Maersk's Asia Pacific market update covers Gemini network enhancements between Asia and Europe, scheduled throughout November, and East Asia port recovery. According to Drewry, average port waiting times fell 16% month on month to 1.4 days in October. The update also includes an air freight peak season calendar running from Singles Day on 11-Nov to Chinese New Year on 6 February 2027.
Summary: This issue covers Gemini network enhancements; East Asia port recovery and schedule reliability; an air freight peak season planning calendar from Singles Day to Chinese New Year (6 February 2027); and inland transport planning for year-end. It includes practical steps for customers shipping across Asia Pacific.
Iris Yan Jing Fu
Customer Communications Manager, Asia Pacific
06 Nov 2026
Maersk has announced further enhancements to the Gemini network 1, with changes to port coverage and routing options between Asia and Europe scheduled for implementation throughout November. The adjustments will strengthen connectivity across key European and Mediterranean gateways, while introducing additional options for shipments connecting to destinations in West Africa and Latin America.
The enhancements reflect ongoing efforts to improve network connectivity and provide customers with greater routing flexibility across international trade corridors. As changes are introduced across individual services, available departure options, transit times and port connections may vary depending on the origin and destination.
For customers, the developments provide an opportunity to review existing shipping arrangements and assess whether new connections could better support their supply-chain requirements. Checking updated sailing schedules and coordinating shipment plans with logistics partners can help businesses align cargo movements with production schedules, inventory needs and delivery commitments.
Operational conditions at major East China ports have improved following earlier seasonal weather disruptions, and vessel waiting times continue to decline compared with previous weeks.
While the direct effects of these disruptions have largely eased, the regional port network is closely connected, so conditions at one location can still affect cargo flows and schedules elsewhere. Strong export activity from Asia continues to put pressure on some congested ports, and certain key regional hubs remain under pressure. As a result, sailing schedules across the wider network are still adjusting as operations progressively normalise. Recent industry data points in the same direction: port conditions are easing, although schedule performance has yet to fully recover. According to Drewry's November Container Shipping Market Signals, average port waiting times declined by 16% month on month to 1.4 days in October.2 However, schedule reliability remains an area to monitor, with Sea-Intelligence reporting continued variations in vessel arrivals across major East–West trades.3
For customers, these developments highlight the value of maintaining visibility over shipment schedules as regional operations stabilise. Reviewing confirmed departure and arrival dates, allowing flexibility around cargo cut-offs and coordinating onward transport arrangements can help businesses manage delivery requirements through November.
As businesses prepare for year-end inventory requirements and upcoming delivery commitments, ocean shipping conditions continue to evolve across major trade lanes. Seasonal changes in cargo requirement, alongside adjustments to vessel services and sailing schedules, are influencing available shipping options as November progresses.
Recent analysis from Drewry and Sea-Intelligence points to schedule reliability remaining under pressure.2 3 Together, these trends suggest that sailing availability and transit times may still vary between individual services, origins and destinations.
For customers, early coordination between production, shipping and distribution teams can help maintain flexibility through the year-end period. Reviewing available departures, cargo cut-off requirements and onward transport arrangements, while sharing shipment forecasts with logistics partners, can help businesses align cargo movements with inventory needs and delivery commitments through November and December.
Air freight activity across Asia Pacific continues to be supported by technology-related shipments, including semiconductors, AI infrastructure components and high-value electronics. Recent data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that Asia Pacific airlines recorded an 8.6% year-on-year increase in air cargo activity in September.4
As the year-end peak season progresses, major retail events, holiday periods and preparations for Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year are bringing additional considerations for air freight planning. The calendar below highlights key dates and practical steps customers can take to manage shipment requirements through the coming months.
| Period | Key event | What customers should know | Planning considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Nov | Singles Day (China) | Promotional activity may generate short-term replenishment activity on selected routes. | Confirm space for time-sensitive replenishment cargo and review available departures. |
| Mid-November | APEC-related activities, Shenzhen | Potential changes to local air cargo arrangements remain subject to official confirmation. | Monitor airline updates and consider alternative South China gateways where appropriate. |
| 27–30 November | Black Friday / Cyber Monday | Retail replenishment coincides with ongoing technology and industrial cargo activity. | Share shipment forecasts early and confirm bookings for priority cargo. |
| December | Year-end delivery requirements | Cargo cut-offs and handling arrangements vary by airline, destination and service. | Confirm destination delivery deadlines and allow time for customs clearance and onward distribution. |
| 25 December – 1 January | Christmas / New Year | Public holidays may affect handling and delivery arrangements in selected markets, although there is no region-wide shutdown across Asia Pacific. | Check local holiday schedules and confirm operating arrangements with logistics partners. |
| Mid–late January 2027 | Pre-Chinese New Year preparations | Production and shipping activity typically increases ahead of factory closures. | Coordinate production schedules, cargo-ready dates and air freight bookings in advance. |
| 6-Feb-27 | Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year | Factory closures and reduced production activity may affect cargo availability and shipment schedules. | Confirm supplier closure dates and plan priority shipments ahead of the holiday. |
| Mid–late February 2027 | Post-holiday recovery | Production and export activity are expected to resume progressively rather than immediately returning to normal levels. | Maintain flexibility around cargo-ready dates and monitor available flights. |
Mekong barge operations are currently unaffected, with water levels remaining within normal operating ranges. However, forecasts suggest that drier conditions during the 2026–27 dry season could lead to lower river levels between December and April, which may affect vessel loading practices and schedule planning on some inland waterways.
The areas most likely to be monitored include Mekong Delta waterways and the Vietnam–Phnom Penh cross-border barge corridor, which support cargo movements within the Mekong region. While it is too early to determine whether any operational impact will occur, customers moving agricultural, food and temperature-controlled cargo may wish to stay informed of local developments as the dry season progresses.
At present, no disruption is expected. However, customers may benefit from maintaining visibility of shipment plans, allowing reasonable flexibility in transit schedules and discussing alternative transport arrangements with logistics partners where appropriate.
Reefer shippers may also wish to review cargo handover and storage arrangements in advance of peak harvesting and shipping periods. For customers using Mekong inland waterways, monitoring conditions through the dry season and maintaining flexibility in transport planning can help support smooth cargo flows should operating conditions change.
As businesses move towards the end of the year, inland logistics activity across Asia Pacific continues to be shaped by seasonal activity and changing shipment requirements.
In China, recent figures from the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing indicate continued expansion in logistics activity, with September's Logistics Performance Index remaining in growth territory for the fifth consecutive month. The federation has also highlighted expectations of stronger road freight activity during the fourth quarter, supported by industrial activity and year-end e-commerce movements. While the impact of the Double 11 shopping festival on first-mile container movements is expected to be limited, the approaching year-end shipping period may bring changes in trucking requirements and equipment availability on selected routes.
Similar year-end pressures are emerging across Southeast Asia, where inland operations are also facing growing pressure around key port and industrial areas. Reports of depot congestion in some Southeast markets highlight potential challenges for container movements, and rising year-end volumes are likely to add pressure on trucking availability and turnaround times. In Malaysia and Singapore, developments in transport and operational conditions are also being monitored as the year-end period approaches.
For customers, these developments reinforce the importance of coordinating inland transport with production and ocean shipping schedules. Providing early visibility of expected volumes, securing trucking requirements where possible and planning empty container pick-up and return arrangements carefully can help businesses manage potential constraints. Allowing flexibility around collection and delivery schedules, particularly in areas experiencing depot congestion, can also support smoother cargo movements through the year-end period.
With Chinese New Year falling on 6 February 2027, businesses sourcing and shipping goods from China face a shorter planning window than in 2026, when the holiday began on 17 February. The earlier date may bring forward production deadlines, cargo collection requirements and inland transport arrangements as manufacturers prepare for the holiday period.
Recent industry guidance from SEKO Logistics highlights the importance of starting preparations early, noting that factory closures and the subsequent return to normal production can extend beyond the official holiday period. As businesses seek to complete shipments ahead of these closures, requirements for inland transport, container equipment and terminal delivery slots may become more concentrated on certain routes.
For customers, providing early visibility of expected shipment volumes and inland transport requirements will be particularly important, especially for trucking and other time-sensitive movements. Confirming supplier production schedules, cargo-ready dates and container equipment needs in advance can help logistics partners plan resources and reduce exposure to short-notice constraints. Allowing for a gradual return to production following the holiday can also support inventory and distribution planning into the first quarter of 2027.
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which entered its definitive phase in January 2026, introduces additional compliance requirements for selected carbon-intensive imports, including iron, steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers and hydrogen. While the measure applies to a relatively narrow range of products, exporters of affected goods from Asia Pacific may need to provide production and emissions data to support their EU customers' reporting obligations.
For businesses handling these products, recent European Commission guidance5 reinforces the importance of reviewing product classifications, emissions data and documentation processes. Early coordination with EU importers and compliance teams can help businesses prepare for reporting requirements and assess potential cost implications.
| Trade | Less than 1 day | 1-3 days | More than 3 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Asia Ports | Dalian, Xingang, Xiamen, Laem Chabang, Vung Tau, Haiphong, Jakarta, Semarang, Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Melbourne, Tauranga, Manila, Tanjung Pelepas | Shanghai, Ningbo, Busan, Qingdao, Yantian, Shekou, Nansha, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Port Klang, Chittagong | |
| Trade Rest of World | Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Valencia, Koper, Rijeka, Apapa, Onne, Lome, Zanzibar, Conakry, Pointe Noire, Port Louis, Cape Town, Maputo, Oakland, Los Angeles, Prince Rupert, Tacoma, Houston, Norfolk, Baltimore, Savannah, Charleston, Miami, Newark, Balboa, Lazaro Cardenas | Dar es Salaam, Vancouver, Colombo | Durban, Beira, Jeddah, Khor Fakkan, Tema, Abidjan |
Remark: Above information is correct to the best of our information at the date of publication, remains dynamic and subject to change.
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