On 22 September 2026, Kuehne+Nagel published a global port operational update that includes a China readout citing Linerlytica: port congestion in China is gradually easing from recent peaks, but disruptions at Southeast Asia and India/Middle East ports remain at near-record highs. For buyers still moving cargo through China’s Mid-Autumn (25–27 September) and Golden Week (1–7 October) window, the China terminal numbers are the actionable layer.
Seven-day average vessel waiting times in the update: Shanghai about 4.72 days, with congestion still elevated across Yangshan and Waigaoqiao and waiting times ranging 6–8 days at some terminals, plus heavy berth congestion and high yard density and limited near-term improvement expected; Ningbo about 2.51 days, with high yard density across terminals and MSICT average vessel waiting around 4 days, and dredging planned for Weeks 39–40; Qingdao about 1.21 days, with berth dredging underway since 15 September through year-end and several services shifted between terminals; Yantian about 1.56 days, with heavy yard congestion and gate-in restrictions still in place as pre–Golden Week demand presses terminal capacity.
Hong Kong’s seven-day average wait is about 1.2 days after backlog clearance, but terminal yard utilisation remains high at 80–85%. For China-origin ocean bookings this week, the practical implication is longer door-to-CY and berth buffers at Shanghai/Ningbo, plus early confirmation that Yantian gate-in appointments remain available for any South China loading.