Port Congestion Breakbulk & Project Cargo
For Hamburg, these range from infrastructure overdue for replacement and lock bottlenecks, to low water on the Rhine and congested roads.
Mattern said the main problem at Hamburg now is the disruption caused while HHLA’ s Burchardkai container terminal( CTB) is converted from conventional to autonomous operations. CTB handles about one-third of all containers passing through Hamburg; automation will increase annual handling capacity at the terminal from 2.5 million TEUs to 6 million TEUs when work is completed this year.
Breakbulk volumes are under pressure in the major European ports. Roll-on / roll-off volumes at Rotterdam ticked up 1 % year over year in the first half, but other breakbulk fell 9.5 % due to“ stagnation in the European manufacturing industry, particularly in the machinery and automotive sectors,” the port spokesperson said.
Aluminum throughput is lower than usual, and steel volumes are falling due to import quota restrictions and high import tariffs.
“ Europe wants to favor European production of steel to make sure that European factories use European steel, but I don’ t think the equation is that easy,” the Rotterdam spokesperson said.
Conventional general cargo through Antwerp fell 11.7 % in the first half“ due to weak European industrial demand, US import tariffs on steel, high energy and transport costs, and uncertainty surrounding the CBAM( Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) and European import quotas,” De Smet said.
Ian Barclay, director of sales and marketing for Houston- based global logistics firm UTC Overseas, said that although US ports have remained fluid, delays in Europe and elsewhere in the supply chain have crimped US-bound breakbulk and project vessel capacity.
“ The real issues are loading the cargo overseas and then finding the tonnage to bring it to the US,” Barclay said.“ That’ s become more of a difficult situation simply because the routines are not as predictable.”
CUPA Shipping’ s Rincón said project developers should plan earlier and allow for longer lead times, especially for oversized and heavy-lift cargo moves.“ I do not believe congestion and disruption will disappear immediately,” she said.“ The industry may see periods of improvement, but the market will continue to face volatility.”
email: autumn @ autumngiusti. com email: felicity @ felicitylandon. com www. joc. com September 2026 | Journal of Commerce 13