Even in 2025, port congestion remains a formidable barrier to smooth global trade. Northern European terminals—including Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven—are facing their most sustained bottlenecks since the pandemic. Berth waiting times have risen dramatically: Antwerp is up 37%, Hamburg 49%, and Bremerhaven a staggering 77% between spring and early summer. What used to be measured in hours is now days—ships are waiting six to ten days to berth…
