Shanghai backlog: 114 ships still at anchor as berths clear

Market Context & Direct Impact

Shanghai's port group says the port is fully back to normal, but anchorage queues tell a different story. The Maritime Executive reports that the Shanghai International Port Group recorded 5.135 million TEU handled during September, a monthly record, after three typhoons disrupted operations from July. The same report says Linerlytica analysts still list 114 vessels at anchor off Shanghai as of 10 October, with 82 more on dock and over 629,000 TEU waiting. Port officials say operations have returned to normal, while the consultancy's queue data points to a backlog still in place.

The queue has lasted weeks, which makes it a planning problem rather than a one-off delay. In early September, The Loadstar cited Linerlytica estimating that the logjams held up 3.92 million TEU, about 11% of the global container fleet, and that North Asia accounted for 54% of global port congestion. APL Logistics expected vessel bunching and accumulated backlogs to keep causing schedule reliability problems after Shanghai and Ningbo resumed. Forwarder Seko warned that reopened port gates do not mean vessel schedules have normalised, because pilotage and berth sequencing can need more time. Our reading is that buffer stock held in Shanghai-linked warehouses may stay in place longer than gate-reopening dates imply.

Core Executive Takeaways

• Release on berthsSeko's point that reopened gates lag vessel schedules argues for releasing buffer stock only after berth sequencing recovers.
• Track anchorage countsLinerlytica's 114-vessel anchorage count offers a measurable signal that the port's normal-operations statement does not.
• Expect a longer tailBacklogs that ran for weeks suggest cover targets should assume a longer recovery than the port's own timeline.

Strategic Playbook

1. 1
   Set a berth-based trigger

   Tie any drawdown of safety stock held in Shanghai-linked 3PL space to berth waits and anchorage counts for your own vessels, reviewed weekly, rather than to the port's public restart notices.

2. 2
   Split inbound buffers

   Where schedules allow, route part of replenishment through a non-Shanghai North Asia gateway, because North Asia held 54% of global port congestion in early September according to Linerlytica.

Filed 15:18 GMT, 22 October 2026, for the second edition of 22 Oct.
As agents only.

Sources

1. Shanghai Moved a Staggering 5.1M TEU in September Recovering from TyphoonsThe Maritime Executive, published 16 October 2026
2. Berthing delay at congested Shanghai and Ningbo now hitting 10 daysThe Loadstar, published 1 September 2026
3. Cargo chaos in North Asian ports as Typhoon Bavi blows inThe Loadstar, published 14 July 2026
4. Shanghai Smashes Record Handling Over 200,000 TEU in One DayThe Maritime Executive, published 4 August 2026

Claims ledger: 9 facts and where each comes from

• Shanghai International Port Group reported 5.135 million TEU handled during September, a monthly record, after three typhoons disrupted operations from July.¹
• Linerlytica analysts list Shanghai with 114 vessels at anchor as of 10 October, with an additional 82 vessels on dock.¹
• Over 629,000 TEU are at anchor, giving Shanghai the highest queue-to-berth ratio, per Linerlytica.¹
• The port says it has fully returned to normal operating conditions after the successive typhoons.¹
• Linerlytica estimated the logjams held up 3.92 million TEU, 11% of the global container shipping fleet, as of 1 September 2026.²
• Linerlytica noted that North Asia accounted for 54% of global port congestion, with around 2.5m TEU of vessels waiting to berth.²
• APL Logistics advised that vessel bunching and accumulated backlogs were expected to create continued congestion and schedule reliability challenges after Shanghai and Ningbo resumed operations.²
• Forwarder Seko said port gates reopening does not mean vessel schedules have immediately normalised, and pilotage and berth sequencing may need additional recovery time.³
• Shanghai resumed operations on 13 July, but a significant backlog of vessels had built up.⁴

Every figure above is tied to a cited source that was checked on the day of filing. Found an error? Tell the desk.