European port bottlenecks now spreading to China and US as trade tensions rise

Posted on May 26, 2025   |  

Port congestion in Northern Europe is worsening and now spreading to China and the US, driven by Donald Trump’s unpredictable tariff strategy.

Low water levels on the Rhine River are restricting barge traffic, especially from key ports like Antwerp and Rotterdam, straining inland logistics.

Major European ports—including Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven—are facing increasing backlogs and containership delays.

Operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges were further disrupted by a nationwide strike on May 20.

Similar congestion is appearing in Shenzhen, Los Angeles, and New York, where ship queues have been rising for three weeks.

Shipping lines are rerouting vessels and applying congestion surcharges to cope with delays.

A 90-day pause in US-China tariffs is fuelling early peak season demand in the transpacific eastbound trade, with pressure expected to rise before the July 9 deadline.