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Singapore
AsiaSoutheast Asia

Singapore’s container ship snarl-up spills over into Malaysia

  • The maritime logjam is being caused by ships avoiding the Suez Canal and Red Sea due to attacks by Houthi rebels amid the Israel-Gaza war

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Container ships are seen docked next to stacks of containers at a terminal in Singapore earlier this month. The city state’s container ship congestion is spreading to Malaysia. Photo: AFP
Bloomberg
Container ship congestion in Singapore, one of Asia’s busiest ports, is spreading to neighbouring Malaysia, snarling supply chains and causing delays in the movement of consumer goods.

Around 20 container vessels are anchored in a cluster off Port Klang, on the western coast of Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore’s port, already one of the busiest in the world, is facing a sustained period of congestion. Photo: Bloomberg
Singapore’s port, already one of the busiest in the world, is facing a sustained period of congestion. Photo: Bloomberg

Both Klang and Singapore sit on the Strait of Malacca, a vital waterway that links Europe and the Middle East to East Asia.

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The maritime logjam is being caused by ships avoiding the Suez Canal and Red Sea due to attacks by Houthi rebels, who support Hamas in the war with Israel.

Many vessels heading towards Asia are opting to travel around the southern tip of Africa, meaning they’re not able to refuel or unload cargo in the Middle East.

Port Klang is an important terminal, given its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, but a container ship queue of this magnitude is rare. Photo: Shutterstock
Port Klang is an important terminal, given its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, but a container ship queue of this magnitude is rare. Photo: Shutterstock

Port Klang is an important terminal, given its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, but a queue of this magnitude is rare, with ship-tracking images showing many vessels unloading at its berths.

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