Behind the Scenes – Why Delivery Times May Be Longer

We understand that it can be frustrating when deliveries arrive later than expected. Perhaps your account manager recently informed you that your order has been delayed. We'd like to be open and transparent about this. There are currently several global challenges affecting the logistics chain that are simply beyond our control.

What’s going on?

1. Reduced shipping traffic from Asia to Europe

Import volumes from Asia have recently declined slightly. In response, shipping lines are implementing so-called “blank sailings,” meaning they cancel scheduled sailings to cut costs. The containers from the cancelled vessel are transferred to a later one, causing delays of several days to a week.

2. Tensions in the Red Sea and rerouting around the Suez Canal

Due to ongoing tensions in the Red Sea, many vessels are now avoiding the Suez Canal and taking the longer route around Africa. This detour adds an average of 10 to 14 extra days to the journey.

3. Congestion in Asian ports

Many ports in Asia are struggling to handle the increased pressure from rescheduled and rerouted vessels. This leads to congestion, with ships often having to wait several days before they can load.

4. Bottlenecks in European ports

As more ships arrive at the same time, European ports are also becoming congested. Ports aren’t always able to process the incoming vessels right away. Ships may have to wait 2 to 3 days or divert to another port (like Felixstowe, Antwerp, or Hamburg) and return later. This means the estimated arrival time of a container can change even at the last minute.

5. Delayed unloading times

Where vessels used to be unloaded within 48 hours, this now takes an average of five working days. If your container is at the bottom, this can add a few more days before your goods become available.

What does this mean for your delivery?

Under normal conditions, it takes about 5 to 6 weeks for a container to arrive in Europe from Asia. Given the current circumstances, this can extend to as much as 11 weeks. Because factors like routing and port capacity can change at any point during transit, it's currently very difficult to guarantee a precise delivery time.

We’ll keep you informed

We are doing everything we can to keep you as well-informed and up to date as possible about the status of your delivery. We hope this explanation provides more clarity on the challenges happening behind the scenes.

Do you have questions or want to discuss the status of your order? Please don’t hesitate to contact your account manager or reach out via info@duchell.com.