Since March 2026, Southeast Asian ports have been plagued by a dual crisis of congestion and operational restrictions, posing challenges to the shipping timelines of foreign trade companies in South China.

Indonesia has implemented strict traffic restrictions during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. From March 13 to 29, nationwide restrictions on heavy-duty trailers and container trucks have directly led to a 50% drop in port capacity. In particular, the yard utilization rate at the Port of Semarang has exceeded 95%, with loading and unloading operations generally delayed by 1 to 3 days.

Regional core hub ports are experiencing severe backlogs. Data shows that the current congestion rate at the Port of Singapore has reached 36%, while Port Klang in Malaysia has hit 50%. Meanwhile, average loading and unloading delays at Laem Chabang Port in Thailand have reached 10 to 15 hours. A large volume of transshipment cargo is stranded, and the issue of disrupted shipping schedules is becoming increasingly prominent.

Transshipment routes are facing further disruptions. Due to tensions in the Middle East, multiple international shipping routes have been forced to reroute, resulting in widespread delays for cargo on Far East–South America and Asia–Europe routes that originally transshipped through Southeast Asia. With some foreign trade orders nearing their delivery deadlines, the risk of contract breaches has risen significantly.

Key Reminder: Exporters in South China should closely monitor the progress of port clearance following the lifting of restrictions in Indonesia and assess in advance the impact of transit port delays on their April shipping schedules. If necessary, adjust logistics routes or negotiate delivery dates.