Many empty container parks are at capacity, and several closed their doors yesterday to import de-hires of certain equipment types due to operational safety concerns. Weather disruptions, berth and container terminal congestion, and stevedore industrial disputation are identified as major contributing factors.
There is a reported shortage of empty containers in Asia to fill export needs. However, the shipping lines haven’t been able to evacuate the number of empties necessary to alleviate the severe congestion.
One analysis shows an imbalance of over 30,000 TEU since April of imported containers – full and empty – compared to containers exported – full or empty – through Port Botany.
That’s over 30,000 TEU in the container logistics chain in NSW that otherwise should have been re shipped or re-used, but instead are piling up in empty container parks and transport yards.
The flow-on impact in the logistics chain is huge, with import empties unable to be de-hired, empties being staged through transport yards and held until they can be dealt with, and a massive increase in the redirection notices for empty containers that adds to transport costs and creates an administrative nightmare