What’s happening now
Major Australian ports including Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are experiencing intermittent congestion and landside access constraints.
Weather disruptions and operational delays continue to affect container delivery timing and depot operations.
Previous congestion events have caused extended berthing delays and even congestion surcharges due to delays exceeding 9–10 days.
What could happen next
As export cycles fluctuate and global shipping rebalances:
- container equipment shortages may increase
- terminal congestion may reappear during peaks
- inland transport delays may become the main bottleneck
Even small disruptions can cascade through supply chains.
Why Australia feels the impact
Delays are increasingly happening after the vessel arrives, affecting:
- container collection
- trucking schedules
- delivery commitments
- warehouse planning
SME takeaway
✔ Book containers & trucking early
✔ Allow extra time for collection & delivery
✔ Maintain flexibility with container types
Bottom line: In 2026, the biggest delays are increasingly happening on land — not at sea.
Source: Australian freight market updates; port operations reports (2026).
Disclaimer – Market data is from public sources we consider reliable but has not been independently verified; accuracy is not guaranteed