TL;DR: In early June 2026, approximately 650 vessels — 51.9 million deadweight tonnes — were waiting to load or unload at Chinese ports. That’s 150 more ships than April and the worst congestion since October 2024. Capesize waits doubled year-on-year. Here’s what’s behind the gridlock and how to keep your container moving.
The Scale of the Problem
During the first week of June 2026, satellite and AIS data showed approximately 650 bulk carriers waiting at Chinese ports — a combined 51.9 million deadweight tonnes. For context: that’s roughly the entire annual iron ore import volume of a mid-sized European country, sitting idle at anchor.
By vessel class:
- Capesize: 125 ships waiting (up from 80 same period last year — a 56% increase)
- Panamax: 160 ships waiting
- Supramax/Handysize: the remainder
Container terminals are also feeling it. Ningbo, Shanghai, and Qingdao all reported elevated berthing delays in the first week of June, though container vessels clear faster than bulkers because of standardized loading procedures.
Why Now
Weather disruptions. June is typhoon season in the South China Sea. Even a near-miss closes ports for 1-2 days, and the backlog takes a week to unwind. In the first week of June alone, three separate weather systems caused port closures along the Chinese coast.
Strong import demand. China’s imports surged 27.4% in May. All that raw material — iron ore, coal, soybeans, crude oil — arrives on bulk carriers. More imports = more ships = more congestion. The container congestion is a side effect: when bulk terminals are overwhelmed, port resources (tugboats, pilots, berth schedulers) get stretched, and all vessel types feel the impact.
Export front-loading. The same tariff fears driving US container rates are pushing Chinese exporters to ship earlier. Factories that normally spread production across a quarter are cramming output into a few weeks, creating export surges that ports weren’t staffed for.
Which Ports Are Worst
| Port | Congestion Level | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Ningbo-Zhoushan | 🔴 Severe | World’s largest port by tonnage — always busy, currently overwhelmed |
| Shanghai | 🟡 Moderate | Huge capacity helps it absorb surges, but delays are rising |
| Qingdao | 🟡 Moderate | Weather closures + bulk iron ore surge |
| Tianjin | 🟡 Moderate | NEV exports booming — specialized handling takes more time |
| Rizhao | 🟢 Lower | Smaller port, less affected by the main surge |
| Yantai | 🟢 Lower | Good alternative to Qingdao for Shandong-based shipments |
What to Do
1. Ask your forwarder for current berthing times — not last month’s. Shipbroker reports and terminal schedules are updated daily. Before confirming a shipment date, get a real-time estimate from someone who’s actually at the port.
2. Use alternative ports when possible. Qingdao congested? Ask about Rizhao (2 hours south) or Lianyungang (2 hours south of that). The freight difference is often negligible compared to a week of demurrage at anchor.
3. Build 7-10 days of buffer into your timeline. If your factory says “ships June 20,” tell your customer “ships June 30.” The extra 10 days absorbs port delays, weather closures, and last-minute vessel changes without breaking your promise.
4. Pre-clear customs documentation. The #1 cause of container-side delays: incomplete paperwork. Submit your customs declaration as soon as you have the commercial invoice and packing list — don’t wait for the vessel to arrive.
Port congestion is like traffic — sometimes there’s no way around it. But you can leave earlier and take the back roads.
Written by Xinya Zhang. I coordinate shipments from Shandong factories to ports worldwide. I track which terminals are jammed and which ones are clear — so my clients’ containers don’t sit at anchor. Tell me what you’re shipping →
Sources:
- World Ports Organization — China port congestion data, June 2026
- Ningbo Customs / China Daily — Export volume reports, May-June 2026
- Drewry / Freightos Baltic Index — Container rate benchmarks, June 2026