Why it happens:
Some trade lanes run late consistently, even when global conditions seem stable. These delays are usually not caused by single events, but by structural issues that repeat over time.
What it is:
A trade lane is the regular shipping route between two regions or ports. Chronic delays occur when delays happen frequently on the same lane, regardless of season or specific shipment details. These delays are often predictable. They tend to affect the same origins, destinations, or services repeatedly.
How it works:
Chronic delays usually come from a combination of three factors:
- Trade imbalance. Many trade lanes move more cargo in one direction than the other. This creates problems with container positioning. Regions with strong exports often lack empty containers, while import-heavy regions accumulate them. Repositioning containers takes time and capacity, and delays are common.
- Equipment flow issues. When containers are slow to return from inland destinations, ports cannot supply enough empties for new exports. This leads to missed pickups, delayed gate-ins, and rolled bookings, even when vessels are available.
- Carrier network design. Carriers design services to optimize global networks, not individual lanes. Some routes rely heavily on:
1) transshipment hubs,
2) tight connection windows,
3) weekly sailings with limited recovery options.
When one port in the rotation is congested, the delay spreads across the entire service string. Over time, some lanes never fully recover and operate in a constant state of disruption.
Examples:
- An export-heavy region regularly faces container shortages, delaying pickups every month.
- A trade lane relies on one transshipment hub, where missed connections frequently add a week or more.
- A weekly service has no alternative sailings, so any missed vessel immediately creates a long delay.
Facts:
- Chronic delays are usually caused by systemic conditions, not isolated incidents.
- Some trade lanes are more sensitive to congestion and equipment shortages than others.
- Reliability depends as much on network design as on distance or transit time.
Misinterpretations:
- Delays are caused by temporary disruptions. While some delays are linked to one-off events such as weather or strikes, many trade lanes experience delays on a regular basis. These are often the result of ongoing conditions like port congestion, trade imbalances, or limited-service frequency. On these lanes, delays are not exceptions but part of normal operations.
- All carriers perform similarly in the same lane. Even on the same origin–destination pair, carriers can operate very different service strings. Some rely on direct services, others on multiple transshipment points. Sailing frequency, buffer time, vessel size, and recovery options vary, which leads to noticeable differences in reliability and delay patterns between carriers.
- Choosing the shortest transit time ensures faster delivery. Published transit times assume that every connection and cut-off is met. Routes with slightly longer scheduled transit times, but fewer transshipments or more frequent sailings often deliver cargo sooner and more consistently than routes with the shortest advertised transit time.
Who solves it:
Skypace system analyzes historical performance by trade lanes, including delay patterns, equipment availability, and service reliability. By comparing routes based on how they perform over time, shippers can identify lanes with recurring issues and choose options that are more stable, even if the published transit time looks similar.
