The suspension of spot and short-term contracts affects all exports out of Asia which Maersk said was due to expected equipment shortages. Related: Suez Canal begins clearing vessel backlogIt also covers exports out of West Central Asia to Europe and North Africa, North America East Coast, West Africa via Mediterranean, and Latin America via Mediterranean. The suspension impacts exports out of Europe to Asia, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent, and Oceania. The suspension also impacts exports from East Africa to Europe, and West Africa to Asia, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent via Mediterranean. This has resulted in severe port congestion on the US West Coast, and at other major ports, and compounded an already existing shortage of containers in key export markets.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 31, 2021 06:28 UTC