Shipping Crunch To Last Up To 9 Months: UK Ports Body
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published October 13, 2021 | 11:50 PM
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Oct, 2021 ) :The world's biggest container ports will remain clogged up for six to nine months because of the supply chain crisis, the British Ports Authority warned on Wednesday.
The gloomy forecast came one day after Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk revealed it has started diverting traffic away from Britain's biggest container port Felixstowe on the eastern English coast.
The world's largest shipping firm is redirecting container ships to continental ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp, before switching to smaller vessels for UK deliveries.
"The congestion in general will last for another six to nine months," British Ports Authority policy director Mark Simmonds told AFP.
"There is congestion in container ports, but it's pretty much everywhere in the world." The situation "is probably worse in (continental) Europe, and much worse in China and the United States" than in Britain, he added.
Reopening economies are currently experiencing booming demand -- and supply has failed to keep pace.
Britain is also suffering from soaring energy prices, shortages of goods, motor fuel delivery issues and a worsening long-term shortage of lorry drivers, with post-Brexit immigration controls and Covid among causes cited by experts.
Simmonds denied media reports that the ports crisis could spark shortages of goods -- and toys -- in the run-up to Christmas.
The matter "is unlikely to affect Christmas in a major way" because there is still time for goods to arrive.
"September-October is the time when people start filling their warehouse with stuff for Christmas," Simmonds said.
"Ports (have been) working around the clock to get (the congestion) sorted for over a year," he added.
Felixstowe handles just over one-third of UK freight container volumes.
It has been among the most congested global ports owing to the acute shortage of lorry drivers in Britain.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq condoles over the demise ..
Senior Army Commanders visit families of customs' martyrs to condole
Poland-Pakistan corporation established on solid foundations: Polish envoy
Chairman Senate passes ruling to constitute Special Committee of Upper House
Stocks fall as tech shares sink, US economy slows
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
All AJK Inter-varsity Speech Competition urges UNO to ensure early grant of righ ..
AJK CEC calls on President Sultan Chaudhry
Assistant Secretary General of UNDP, Director of Regional Bureau for Asia & Paci ..
Portugal marks 50 years of democracy with far right on the rise
IHC suspends notification regarding cut in prices of 'naan & roti'
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
2 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
3 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
4 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
4 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
4 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
5 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
6 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
10 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
11 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
11 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
14 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
17 days ago