E2open Ocean Shipping Index Reveals Global Shipping Resilience Amid Rising Disruption

New data reveals how carriers are adjusting routes, managing congestion, and maintaining cargo flows during ongoing global trade uncertainty.

ADDISON, TX, UNITED STATES, August 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- E2open, part of the WiseTech Global Group (WiseTech), a leading developer and provider of innovative software solutions for the logistics, global trade and supply chain industries worldwide, has published its latest Ocean Shipping Index, a quarterly benchmark of global shipping trends. The Q2 2026 report shows that most trade lanes remained stable or improved quarter over quarter, despite ongoing geopolitical disruptions affecting fuel availability and vessel deployment. Global port congestion reached a four-year high in Q2, yet overall shipment performance remained stable as carriers adapted networks and rerouted cargo flows. End-to-end shipment duration averaged 68 days, unchanged from Q1 and one day longer than a year ago.

Global ocean shipping remained resilient during a quarter marked by geopolitical uncertainty, regional congestion, shifting carrier networks and strong cargo demand across major trade lanes. Restricted container ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz prompted carriers to adjust networks, expand feeder services and leverage alternative routings to maintain cargo flows. Meanwhile, uneven bunker fuel availability across key refueling hubs contributed to higher operating costs and changes in carrier fueling strategies.

Network conditions became more challenging later in the quarter as adverse weather, vessel bunching and elevated cargo volumes increased congestion across parts of Asia. Global port congestion, at its highest level in four years, prompted carriers to make service adjustments and manage cargo rollovers to sustain reliability. At the same time, U.S. imports from Asia accelerated as shippers advanced cargo ahead of anticipated tariff changes and higher fuel costs, increasing demand for vessel capacity and equipment.

“The global shipping landscape continues to demand greater agility and precision from supply chain leaders as disruption becomes more continuous than episodic,” said Pawan Joshi, Chief Strategy Officer at e2open, part of WiseTech Global Group. “Despite rising disruption and congestion, carriers adapted networks, helping maintain stable global shipment performance, as reflected in the latest Ocean Shipping Index report. With ocean shipping being the least costly mode that takes the longest time, companies need to continuously monitor ocean shipments and benchmark against global activity to identify disruptions early, assess impact, and respond before issues escalate and affect their supply chain operations.”

Highlights from the e2open Ocean Shipping Index report for Q2 2026 include:
• Global shipment performance remained stable despite mounting disruption, averaging 68 days from booking to final port gate clearance, unchanged from the previous quarter and one day longer year over year, driven primarily by longer transit times.
• Global port congestion reached its highest level in four years, driven by adverse weather, vessel bunching and elevated cargo volumes.
• Carriers successfully adapted networks and rerouted cargo flows in response to geopolitical disruptions, fuel constraints and shifting trade dynamics.
• Imports from Asia to the U.S. accelerated as shippers moved cargo ahead of anticipated tariff and fuel cost increases, increasing demand for vessel capacity and equipment.
• Trans-Pacific lanes improved quarter-over-quarter, with Asia-North America and North America-Asia each improving by two days.
• Transatlantic lanes were stable to improving, with North America to Europe and Europe to North America shortening by two days quarter-over-quarter.
• South America again delivered the strongest year-over-year gains, led by North America to South America (10 days shorter) and South America-North America (8 days shorter).

The findings highlight the resilience of global ocean shipping networks during a quarter marked by geopolitical uncertainty, elevated congestion and shifting trade patterns. While conditions varied by region, most major trade lanes remained stable or improved as carriers adjusted networks and maintained the flow of goods.

The e2open Ocean Shipping Index delivers in-depth analysis and actionable insights to help businesses understand market trends and optimize ocean shipping operations. The quarterly report draws on ocean shipping activity across e2open’s network of more than 500,000 connected enterprises, billions of transactions, and over 70 million containers annually. With visibility down to the booking date, the Index offers unique insight into global shipping performance, helping companies make more proactive and informed decisions. E2open customers can book shipments and connect with carriers on one consolidated platform, saving time and eliminating redundant data entry.

Read the full e2open Ocean Shipping Index for additional data points and insights. Subscribe at e2open.com. This report is one of several benchmark reports from e2open designed to help companies navigate increasingly complex and rapidly changing global supply chains.

About e2open
E2open, a WiseTech Global Group company, is the connected supply chain software platform that enables the world’s largest companies to transform the way they make, move and sell goods and services. With the broadest cloud-native global platform purpose-built for modern supply chains, e2open connects more than 500,000 manufacturing, logistics, channel and distribution partners as one multi-enterprise network tracking over 18 billion transactions annually. Our SaaS platform anticipates disruptions and opportunities to help companies improve efficiency, reduce waste and operate sustainably. Moving as one™. Learn more: www.e2open.com.

E2open and "Moving as one." are the registered trademarks of E2open, LLC. All other trademarks, registered trademarks, and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
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