Recently, after LA / lB port announced a surcharge on containers stranded at the port, Auckland port also announced this charge. In the following week, the congestion of the port improved.

As a large number of containers stay in Auckland port for more than twice the normal time, the service of the port has been seriously affected. Therefore, port operators also began to levy surcharges on December 1.

It is understood that the long-term container storage fee charged by the port to the cargo owner will be implemented from the eighth day when the container stays in the port, at US $50 per day. Increase to $75 per day on days 13-17; Increase to $100 per day on days 18-22.

And so on until the container is picked up by the owner. It is worth noting that empty and full export containers will not be applicable to this charging policy.

"There is no way. We have to do so because these imported containers have stayed in the port for too long." Ed denik, President of the container company, said.

After the introduction of the charging policy, Auckland port handled about 70% of containers. Bryan Brandes, maritime director of Auckland port, said that the container dwell time of the whole port has increased from less than four days earlier this year to an average of more than six days.

Because importers have no place to store these containers, their containers stay on the dock for a long time. Brandes said it was a warehouse problem.

However, with the continuous development of online shopping, retailers are keeping more inventory to meet customers' demand for rapid delivery of goods.

Since many warehouses in Northern California are at or near full capacity, the parking time of full containers and empty containers in these warehouses will be longer than before.

According to piers, from January to October this year, US imports from Asia increased by 10.5% over the same period last year. 

Brandes said that the port congestion in summer has reduced the berthing of shipping companies, and the import volume of Auckland port will increase in the future.