Due to the dual impact of the new crown epidemic and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, there have been cargo congestion in many ports in Germany. German media reported on the 22nd that more than a dozen freighters planning to dock at the Port of Hamburg or Bremerhaven now need to wait for days or even weeks to dock.
The Ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven are the first and second largest ports in Germany, respectively. With a history of more than 800 years, the Port of Hamburg has developed to become the world's largest free port. Its location is at the heart of the European market, the European Community, the European Free Trade Association and the Economic Exchange, so the Port of Hamburg is also the most important transit seaport in Europe. In 2021, the Port of Hamburg will have a container throughput of 6.943 million TEU and a transport volume of 1.69 million TEU. Therefore, the congestion in these two ports can be imagined to a certain extent on the supply chain transportation in Germany and even throughout Europe.
Studies have shown that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have strained Supply Chains in Germany, contributing to a nearly two-fold increase in the risk of recession in Germany in just a few weeks. As a result, trade expert Professor Gerrit Heinemann predicts that "inflation in Germany could soar above 10% in the coming months." ”
Data on the 22nd showed that about 300 container ships were waiting to enter the port, and ships lined up in long lines on the river. The reason why the container ships outside could not enter was that the cargo ships that intended to leave the port had to temporarily berth in the port due to the impact of the epidemic, and some time ago, the Shanghai epidemic caused a number of ships to stay in German ports.
However, the recent improvement in the domestic epidemic situation, under the rhythm of resuming work and production, a large number of goods will be exported to Germany. It can also be expected that there will be a small peak in container ships arriving at German ports in the coming weeks.
Expert Jürgen Mattes also mentions ship congestion, which he believes will accelerate inflation in Germany to some extent, and this effect will be highlighted after a period of time. Because the freight time from Shanghai to Germany is about 6 weeks, that is, about a month. Once the supply chain is not delivered in time, then this impact will be highlighted in the next lead cycle.
Siegfried Russwurm, president of the German Federal Confederation of Industry (BDI), said that companies and customers are feeling the impact of international logistics turmoil on their own business conditions. Affected by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic in the past few months, transportation prices alone have more than doubled.
18 Supply Chain also reminds cross-border sellers who have recently exported goods to Germany to make timely transportation plans to prevent problems in their own operations caused by delays in the transportation timeliness.
This article is provided by 18 Supply Chain, and more cross-border logistics dry goods knowledge can be found in the public account "18 Supply Chain Cross-border Logistics".