By Maria Kalamatas | July 4, 2025
Singapore — July 4 — Heavy monsoon rains sweeping across Southeast Asia have triggered a wave of severe port congestion, with Singapore, Port Klang, and Tanjung Pelepas reporting turnaround delays of up to 48 hours due to weather-related slowdowns and equipment backlogs.
“The berths are full, yard utilization is near capacity, and vessel queues are growing by the hour,” said Leonard Ong, senior operations manager at Port Klang Terminal.
In Singapore, yard density reached 89% by Wednesday night, prompting port authorities to issue a priority berthing advisory for reefer containers and time-sensitive cargo. Affected carriers include CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and several intra-Asia feeders that serve retail and electronics chains.
Regional supply chains under stress
The impact is being felt upstream. Exporters in Thailand and Vietnam are scrambling to reroute via alternative hubs, while some carriers have begun to omit congested ports entirely. Logistics firms say that inland depots are now absorbing delays, with warehouse operators facing an unexpected overflow in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
“We’ve seen delays cascade from ship to truck to warehouse in a matter of days,” explained Mira Tran, freight director at a Vietnamese 3PL. “There’s no breathing room left.”
Insurance and rate implications
Marine underwriters in Hong Kong are warning that continued weather volatility may trigger surcharges on time-sensitive shipments, especially as July sees the start of East Asia’s peak export season.
Shipping analysts forecast that if weather conditions persist through mid-July, blank sailings and rolled cargo will become more common, forcing major BCOs to consider airfreight options at a significant cost premium.
