LogisticsHigh urgency
West African ports remain severely congested, with Guinea Conakry and Lagos leading global delays
Kuehne+Nagel's weekly port update (5–11 August 2026) reported Guinea Conakry vessel waiting times around 13.6 days amid limited dry, reefer and empty container storage, and Ghana Tema around 5.55 days. Kenya Mombasa was reported around 5.17 days, driven by truck evacuation constraints and container imbalances. Separately, market reporting placed Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can) anchorage waits at 14–21 days, citing carriers reallocating vessels toward higher-profit US and Europe routes and reducing West Africa capacity.
ITG interpretation: Persistent congestion on West and East African corridors means transit-time buffers and demurrage exposure remain elevated; carrier capacity being pulled toward US/Europe keeps space tight and rates volatile into ITG's African lanes. Alternative discharge ports like Tema and Lomé become worth pricing for Nigeria-bound cargo.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (5–11 August 2026) · Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (29 July–4 August 2026)
LogisticsHigh urgency
Severe congestion at Red Sea/Middle East hubs pressures East Africa transshipment; Dakar hit by Mali corridor diversions
Kuehne+Nagel's port update covering 29 July–4 August 2026 reported Jeddah experiencing severe congestion with vessel berthing delays of 10 to 21 days, with pressure across port operations, shipping lines, customs, trucking and forwarders. Sohar showed a 7-day average vessel waiting time of about 3.33 days and berthing delays of 7 to 14 days. Dakar continued to experience moderate congestion from volumes diverted off the Mali corridor, with a roughly 40 km truck queue forming at the Mali border on 21 July, while Nouakchott saw limited flat-rack and truck availability during the July–September rainy season.
ITG interpretation: Jeddah and Sohar delays directly threaten transshipment reliability for East Africa-bound boxes routed via the Gulf/Red Sea, so China→East Africa and Türkiye→East Africa transit times should be padded. West African landside disruption at Dakar/Nouakchott raises the risk of demurrage and inland delays on ITG project cargo into the Sahel.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (29 July–4 August 2026)
Logistics
Freight capacity into Africa expected to stay tight through 2026 despite record vessel orderbooks
According to DHL Global Forwarding's August 2026 Ocean Freight Market Update cited by The Africa Logistics, global container fleet capacity is expected to grow by about 4% this year, below the roughly 6% average, while effective nominal capacity is being reduced by approximately 18% due to congestion and continued Suez-related detours. Major carrier orderbooks are large (MSC 33%, CMA CGM 40%, COSCO 45% of current fleets), but their impact is expected to be felt largely from 2027 onwards. For African importers, freight costs, equipment availability and schedule reliability could remain volatile through 2026.
ITG interpretation: For ITG this signals that headline rate declines will not translate into reliable, cheap capacity on Africa lanes in the near term, so procurement should be planned around scarcity rather than easing. Early commitment on space and equipment is likely to beat waiting for spot-rate relief.
Sources: The Africa Logistics – Africa's Container Shipping Outlook
Logistics
Asia–West Africa shipping capacity jumps 34% in 2026 as carriers expand services
The Africa Logistics reported a 34.4% increase in Asia–West Africa container capacity in 2026, described as a clear indicator that shipping lines see long-term commercial potential in the region. It noted Maersk revised its Operational Cost Imports surcharge for West Africa shipments covering markets including Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal, effective April 2026. The report cautioned that added capacity can create longer vessel and container dwell times and that lower base rates may be offset by surcharges, terminal charges, storage, demurrage and inland transport costs.
ITG interpretation: Expanded Asia–West Africa capacity gives ITG more routing options and potential leverage on base rates for China→West Africa cargo, but the real cost advantage depends on avoiding congestion and surcharge stacking. The competitive edge shifts toward providers who sell route intelligence and total-landed-cost visibility, not just the cheapest ocean rate.
Sources: The Africa Logistics – Africa's Shipping Map Is Changing
Logistics
Conakry (Guinea) port severely congested with ~14-day vessel waits amid Mali corridor fuel risk
Kuehne+Nagel's port update for 29 July–4 August 2026 reported Conakry's 7-day average vessel waiting time at around 14.25 days, with both dry and reefer container storage under significant pressure. A 24/7 truck circulation initiative has improved flows but has not cleared the backlog, and a 40-ton legal weight limit remains in effect with the rainy season expected to further affect inland movements. The Conakry–Bamako corridor remains operational but is being monitored due to Mali's fuel supply challenges. By contrast, Abidjan's average vessel wait was around 5.2 days.
ITG interpretation: For ITG cargo bound for Guinea or transiting to landlocked Mali, Conakry currently carries multi-week delay and reefer-storage risk, and the Bamako corridor's fuel dependency adds inland uncertainty. Abidjan may offer a more reliable West African discharge alternative for time-sensitive consignments.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational updates (29 July – 4 August 2026)
Logistics
Lagos remains the world's worst-congested box port as carriers reallocate capacity away from West Africa
Industry rate analysis dated 8 July 2026 reported Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can) vessel waiting times of 14–21 days at anchorage, described as the worst port congestion globally, with China–West Africa FCL rates ranging from roughly $2,800 to $7,500 per 20ft container. The analysis states major carriers (MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM) — which control over 70% of China–Africa capacity per Shanghai Shipping Exchange and Alphaliner data — are reallocating vessels to higher-profit US routes, reducing West Africa capacity, and recommends alternative ports such as Tema and Lomé. Rates were expected to stay elevated through Q3 2026.
ITG interpretation: China→Nigeria lanes face both extreme cost volatility and multi-week berthing delays, and carrier capacity discipline means new tonnage is unlikely to relieve rates near-term. Routing via Tema or Lomé with onward transport can de-risk delivery for ITG's Nigeria-bound cargo.
Sources: Great Hensen – West Africa Shipping Rates 2026 / Lagos Congestion Analysis
Logistics
Durban and Tema congestion persists; Cape Town stabilises but reefer pressure remains
In Kuehne+Nagel's 12–18 August 2026 port update, Durban remained under significant pressure, with delays of 5–9 days at Pier 2 (DGT) tied to congestion, a NAVIS system implementation and increased waterside waiting times, though the 7-day average vessel wait was around 4.25 days. Ghana's Tema showed a 7-day average wait of about 6.83 days with severe terminal congestion driven by a crane outage and restricted berth availability. Guinea's Conakry recorded a roughly 19-day average wait due to limited container storage capacity. Cape Town's average wait was 0 days with operations stabilised, though elevated citrus and reefer export volumes continued to strain yard capacity and caused occasional rollovers of dry and hazardous cargo.
ITG interpretation: West and Southern African gateway delays remain a live cost and schedule risk for ITG's China/Türkiye inbound flows, with Conakry and Tema the worst pinch points. Cape Town's stabilisation offers a relative bright spot, but reefer-driven rollovers there mean dry and hazardous cargo can still be bumped.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel — Port operational updates (12–18 Aug 2026)
LogisticsHigh urgency
Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd return AE19 Asia–Mediterranean service to Suez, cutting ~4 weeks vs Cape route
On 10-11 August 2026, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd rerouted their jointly operated AE19 service (Gemini Cooperation), which links Asia, the Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia and Europe, back through the Suez Canal and Red Sea, effective immediately beginning with the westbound Berlin Maersk. Hapag-Lloyd stated the switch is expected to save around four weeks compared with sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. AE19 is one of four services the carriers have shifted from the Cape to Suez since early July, while nine other services continue to route around Africa.
ITG interpretation: Faster Asia/China–Mediterranean transit times improve reliability and could ease rates on China-origin cargo transshipped through Mediterranean hubs, but the return is partial and reversible if Red Sea security deteriorates, so routing should not yet be treated as normalized. Freed-up capacity may soften spot rates into H2 2026.
Sources: Euronews · Global Trade Magazine · The Maritime Executive
Logistics
West/East African port congestion persists: Conakry ~14 days, Mombasa ~5 days, Cape Town/Durban strained
Kuehne+Nagel's port update for 29 July–4 August 2026 reported Guinea's Conakry with a 7-day average vessel waiting time of around 14.25 days amid dry and reefer storage pressure, and Kenya's Mombasa at around 5.17 days with congestion driven by truck evacuation constraints and container imbalances. In South Africa, Cape Town averaged around 4.0 days waiting with exceptionally high reefer demand from overlapping citrus and deciduous export seasons, and Durban around 3.43 days, with Cape Town described as the most constrained port in the network. Abidjan averaged around 5.20 days.
ITG interpretation: Sustained multi-day waits at key African gateways mean landed-cost and lead-time buffers must be widened for both Türkiye- and China-origin cargo, particularly reefer and time-sensitive goods routed through Cape Town during the citrus peak. Conakry's backlog also raises rollover risk for West African deliveries.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel
Logistics
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd return AE19 Asia–Mediterranean service to Suez Canal
On 10-11 August 2026, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd rerouted their AE19 Gemini Cooperation service (connecting Asia, the Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia and Europe) back through the Suez Canal from the Cape of Good Hope, taking effect immediately with the Berlin Maersk. Hapag-Lloyd said the AE19 switch is expected to save around four weeks versus the Cape route. AE19 is the fourth service shifted from the Cape to Suez since early July (alongside AE15, MECL and WAF6), while nine other services continue to sail around Africa. Carriers stressed this is a targeted adjustment, not a network-wide return, contingent on continued Red Sea stability.
ITG interpretation: Faster Asia–Mediterranean transits improve reliability and potentially lower cost for China-origin cargo transhipping via Mediterranean hubs relevant to Türkiye. However, capacity freed from the longer Cape route could add to feared overcapacity, softening rates — while the return remains reversible if Red Sea security deteriorates, so ITG should not yet re-baseline transit times structurally.
Sources: Maritime Executive · Euronews · Global Trade Magazine
Logistics
West Africa capacity tightens as carriers reallocate and Maersk revises import surcharge
Reporting indicates Asia–West Africa capacity is rising (cited at up to 34% growth in 2026), yet capacity for shippers remains constrained. Maersk announced revisions to its Operational Cost Imports surcharge for shipments to West Africa covering Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal, effective April 2026. Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can) has been reported with vessel waiting times of roughly 14-21 days, with carriers reallocating vessels toward higher-profit US and Europe routes. DHL's August 2026 assessment noted global container fleet capacity growing about 4% this year, below the ~6% historical average, with congestion absorbing effective capacity.
ITG interpretation: For China→West Africa cargo, headline ocean-rate reductions can be erased by surcharges, terminal charges and Lagos demurrage, so total landed cost — not base freight — should drive routing. Alternative gateways such as Tema and Lomé may relieve Lagos congestion for ITG's Nigeria-bound volumes.
Sources: The Africa Logistics · The Africa Logistics – Container Shipping Outlook