Artificial Intelligence Demand Extends Global Shipping Bottlenecks into Next Year

Taipei, Thursday, 1 October 2026.
The traditional October slowdown in global freight has failed to materialize in 2026, driven by sustained demand for artificial intelligence hardware and semiconductor components. A staggering 11 percent of the global container fleet—representing up to 3.8 million TEUs—is currently trapped in severe port congestion across Asia, with berthing wait times at the Port of Shanghai exceeding nine days. Coupled with record Chinese export volumes and carrier sailing cancellations, industry analysts project that clearing these bottlenecks could take up to ten months, extending supply chain disruptions well into mid-2027. Consequently, corporate logistics planners face escalating shipping costs and severe capacity shortages, forcing a growing volume of high-value cargo from ocean routes to air freight as the fourth quarter begins.