Source: Trans Info
Date: 10th September 2026 

Persistent delays at Shanghai and Ningbo are colliding with a sharp increase in planned blank sailings, potentially tightening available capacity before and after China’s October Golden Week holiday.

China’s major container gateways are approaching Golden Week under unusually difficult conditions, with ongoing port congestion already absorbing vessel capacity while carriers prepare to cancel more sailings around the holiday.

More than 4 million TEU of containership capacity remains caught in global port congestion, with delays at Shanghai and Ningbo contributing to disrupted vessel schedules across Asia. Industry analysis indicates that the accumulated cargo backlog could keep ships highly utilised even during Golden Week, when Chinese factory closures would normally provide shipping networks with some seasonal relief.

The situation creates an important planning challenge for importers and exporters: underlying demand may slow during the holiday, but effective shipping capacity could remain tight.

Shanghai and Ningbo continue to face delays. Operational data for September 8 showed the seven-day average vessel waiting time at Shanghai at 4.72 days, while individual terminals experienced substantially longer delays. Waiting times exceeded nine days at some Waigaoqiao terminals and seven days at a Yangshan terminal.

At Ningbo, the seven-day average stood at 3.58 days, while yard utilisation at one terminal exceeded 90%.

Recent weather disruption has contributed to the pressure. Typhoon-related closures temporarily interrupted operations at both gateways, adding further delays to vessel rotations that were already under strain.

Once vessels fall several days behind schedule, the impact can extend beyond China as late ships continue through subsequent Asian, European and other international port calls.

Blank sailings increase ahead of Golden Week. At the same time, carriers are stepping up capacity adjustments ahead of China’s National Day holiday.

The latest data shows 79 blank sailings are expected across the major East-West trades between September 14 and October 18, out of 721 planned departures. This represents approximately 11% of scheduled sailings.

More significantly, announced cancellations for weeks 38–41 increased from 39 to 70 in just one week, a rise of nearly 56%. Further adjustments on China-related routes remain possible as Golden Week approaches.

Some Asia-Europe services have already been withdrawn around the holiday period, including departures from Qingdao on September 28, Ningbo on October 8 and Shanghai on October 10.

This creates an unusual combination. Port congestion is reducing effective vessel capacity at the same time carriers are removing scheduled capacity.

Disruption could continue into October. Golden Week runs from October 1–7, when factory production and export activity normally slow considerably.

This year, however, existing cargo backlogs could continue filling available vessels even as new production temporarily falls.

The effects may also extend beyond the holiday. Some blank sailings are scheduled after factories reopen, while vessels already delayed in September will continue moving through their rotations behind schedule.

What This Means

• Businesses with China-related ocean freight should consider the second half of September through mid-October as one continuous planning period, rather than focusing only on the Golden Week holiday itself.
• Earlier bookings, additional transit time and close monitoring of sailing schedules are advisable. Priority cargo may also require alternative services or routings where available.
• Shippers should be prepared for ETD changes, rolled cargo and reduced schedule flexibility, particularly if congestion remains elevated while additional blank sailings are announced.

Golden Week normally allows container shipping networks to rebalance as Chinese production temporarily slows. In 2026, that seasonal pattern could be different.

Existing congestion has already disrupted vessel positioning, while the rapid increase in blank sailings means fewer scheduled departures will be available around the holiday.

For supply-chain planning, the key issue is therefore not simply whether enough ships exist globally, but whether the right vessel capacity is available at the right port and at the right time.

Businesses should plan for the late-September and October period and maintain flexibility until congestion and vessel schedules begin to stabilise.