Global container schedule reliability fell for a fourth consecutive month to 27% in September 2026, with average vessel delays rising to 6.0 days, according to data from industry analyst Xeneta, putting further pressure on shippers on Asia-linked trades.
What Happened
Global on-time performance slipped 2 percentage points month on month to 27%, matching the low seen in February. Average delay rose for a fourth straight month to 6.0 days, a cumulative increase of 2.4 days since the start of the second quarter.
By trade, Far East to Europe collapsed to 4% on-time with average delays of 9.9 days, the worst since September 2021. Far East to North America held flat at 20% on-time, but average delay rose 0.8 days from August to 6.9 days. Asia-linked trades generally sat at or near 12-month lows for reliability and 12-month highs for delay.
On rates, the analyst's spot market average for China to US West Coast reached $7,717 per FEU in early October, up 8% from the start of September and more than four times the $1,778 seen in September 2025. Long-term rates rose 26% month on month to $3,649 per FEU on 1 October.
On congestion, vessel queues in Singapore nearly doubled from 12 to 22 vessels per day, with average wait times rising from 1.9 to 3.1 days as the hub absorbed spillover from Chinese port congestion. Shanghai's anchorage queue shortened from 101 to 86 vessels, but average wait lengthened from 1.9 to 2.7 days.
Background
The decline follows a sequence of powerful typhoons that made landfall from July through early September. Their compound effect on existing capacity constraints continues to erode reliability weeks after the storms, far from where they originally hit.
Pre-Golden Week demand added to the strain on space and yard capacity. Carriers blanked just 6% of planned capacity on Far East to Europe in September, the third-lowest share in 21 months, and 8% on Far East to North America. Blanking is stepping up sharply in October to at least 17% and 13% respectively.
Impact on Shippers
On transit time, arrival delays on major Asia-Europe and Asia-US lanes are consuming buffer days built into contracts and inventory plans. Because the risk lies in the severity rather than the frequency of late arrivals, contingency plans drawn up today may not hold when the next booking arrives.
On cost, China-US West Coast spot rates have reached $7,717 per FEU, with long-term rates up 26% month on month. Combined with bunker costs and peak-season demand, near-term bargaining room is limited. Customs clearance and container pickup are also affected, as queues at Chinese ports and congestion at Singapore's transshipment hub can extend transit times and disrupt destination pickup and return schedules.
Recommendations
Shippers should verify bookings and sailing schedules early, build in longer transit buffers, and assess congestion by looking at both anchorage queue length and average wait times. For time-sensitive cargo, consider adjusting shipment timing or spreading volumes across ports, and confirm destination pickup and container return arrangements with forwarders to avoid demurrage and detention charges. Rate and schedule details are subject to the latest carrier and official announcements.