Container reliability slides to 27% on time in September, with Asia–Europe at just 4% and a 9.9-day average delay

Analysts Kai, Vihaan

Published October 12, 2026

Source Xeneta, via Seatrade Maritime (13 Oct 2026)

Ship-to-shore container cranes along the quay at Shanghai's Yangshan Deep-Water PortPhoto: Bruno Corpet (Quoique), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Summary

Container shipping reliability fell further in September. Typhoons since July have compounded existing congestion at Asian ports, and Xeneta expects October to be worse. Asia–Europe is the hardest-hit trade: its 4% on-time reading is the weakest on a major lane since Asia–North America hit 3% in September 2021.

Key numbers

Global on-time arrivals, Sep: 27%
Average Q3 delay: 6 days
Asia–Europe on time: 4%
China–USWC spot, $/FEU: $7,717

EXHIBIT 1Carrier on-time performance

September 2026, % of arrivals on time

Maersk

47%

Hapag-Lloyd

45%*

CMA CGM

30%*

Cosco

18%*

Yang Ming

4%*

*12-month low. Every carrier recorded its highest average delay of the past year. Maersk was best, down 4 pts.

Gemini (Maersk + Hapag-Lloyd), launched Feb 2025 with a 90%+ pledge, fell from 70% on time in June to 40% in September, a steeper decline than other alliances.

EXHIBIT 2Port congestion

Port	Vessel queue	Wait time
Singapore	12 → 22 / day	up to 3.1 days
Shanghai	101 → 86	1.9 → 2.7 days

Queue length and wait time can move in opposite directions, so assess both.

EXHIBIT 3Capacity and rates

Blank sailings	September	Planned
Asia–Europe	6%	~17%
Asia–North America	8%	~13%

China–US West Coast spot at $7,717/FEU is more than double the $3,649/FEU contract rate, and contract pricing is now rising as well.

Educational research, not investment advice. Prepared by student analysts of the Commodities and Shipping Club at Northeastern University from the sources cited above.

Container reliability slides to 27% on time in September, with Asia–Europe at just 4% and a 9.9-day average delay

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