Central America’s ports are kind of a nightmare right now. If you’re shipping out of Houston, you’re probably feeling it. That reliable, quick route? Not so reliable anymore. Delays, schedules changing at the last minute, and carriers acting like booking space is some kind of rare treasure.
If you’re moving cargo to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, or Nicaragua, you’ve probably experienced congestion, delays, cancellations, lack of space, and more.
How port congestion is hitting Houston shipping and ports hard.
- Ships aren’t coming back on time. They’re just hanging out at anchor, which means your next shipment gets pushed back.
- Booking space is a headache. Carriers are limiting space, and snagging a last-minute spot? Good luck with that.
- Transit times are all over the place. What used to take under a week could now drag out for two. Port skips and reroutes are pretty much normal.
- Containers are getting hard to find. They’re piling up at the wrong ports, so Houston’s running short. Makes planning a real puzzle.
How to manage shipments while Central American ports remain congested.
Don’t throw in the towel just yet! You can’t fix the ports, but you can work around the mess with some simple strategies that provide a workaround.
- Book early. Like, really early. Two or three weeks out if you can swing it.
- Stay in touch with your carriers and NVOs. A good relationship can get you useful updates—or a little extra help when you need it.
- Mix up your port choices. Don’t send everything through one spot if you can help it. Spreading things around gives you a backup plan.
- Keep your customers in the loop. Seriously, just tell them what’s going on. Better to manage expectations than deal with angry phone calls later.
What comes next?
The bottom line is that the problem of Central America’s ports being congested is not going away tomorrow. Your best bet is to stay flexible, plan ahead, and keep the lines of communication wide open. That way, you’ll keep things moving—even if the ports are a little wild right now.
At MoreThanShipping.com, we will keep you posted on developments regarding port congestion and whether the situation improves, so that you can make the best shipping decisions necessary for your particular business.
