23/10/2026

Why are European ports on strike again? This time 50 ports are protesting together, and the reason may surprise you

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Impact on European route cargo and response guide

01 A cross-border coordinated action five months in the making

The matter starts in May this year.

In Istanbul, port unions from Mediterranean and European countries held a meeting and confirmed a joint action: on October 30, carry out a cross-border joint action.

In September, the World Federation of Trade Unions officially issued an announcement. Italy’s USB, France’s CGT, Greece’s ENEDEP, Turkey’s Liman-İş, Morocco’s ODT… 7 countries and 8 unions confirmed participation.

On October 15, all parties held a press conference in Rome, and the action officially entered the countdown.

Participating ports mainly include:

Genoa, Gioia Tauro, Trieste, and Livorno in Italy; Piraeus in Greece; multiple docks along the French Mediterranean coast; ports in Turkey and Morocco are participating simultaneously.

02 How your cargo will be affected

Note, what kind of places are Gioia Tauro and Piraeus?

Transshipment hubs on the Far East-Europe route.

Once operations at these two ports stall, the impact will not be limited to cargo directly calling at these ports; transshipment cargo will also be delayed simultaneously, and the impact will be transmitted backward along the route.

Next is what everyone cares about most: what specific impacts will there be on cargo transportation?

▎Increased risk of schedule delays

For ships berthing on the day of the strike, loading and unloading will be interrupted and waiting for berths will be prolonged. Shipping companies may temporarily skip ports and switch to alternative ports; in peak season, this will only happen more often.

▎Port congestion recovery cycle is relatively long

A one-day strike may not seem long, but peak season is already backlogged. After the strike, operations will be concentrated, and congestion for three to five days is very normal. For demurrage and port storage fees, budget for them in advance.

▎For oversized cargo, it is recommended to reserve a buffer period

For those handling cargo over 50KG such as furniture, fitness equipment, and machinery, the DDP door-to-door chain is already long. Once the port side is congested, final-mile delivery will be pushed back accordingly. It is recommended to allow a few extra days of buffer for the delivery date.

03 What to watch now

There are still two key variables to be confirmed:

Spanish port unions are still deliberating. If they confirm participation, the scope of disruption toward the Iberian Peninsula will further expand. In addition, not all ports will be completely closed all day; most plan to stop work for 24 hours, while some will have short-term operational interruptions or rotating shift protests. The actual implementation intensity shall be subject to on-site notices.

Next, keep a close eye on three things:

① Whether Spanish port unions join the strike list

② Whether shipping companies temporarily skip ports or adjust port call order

③ How long it will take for port congestion to recover after the strike ends

For orders with tight delivery schedules, it is recommended to communicate with customers in advance to reserve a buffer, avoiding a passive response after shipping delays.

Why are European ports on strike again? This time 50 ports are protesting together, and the reason may surprise you

Impact on European route cargo and response guide

01 A cross-border coordinated action five months in the making

02 How your cargo will be affected

03 What to watch now

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