Strikes at Multiple European Ports Exacerbate Congestion in Mediterranean Region

欧洲多港大罢工加剧地中海区域拥堵

The Italian Grassroots Dockworkers' Union has announced a 24-hour international general strike on February 6, 2026, affecting operations at all national ports. Unions in Greece, Turkey, and Morocco have declared synchronized actions, with at least 21 ports across the Mediterranean region expected to participate, including key hubs like Piraeus Port and Tangier Port.

意大利基层码头工人工会宣布于2026年2月6日发起24小时国际总罢工，涵盖全国所有港口的作业。希腊、土耳其和摩洛哥等国工会已宣布同步响应，预计地中海地区至少21个港口将参与此次行动，包括比雷埃夫斯港、丹吉尔港等关键枢纽。

This multi-port synchronous strike will directly intensify shipping congestion pressure in the Mediterranean. Major Italian ports like Genoa and Trieste have been under sustained operational pressure since the beginning of the year, with terminal efficiency nearing saturation. A complete halt in port operations will directly lead to a large-scale backlog of vessels in Mediterranean waters, delaying subsequent schedules.

此次多港同步罢工将直接加剧地中海区域的航运拥堵压力。热那亚港、的里雅斯特港等意大利主要港口自年初以来持续面临操作压力，码头效率已接近饱和。港口作业的全面暂停将直接导致地中海水域船舶大规模压港，延误后续船期。

More seriously, the strike impact may trigger cross-regional ripple effects. As Mediterranean ports are closely linked to global shipping networks like Northern Europe and Asia, disruptions at key nodes will disrupt overall schedule deployment, hinder empty container repositioning, and create supply-demand imbalances. This could consequently spread to affect the operational efficiency of North Atlantic hub ports like Rotterdam and Hamburg. The union also warned that this strike marks the beginning of a "new season of struggle," indicating potential sustained operational uncertainty ahead. Relevant cargo owners, shipowners, and logistics companies are advised to formulate contingency plans in advance.

更严重的是，罢工影响可能产生跨区域连锁效应。由于地中海港口与北欧、亚洲等全球航运网络紧密相连，关键节点中断将打乱整体船期部署，导致空箱回流受阻和供需失衡，进而蔓延影响鹿特丹、汉堡等北大西洋枢纽港的操作效率。工会同时警告此次罢工将是"新斗争季"的开始，预示未来可能面临持续的运营不确定性。建议相关货主、船东与物流企业提前制定应对预案。

Severe Weather Hits Bay of Biscay

比斯开湾恶劣天气来袭

A brief improvement in weather over the Bay of Biscay provided a window for vessel transit, allowing terminal operations to resume, but delays from prior backlogs persist. However, a new round of severe weather expected to hit on Wednesday, February 4th, is forecast to once again disrupt ferry routes and terminal operations in the Western Mediterranean region. The resulting chain reaction of schedule delays may subsequently impact the Northern European port network.

比斯开湾天气短暂好转为船舶通行提供了窗口，码头运营得以恢复，但前期积压导致的延误仍在持续。然而，新一轮将于2月4日（周三）来袭的恶劣天气，预计将再次打断西地中海地区的渡轮航线与码头作业，其引发的连锁船期延误后续也可能波及北欧港口网络。

A more profound impact stems from the severe storm that hit Portugal last week, causing serious damage to transportation infrastructure (including roads, railways, and power) in central regions like Leiria. This has essentially severed the critical logistics artery between ports and their hinterlands. The paralysis of this landside collection and distribution system means that even if port terminals are operational, goods struggle to move in and out. This exacerbates yard congestion and operational delays at port areas, significantly increasing supply chain waiting times and the risk of demurrage.

更深远的影响来自于上周袭击葡萄牙的强风暴，其对莱里亚等中部地区交通基础设施（包括道路、铁路及电力）造成的严重破坏，实质上切断了港口与腹地之间的关键物流动脉。这种陆侧集疏运系统的瘫痪，使得即便港口码头能够操作，货物也难以进出，从而加剧了港区的堆场拥堵与操作延误，显著推高了供应链的等待时间和滞箱风险。

Congestion Status at Major Chinese Ports

中国主要港口拥堵情况

Ningbo Port: Yard utilization >90%; terminal delays higher than the port average.

宁波港：堆场利用率>90%；码头延误高于港口平均水平。

Shanghai Port: Average waiting time: 3 days, maintaining high-level operation.

上海港：7天平均等泊时间约3天，维持高位运行。

Qingdao Port: Average waiting time: 3 days.

青岛港：7天平均等泊时间约3天。

Zhangjiagang Port: Average waiting time: 9 days.

张家港：7天平均等泊时间约9天。

Dalian Port: Average waiting time: 4 days.

大连港：7天平均等泊时间约4天。

This week, yard density remains a primary risk signal. Rotterdam (MVII) is nearing full capacity, Ningbo (MSICT) exceeds 90%, and several secondary hubs are experiencing multi-day berth delays.

本周堆场密度仍然是主要风险信号，鹿特丹（MVII）接近满员，宁波（MSICT）超过 90%，几个二线枢纽出现多日泊位延误。

Despite the pressure, some terminals continue to operate normally on the landside (e.g., Antwerp Q869 maintains stable truck turnaround; Hamburg is operational, though weather may increase friction).

尽管面临压力，一些口岸在陆侧仍然能够正常运作（例如，安特卫普 Q869卡车周转稳定；汉堡可以运营，但天气会增加摩擦）。

Important Points: Winter weather conditions in Northern Europe, highly divergent terminal conditions in Shanghai and Ningbo, and the nationwide strike in Italy on February 6th.

值得关注的事件：北欧的冬季天气状况、上海和宁波的终端高度发散，以及2月6日意大利全国范围内的24小时罢工。