Maritime trade & port operations advanced rapidly throughout October 2025. Strategic expansions, automation projects, and key regulatory rulings drove this.
Ports & terminals were pushed forward with bold automation & investment plans. Strikes and capacity bottlenecks tested the operational resilience of these ports and terminals.
Environmental pressures & looming container oversupply kept the industry on alert. This forced shipping lines to navigate a rapidly shifting trade landscape.
The following is a round-up analysis of the maritime stories that shaped October 2025.
On the topic of trace expansion & strategic investments, the month of October witnessed several announcements. These signalled the strengthening of regional and global trade connections. DP World reinforced Africa’s maritime trade by unveiling a new Port Community System (PCS) at Mombasa. This initiative was designed to digitise and streamline port operations. The move’s expected to enhance efficiency for importers & exporters across East Africa, besides improving integration with regional supply chains.
Meanwhile, analysts indicate that a potential reopening of the Suez Canal following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire would free around 2.1 million TEU of annual capacity. This would likely ease pressure on Europe-bound shipping, besides shortening rerouted Asia-Europe services. This expansion’s projected to relieve congestion and reduce delays, besides accommodating growing container volumes across key Asia-Europe trade lanes.
At Houston Port, the completion of a portion of the historic channel expansion project now allows for larger vessels & deeper drafts, strengthening the Gulf of Mexico’s hub position in global shipping, besides supporting US trade competitiveness.
Operational continuity faced challenges in October due to disruptions and labour issues. This was particularly so in Northern European ports. Initially, a pilot strike at Antwerp & Zeebrugge ports in Belgium led to vessel delays besides congestion. This strike highlighted the sector’s vulnerability to labour disputes. It also vastly impacted shipping schedules.
Although the strike ended, the resulting delays caused by accumulated workload continued to strain port operations. This, in turn, affected vessel schedules. Operators forced some ships to divert to alternative ports.
This incident clearly highlighted the sector’s vulnerability to labour disputes. It also brought attention to the strategic value of Antwerp-Bruges, as it handles around 230 million tonnes of freight annually. This handled tonnage includes a substantial share of Europe’s energy imports. Full clearance of the backlog took several days. The incident illustrated the lasting impact of such disruptions on shipping schedules.
Likewise, on October 8, Maersk’s Lashing Organisations at the Port of Rotterdam began a strike. This strike continued for two days until October 10. This strike action involved two independent lashing providers. This strike stemmed from an ongoing labour dispute concerning working conditions, besides compensation. The strike specifically affected lashing operations. They were critical for the safe securing, besides the release, of containers on board vessels.
These events underline the need for contingency planning, especially as ports balance growing throughput with workforce constraints.
On the topic of automation & smart port technologies, investments in port automation & digitalisation accelerated during the month of October. DP World announced a US$210 million automation project investment at London Gateway. This encompassed advanced container handling, besides intelligent yard management systems.
The project is designed to boost terminal efficiency and reduce turnaround times, besides supporting seamless integration with hinterland transport.
The momentum towards smart ports was further highlighted at PTI’s recent Container Terminal Automation Conference (CTAC) in Kuala Lumpur, where Realtime Business Solutions (RBS)’s Business Development Manager of RBS, Harrison Nguyen, had commented on the transformative potential of RBS’s TOPX intelligent 3D platform.
Powered by superintelligent AI agents, the platform shifts terminal operations from reactive to proactive management. This platform enables predictive maintenance & route optimisation. Additionally, the platform supports AI-driven resource allocation and autonomous operations.
