Port operations in the Americas face rail delays, low-water risks and weather disruptions

Port operations across the Americas remain uneven, with vessel delays worsening at Brazil’s Navegantes port, low-water restrictions approaching in Manaus and inland transport bottlenecks continuing to affect major U.S. and Mexican gateways.

At Navegantes, the seven-day average vessel waiting time reached about five days, one of the most significant delays reported in the region in the latest weekly port update covering September 30 to October 6. Yard utilization stood at 78%, while civil works continue at the Portonave terminal to accommodate larger vessels. myKN

Nearby Itajaí showed a more favorable trend. The seven-day average vessel waiting time was around two days, with operations continuing to improve despite adverse weather. Productivity also strengthened from the previous week. myKN

Manaus braces for low-water shipping restrictions

Conditions in the Amazon are becoming increasingly important for cargo movements through Manaus as the annual dry season approaches.

The port’s seven-day average vessel waiting time remained relatively low at around one day, but declining river levels are expected to begin affecting navigation during October. Operational impacts are expected between weeks 43 and 47, followed by capacity restrictions between weeks 48 and 52, according to the update. myKN

The coming restrictions could become more consequential as the dry season progresses, particularly for container services that depend on sufficient river draft to reach Manaus.

Port congestion in the Americas shifts to inland networks

In North America, vessel queues themselves remain relatively limited at several major gateways, but rail and landside constraints continue to weigh on cargo flows.

At the Port of Los Angeles, the seven-day average vessel waiting time was around one day. Inland rail capacity and transportation constraints, however, remained the main operational challenges as elevated import volumes continued to pressure terminals and landside networks. myKN

Average rail dwell times highlighted the disparity among U.S. gateways. Jacksonville recorded 12 days, followed by Long Beach at nine days, Los Angeles at eight days, Houston at six days, and New Orleans at five days. New York stood at four days, while Savannah and Charleston were both around two days. myKN

Los Angeles is also preparing for a longer-term infrastructure constraint. The Vincent Thomas Bridge, a key road link serving the port complex, is scheduled to close in autumn 2026 for a major deck replacement project expected to take about 16 months. myKN

The figures show that port performance cannot be measured solely by ships waiting at anchor. Even where berth availability is relatively stable, rail dwell times, trucking capacity and road infrastructure can extend cargo transit times after containers reach the terminal.

Tropical Storm Rachel pressures Mexico’s Pacific gateways

Mexico’s Pacific coast is facing a different set of challenges.

At Lázaro Cárdenas, the seven-day average vessel waiting time reached about 3.4 days as Tropical Storm Rachel brought heavy rainfall and adverse weather to the region. The conditions posed risks to vessel operations, cargo flows and inland connectivity. myKN

At Manzanillo, average vessel waiting time was lower at approximately 1.4 days, but customs clearance delays, high terminal density, restricted truck access and inland transport bottlenecks continued to affect port performance. myKN

The latest figures point to different forms of disruption across the Americas. Navegantes is dealing with significant vessel queues, Manaus is approaching its seasonal low-water period, Mexican ports face weather and inland-access constraints, and U.S. gateways continue to struggle primarily with rail and landside congestion.

Source: Keuhne+Nagel

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