Congestion at Rotterdam Terminals Increasing Again

In recent weeks, the situation at container terminals in Rotterdam has deteriorated. Due to disruptions, traffic jams, and long waiting times, the planning of road transport is under significant pressure. This is affecting the flow of goods and could impact logistics processes throughout the entire supply chain.

What is happening exactly?
Terminals report that they are unable to handle the current volumes. Turnaround times at the terminals of five hours, with peaks of seven to eight hours, are no longer exceptional. The lack of structural solutions is causing peak congestion at times when many containers need to be collected simultaneously. Even at night - normally a quieter period - long queues have become common.

Looking ahead to the upcoming meeting
On Thursday, December 4, the Alliance of Sea Container Carriers, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, and various chain partners will meet to discuss the exceptional congestion that occurred last week at the Maasvlakte. The goal is to jointly explore measures to improve the situation and prevent future bottlenecks.

At Berkman, we are closely monitoring the situation so we can proactively respond to potential delays. Do you have questions about possible impacts on your planning? Please contact your regular Berkman representative.