Intra-Asia Container Rates Rise to $1,504 Amid Southeast Port Chaos

Congestion at secondary Southeast Asian ports is creating upward pressure on intra-Asia container rates, with the Drewry Intra-Asia Container Index climbing to $1,504 per 40ft container. While major hubs like Shanghai and Singapore have stabilized, smaller ports in Vietnam and Indonesia continue to experience severe operational constraints, including vessel bunching and inadequate landside infrastructure. Jakarta's Tanjung Priok terminal has become the focal point of this disruption.

Despite recent capacity expansions and new terminal launches, the port lacks supporting road infrastructure to handle vessel arrivals efficiently. Ho Chi Minh City has seen average vessel waiting times nearly triple from 8 to 22 hours over the past two weeks. These bottlenecks are preventing shipping lines from absorbing repositioning costs, creating equipment shortages that further inflate freight rates.

For supply chain professionals, this situation underscores a critical vulnerability in Asia's port network. Infrastructure investments must extend beyond terminal capacity to include landside logistics and road access. Shippers routing through Southeast Asia should anticipate sustained rate premiums and extended transit windows until structural improvements materialize, particularly given that key road projects like New Priok Eastern Access will require up to 20 months for completion.