Overall Port Performance Sees Improvement: Study

While overall port performance improved month-over-month — with shorter anchor waiting times and faster container movement—certain regions still face operational setbacks. Notably, the Port of Savannah saw a 43% drop in anchorage waiting time, marking a major turnaround. Meanwhile, Chittagong emerged as the most congested port, with ships waiting nearly 69 hours, according to Beacon’s latest Port Performance and Operations Report.

Key takeaways:

• Oceania leads with the most efficient port performance overall.
• Sub-Saharan Africa improved significantly, yet continues to struggle with the longest berth turnaround (2.5 days) and highest container dwell time (161 hours).
• Shanghai topped ship counts at anchorage (62), while Hong Kong saw an 88% drop.
• Several ports—like Barcelona, Oakland, and Busan—reported zero anchorage wait, signaling strong operational health.
• Ports like Djibouti, Seattle/Tacoma, and King Abdullah stood out for their resilience and efficiency across multiple performance metrics.

“Port productivity isn’t just a shipping concern — it’s a global business imperative,” says Fraser Robinson, CEO of Beacon. “Our March findings underscore the importance of timely insights to help businesses avoid costly delays and make smarter routing decisions.”