Singapore PSA Port Congestion Expected to Continue for Weeks, Impacting Global Shipping Schedules

Kuehne+Nagel has issued an operational warning regarding ongoing congestion at Singapore’s PSA container terminals, one of the world’s most important transshipment hubs. The current pressure is mainly caused by accumulated cargo backlogs, strong shipping demand before the Golden Week holiday, and increased container rollover volumes. The congestion has affected vessel schedules and may continue in the coming weeks. 

According to data from Kuehne+Nagel’s seaexplorer platform, vessels arriving at Singapore have experienced an average delay of 4.48 days over the past 30 days, while average departure delays reached approximately 4.3 days. Some vessels are currently waiting 3–5 days before receiving a berth, with ships carrying large volumes of transshipment containers facing potentially longer waiting times.

The main challenge comes from limited yard capacity at PSA terminals. To improve operational efficiency, the terminal is adjusting berth allocation based on yard availability and vessel cargo conditions. Vessels with higher export cargo volumes may receive priority, while vessels requiring significant transshipment container handling could experience longer waiting periods.

The Singapore port situation highlights the importance of flexible supply chain management for global traders and cross-border businesses. Companies relying on Asia–Europe, Asia–Middle East, and Asia–Americas shipping routes are advised to plan shipments earlier, monitor schedule changes closely, and work with experienced logistics partners to minimize potential disruptions and maintain stable delivery performance.