Operational Bottleneck
Shipping a TEU from Shanghai to Rotterdam today costs $3,180 via direct route, and $3,540 via the port of Antwerp-Bruges, with a difference of $360 that is not room for maneuver: it’s the cost of bypassing. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 133.9 million tons in the first half of 2026, recording a decrease of 2.4% compared to the same period of the previous year. This decrease was mainly explained by a drop in containerized volumes, with an estimated loss of 100,000 TEU due solely to the strike in March. The figure does not refer to a seasonal fluctuation: it is part of a systemic realignment of global routes, in which geopolitical tensions are reducing the operational capacity of major European hubs.
The logistical reconfiguration is now structural. The critical point is no longer the cost of direct maritime transport, but exposure to customs and operational bottlenecks in a context of increasing instability. The net effect on the P&L is immediate: each day of delay at terminals results in an additional $450 per TEU in costs, including storage charges and contractual penalties.
Rerouting Operations
Faced with a loss of 100,000 TEU in March alone, major logistics operators have activated alternative routes through the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. According to industry estimates, approximately 27% of shipments from Shanghai to Europe were rerouted via Dubai or Mombasa in the first half of 2026. The average transit time increased from 18 to 34 days, but operational safety and customs control have improved significantly.
Australia responded with an 8.3% increase in railway surcharges to offset rising fuel costs. In Germany, Maersk implemented a new Intermodal Fuel Fee of +4%, while the Benelux region saw an increase of +5%. These increases are not temporary: they represent the new normal for ensuring continuity in internal services. The average additional cost per TEU in Europe increased from $128 to $146, with a variation of +14% compared to 2025.
The reconfiguration does not only involve transportation: it also involves infrastructure. Saronic announced the construction of a new shipyard in Texas, intended to support both commercial and military vessels. The project includes an annual production capacity of 12 cargo ships and 4 specialized units for transporting sensitive components. This strategic move reduces dependence on European shipyards, increasing the resilience of the American logistics system.
Strategic Intervention: New Logistics Hubs
The net effect of the reconfiguration is a redistribution of business opportunities. The ports of Mombasa and Dubai have recorded a 19% increase in containerized volumes in the first half of the year, while the Port of Riga has joined the PILOTech project to develop low-emission solutions for pilot boats. This action is not only environmentally friendly: it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and improves operational efficiency at access points.
Mapping of routes shows that the most advantageous logistics hub for flows between Asia and Europe is now the port of Rotterdam, not Antwerp-Bruges. Investment in digital infrastructure and the ability to interconnect with European railway networks has made the Dutch hub more resilient to strikes and political interference. Data indicate that 68% of shipments via alternative routes pass through Rotterdam, compared to 41% in 2025.
For logistics service providers such as Maersk or ANL, this means a strategic realignment: the closure of the Harlingen depot in the Netherlands was motivated not by a direct economic loss, but by the need to optimize the internal network. The decision allowed for a 12% reduction in operating costs and shifted activities towards more flexible networks.
Impact on Operating Margin
The narrative suggests that logistics are adapting to new conditions; however, the data shows that the average cost per TEU in Europe has increased by 14% compared to 2025, directly impacting the operating margin. The net added value of shipments decreased by $87 million in the first half of 2026 for the containerized segment alone.
This discrepancy is manifested in an increase in the average duration of working capital immobilized in customs, rising from 14 to 39 days. This delay is not due to bureaucracy; it’s a direct consequence of alternative routes and additional checkpoints. The implicit cost of this exposure is estimated at $26 million per quarter in European ports alone.
This change doesn’t only affect costs; it also impacts production capacity. Prologis recorded a 17% increase in rental rates for logistics warehouses in strategic areas, with a 23% growth in long-term contracts. This indicates that companies are anticipating operational risks, shifting distribution centers to areas less vulnerable to geopolitical tensions.
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash
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