Ocean Freight Delays in 2026: What's Causing Them and How to Plan
Ocean freight reliability has been a rollercoaster since 2020, and 2026 has brought its own set of disruptions. Whether you're planning a single shipment or a year of recurring imports, understanding what's driving current delays helps you build a more resilient supply chain.
Port Congestion at Major US Gateways
Los Angeles/Long Beach, the busiest US container port complex, continues to see periodic congestion tied to import volume surges, labor negotiations, and chassis shortages. East Coast ports like New York/New Jersey and Savannah have absorbed diverted volume, creating their own bottlenecks at times.
Blank Sailings and Capacity Management
Carriers regularly cancel ('blank') scheduled sailings to manage capacity and rates, especially around Chinese New Year and peak season. A blanked sailing can push your cargo to the next available vessel, adding 1-2 weeks to transit time without warning.
Chassis and Equipment Shortages
Container chassis — the trailers used to move containers by truck — are sometimes in short supply at specific ports, particularly during peak volume periods. This creates delays even after your container has cleared customs and is ready for pickup.
How to Plan Around Delays
Build buffer time into your supply chain — we recommend at least 2 weeks beyond the carrier's quoted transit time for any time-sensitive cargo. Diversify ports of entry when possible, and consider a mix of carriers rather than relying on a single shipping line.
Most importantly, work with a broker who proactively tracks vessel schedules and notifies you of delays before they become a problem — not after your cargo has already missed a deadline.
Ocean freight delays are unlikely to disappear entirely, but they are manageable with the right planning and visibility. Aurora's tracking dashboard gives you real-time vessel status so you're never caught off guard — and our brokers proactively flag risk before it becomes a missed deadline.