An atypical monsoon surge in Southeast Asia has led to congestion at key container ports, Singapore and Port Klang, following nearly a week of heavy rainfall. According to Linerlytica, delays of up to three days have been observed at both locations.
Singapore, recognized as the world's second-largest container port and the busiest transshipment hub, currently experiences moderate congestion. Lloyd's List Intelligence's SeaSearcher reports 329 vessels at the port, with 170 arriving on March 28. Notable delayed vessels include the 15,254 TEU CMA CGM Galapagos and the 4,253 TEU Cosco Haifa, as per EconDB data.
In Malaysia, Port Klang also faces moderate congestion, with 77 ships reported by SeaSearcher. This marks the third monsoon wind surge of 2025, an uncommon weather event. Typically, the strongest monsoon winds in Southeast Asia occur between December and January during the early north-east monsoon phase. The region averages four monsoon surges annually, each lasting one to five days.
Monsoon surges bring cold air from the north-east, originating from Central Asia, which warms as it moves southward over the tropics and the South China Sea. This process accumulates moisture, forming dense rain clouds and resulting in heavy precipitation.
On March 19, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore issued a notice advising ship owners to maintain vigilance during the monsoon surge. The authority emphasized, "Vessels must be properly secured for sea at all times" due to expected heavy showers and strong winds.
Source: Container News