time and yard occupancy 91%; Ningbo at ~2.26 days with MSICT yard 96%; Shekou with laden yard density 98% and export gate-in under pressure.

What this means
When yards approach saturation, terminals can impose gate controls, slow receiving, or prioritize certain vessel strings. The practical impact for LSPs is “hidden delay”—containers can get stuck at the landside interface even if anchorage numbers appear moderate.

What to tell customers

“South China remains operational but yard density is high; cutoffs and gate-in windows may tighten with little notice.”
“We’ll confirm receiving status before dispatch and communicate exceptions early.”

Action checklist

Stagger deliveries and avoid last-day gate-in.
Secure upstream yard/chassis capacity and ensure exporters are documentation-ready earlier.
Recheck carrier cutoffs frequently; align booking strategy to strings showing better terminal fluidity.

High tier snapshots (quick hits)

Tema, Ghana: myKN shows ~4.92-day 7-day average wait and crane outages affecting productivity. Prioritize window-vessel status checks and plan for berth slippage.
Algeria (Bejaia / Mostaganem / Oran / Annaba): myKN indicates multi-day waits (e.g., Bejaia ~11.5, Mostaganem ~9, Oran ~5.5) following severe weather; backlog clearance can be uneven across terminals.
Aden, Yemen: Portcast reports P50 7.58 with P90 10.08; treat as high-variability and avoid tight delivery commitments.
Semarang, Indonesia: Portcast shows sustained multi-day waits (P50 4.79 / P90 7.33); re-check routing and connection buffers.
Nacala, Mozambique: Portcast indicates meaningful tail risk (P90 15.80) even if medians are lower; watch for spillover effects from regional congestion.

Stable tier (monitor)

Rotterdam, Netherlands: myKN’s average wait remains modest (~1.23 days) but the Feb 7–10 infrastructure closure (no trains/barges/trucks handled) can create a short-term inland ripple—plan around the window.
Antwerp, Belgium: myKN reports ~1 day wait with stable yard/truck metrics; monitor weather-related crane delays and weekend labor.
Port Klang, Malaysia: myKN notes improvement (yard density 73%, waiting time ~1.13 days); keep monitoring but conditions look constructive.
Chattogram, Bangladesh: strike suspension (myKN) and medium percentile waits (Portcast) suggest lingering restart friction; treat ETAs as conditional.

Disruption bulletin (from sources)

Storm / severe weather (Mediterranean & Iberia): myKN reports Tanger Med closed and Algeciras & Valencia closed due to Storm Leo, with broader weather disruption across the region. Expect post-reopen bunching and schedule recovery ripple.
North Europe cold-weather friction: myKN notes prolonged low temperatures and snowy conditions contributing to closures/delays and rising congestion signals in parts of Europe, plus icy limitations in Germany.
Bangladesh labor disruption: myKN indicates Chattogram operations are gradually resuming after a strike was suspended on Feb 5 (initially for 48 hours), with delays still possible.
Rotterdam infrastructure works: myKN states a Feb 7–10 closure period where no trains, barges, or trucks are handled—a landside planning issue even if vessel waits stay low.

Forward lookout (next 7–14 days: watchpoints only)

Weather recovery risk: If high swell and wind persist in Morocco / Iberia, expect longer recovery tails and more volatile berth windows after ports reopen.
Regional spillover: Prolonged queues at Beira can strain feeder rotations and equipment positioning in the broader region—watch for secondary port knock-ons.
China yard density: With multiple terminals operating at high utilisation, watch for short-notice gate controls and tighter receiving windows even if anchorage waits remain moderate.
Inland network timing (North Europe): Temperature-driven constraints plus planned works can create sudden inland bottlenecks; keep appointment and rail/barge slots flexible.

Visibility note

“Many teams read congestion updates but still chase milestones manually. Tradlinx provides event-based container visibility (e.g., gate-in/out, vessel departure/arrival) and API integration so workflows and alerts can run directly inside your systems.”