Strategies for European Ports Facing Strikes and Droughts

In May 2025, European ports are experiencing an unprecedented supply chain crisis. The nationwide strike in Belgium paralyzed the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the waiting time for berthing at the Port of Hamburg approached 50 hours, and the density of the yard at the Port of Rotterdam reached a critical level; at the same time, the water level of the Rhine River continued to drop, and the inland barge capacity dropped sharply, further exacerbating the pressure on land-side transshipment. This crisis not only made freight forwarders and shipping companies anxious, but also put B2B companies and e-commerce sellers who rely on the European market into the dilemma of "difficult delivery, chaotic delivery time, and rising costs".

The wave of strikes and the emergency water level have caused a sharp deterioration in port congestion, which has brought a huge impact on global trade. As a B2B company or e-commerce seller, it is crucial to understand the latest developments of European ports and take effective countermeasures to ensure the stability of the supply chain and reduce costs.

The strike wave swept the core hubs

Labor-capital conflicts and economic pressures: Under high inflation, the salary growth of European port workers lags far behind the soaring cost of living. Port workers in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium have taken turns to strike, demanding higher treatment. The acceleration of port automation has triggered large-scale unemployment anxiety. The strikes organized by trade unions have spread from local to multi-national linkages. The strike in Belgium alone caused a loss of 40 million euros in a single day.

Operational paralysis and global chain reaction: The shutdown of the terminal has led to a backlog of ships, the utilization rate of the yard has exceeded 92%, and delays in container pick-up and return have become the norm. What's more serious is that the strike in France has forced goods to be diverted to Antwerp and Rotterdam, which has increased the pressure on alternative ports and formed a vicious cycle.

Water level emergency

The dual dilemma of nature and man-made: The water level of the Rhine from Koblenz to Rotterdam has dropped sharply due to the continued drought, and large barges have been forced to reduce their load or stop sailing. The over-exploitation of water sources has exacerbated the problem, almost interrupting inland logistics channels in Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France.

Land transport substitution exacerbates cost crisis: When 60% of goods are forced to turn to roads and railways, the already fragile land transport network is instantly overloaded, truck freight rates soar by 37%, and railway space reservations need to be made 21 days in advance - costs are like wild horses running wild, and your goods are still waiting for a truck that has not arrived yet at the port.

Due to technical problems, the railway at the Port of Hamburg has been blocked from land transportation, and container availability is in urgent need.

Policy changes: The tariff window period triggers a "rush to ship"

The window period for the suspension of China-US tariffs has led to a surge in demand for capacity on trans-Pacific routes, and European port capacity has been withdrawn, exacerbating the backlog of ships;

Liners impose port congestion surcharges, and transportation costs have risen by 15%-20%.

Can your supply chain withstand this storm?

1. Where exactly is the cargo stuck? When a ship has been drifting off the coast of the Port of Hamburg for 7 days but no one can tell the exact berthing time, how do you explain it to your customers?

2. How to choose between cost and timeliness? Pay sky-high air freight? Or bet that the goods can be cleared within 30 days?
3. How to avoid out-of-stock for core customers? The order of a major customer is about to default, and the fine is as high as 15% of the contract amount. Do you have a plan B?
4. How to build a risk-resistant supply chain? If the port crisis breaks out every year in the future, can your logistics system survive?

Impact on enterprises and sellers

Soaring logistics costs: Port congestion has led to longer waiting times for ships, increased operating costs for shipping companies, and pushed up freight rates.

Delivery delays and default risks: The uncertainty of cargo transportation time has increased, and many companies are unable to deliver goods on time, resulting in an increase in default risks.

Limited visibility and control: Complex delays and changing port priorities make it difficult to track goods and make corresponding plans.

Unstable supply chain: Uncertain shipping schedules make it difficult for sellers to predict delivery times. Inventory management becomes more difficult, which may lead to out-of-stock or inventory backlogs.

Market share loss: Due to the backlog of goods, some European dealers have turned to purchasing local brands, causing the market share of Chinese automakers in Europe to drop from 12% to 8%.

A solution for third-party international fulfillment service providers

As a service provider that has been deeply involved in the cross-border logistics field for many years, Chinadivision helps companies resolve the following core contradictions through the "data-driven + flexible supply chain" strategy:

1. How to avoid order defaults caused by port congestion?

Dynamic route optimization: Real-time monitoring of global port congestion index, by recommending the best route (such as diverting to Mediterranean ports or Nordic secondary ports);

Multimodal transport combination: For the European market, provide a "sea + rail + road" mixed transportation solution to bypass congested nodes;

Emergency inventory pre-positioning: Set up overseas warehouses in hub countries such as Germany and the Netherlands to support B2B customers to prepare goods in advance and achieve "48-hour express delivery".

2. How to deal with the surge in logistics costs caused by the strike wave?

Cost sharing model: Through big data analysis of historical freight fluctuations, customize "insurance + floating" freight solutions for customers;

Smart LCL service: Integrate small batch orders to reduce unit transportation costs;

Tariff optimization consulting: Use the EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) rules to help companies comply with regulations and reduce tariff costs.

3. How to ensure the resilience of the supply chain to cope with unexpected risks?

Supplier grading management: Based on historical performance data, risk rating of suppliers is carried out, and high-resilience partners are given priority;

Digital supply chain dashboard: Real-time tracking of cargo location, port congestion status, and customs clearance progress to achieve "transparent" management;

Emergency plan library: For scenarios such as strikes and natural disasters, preset alternative logistics solutions (such as air freight replenishment and overseas warehouse transfer).

Chinadivision Action:

Emergency diversion: Transfer goods to Bremen Haven Port and shorten transportation time through the "sea + rail" solution;

Overseas warehouse transfer: Transfer the same model inventory from the German overseas warehouse, deliver 50% of the orders in advance, and avoid customer loss;

Cost compensation: Cover part of the demurrage through insurance claims, and negotiate with customers to share the remaining costs.

Customized logistics solutions: As a third-party international fulfillment service provider, Chinadivision provides flexible logistics solutions, including customized packaging, sorting and distribution services, to ensure that goods can be delivered to customers efficiently and safely.

Strikes and water shortages at European ports have posed severe challenges to global trade, but by optimizing logistics routes, planning inventory in advance, using digital tools, and choosing flexible logistics services, companies can effectively respond to these challenges, reduce risks, and ensure the stability of the supply chain. If you need a more detailed solution or want to optimize your logistics process, please feel free to contact Chinadivision, a third-party international logistics fulfillment service provider. Our professional team will provide you with tailor-made logistics solutions to help you stay competitive in a complex and changing market environment. Chinadivision promises:

7×24 hour emergency response: a dedicated customer service team monitors global logistics dynamics in real time;

Transparent quotation: no hidden fees, freight, surcharges, and storage fees are all included in one price;

Compliance guarantee: covering EU VAT, EORI, IOSS and other full-link compliance services.