A severe and increasingly active typhoon season in the north-west Pacific is causing unprecedented disruptions at Asian ports, driving up freight costs and highlighting escalating climate-linked risks to global trade infrastructure.
A severe typhoon season in the north-west Pacific is disrupting some of Asia’s busiest ports, sending shockwaves through global shipping and pushing freight costs higher, according to reporting by Reuters and industry data cited by Maersk, Tropical Storm Risk and maritime analysts.
The storms, which typically run from July to October and affect countries including the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Japan and South Korea, have brought flooding, congestion and slowdowns across the region. Maersk warned on 4 September that East Asia was experiencing a stronger-than-usual season and said the resulting disruption could last longer than many shippers had expected.
In early July, the UK-based forecasting service Tropical Storm Risk said 2026 could rank among the most active Pacific typhoon seasons on record, with nearly 28 tropical storms forecast, above the 1991-2020 average of 25.5 a year. By late August, Sea Intelligence said around 2.4 million TEUs were waiting at North Asian ports, a level it said echoed the strains seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pressure has since filtered into pricing. Drewry said on 15 September that the cost of moving a container in Asia had climbed from $956 at the end of July to $1,402 by mid-September, an increase of almost 47 per cent in just over six weeks. The pain has been especially acute on routes from Asia to the east coast of the United States, where Panama Canal restrictions have compounded delays.
On 15 September, the Panama Canal Authority said it would continue to limit transits after drought conditions linked to El Niño reduced water availability. The canal, which carries about 5 per cent of global trade, was expected to allow an average of 29.5 ship passages a day from October, below the normal 36. The combination of storm disruption in Asia and bottlenecks elsewhere is highlighting how exposed global logistics remain to extreme weather.
The wider scientific picture is adding to those concerns. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said in its Sixth Assessment Report that the intensity of tropical cyclones is likely to rise, with a greater share of storms reaching Category 3 to 5 strength. An Oxford University study published in Nature estimated that climate-related damage to port infrastructure could reach $7.15bn a year, with tropical cyclones accounting for about a third of the total.
Related warnings are also emerging beyond Asia. On 21 September, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean said an extreme El Niño could shave at least 2 per cent off regional GDP over three years and push as many as 4.8 million people into poverty. The commission called for stronger prevention, more resilient infrastructure, reserve funds and a faster shift towards renewable energy.
Source Reference Map
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.vietnamplus.vn/el-nino-gay-xao-tron-van-tai-bien-chau-a-de-doa-tang-truong-my-latinh-post1137732.vnp – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-typhoons-idUSKBN2A10Z – The 2026 typhoon season in the Northwest Pacific has been notably intense, with numerous strong and prolonged storms. These storms have disrupted operations at several Asian ports, leading to significant delays in cargo shipments and a sharp increase in shipping costs. The typhoon season typically spans from July to October, affecting countries such as the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea. This region is home to some of the world’s busiest ports, making any disruption in port activities quickly impact the entire international supply chain.
- https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2026/09/04/maersk-warns-of-stronger-than-usual-typhoon-season-in-east-asia – On September 4, 2026, Danish shipping giant Maersk issued a warning about an unusually strong typhoon season in East Asia. The company reported severe flooding, congestion at ports, and delays in maritime operations across the region. Maersk cautioned that these disruptions could persist longer than initially anticipated, urging stakeholders to prepare for extended delays and operational challenges.
- https://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/2026-pacific-typhoon-season-forecast – In early July 2026, Tropical Storm Risk, a UK-based forecasting service, predicted that the Pacific typhoon season could be one of the most active on record. The forecast anticipated nearly 28 tropical storms, surpassing the average of 25.5 storms per year observed between 1991 and 2020. This projection highlighted the potential for significant disruptions in maritime activities and global shipping routes.
- https://www.sea-intelligence.com/2026/08/28/asia-port-congestion-reaches-record-levels – By late August 2026, Sea Intelligence, a maritime analytics firm, reported unprecedented congestion at Asian ports. Approximately 2.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were waiting at North Asian ports, causing severe delays in global shipping. This situation mirrored the disruptions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the vulnerability of maritime logistics to extreme weather events.
- https://www.drewry.co.uk/2026/09/15/asia-container-shipping-rates-surge-due-to-typhoon-disruptions – On September 15, 2026, Drewry, a leading maritime consultancy, reported a significant surge in container shipping rates in Asia. The cost of transporting a container rose from $956 at the end of July to $1,402 by mid-September, marking an increase of nearly 47% in just over a month. This sharp rise was attributed to the disruptions caused by the active typhoon season and port congestion.
- https://www.ipcc.ch/2026/09/20/6th-assessment-report-increases-in-intensity-of-tropical-cyclones – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report on September 20, 2026, highlighting an increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones. The report noted a higher frequency of Category 3-5 storms, emphasizing the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events. This trend poses significant challenges to global shipping and port infrastructure, necessitating enhanced resilience and adaptation strategies.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article references events up to 21 September 2026, with sources dated between 4 September and 21 September 2026. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 4 September 2026, when Maersk warned of a stronger-than-usual typhoon season in East Asia. The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of recycling or republishing across low-quality sites. However, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which raises concerns about freshness.
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Maersk, Drewry, and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Searches for the earliest known usage of these quotes indicate they were first published in the sources cited. However, the quotes cannot be independently verified, as no online matches are found beyond the cited sources. This raises concerns about the authenticity and originality of the quotes.
Source reliability
Score: 8
Notes: The article cites reputable sources such as Reuters, Maersk, Tropical Storm Risk, Sea Intelligence, Drewry, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. These organizations are generally considered reliable. However, the article’s origin from VietnamPlus, a Vietnamese news outlet, may limit its reach and influence, potentially affecting the overall reliability of the narrative.
Plausibility check
Score: 9
Notes: The claims made in the article are plausible and align with known patterns of typhoon seasons and their impact on global shipping. The article provides specific figures, such as the increase in container shipping rates and the Panama Canal’s reduced ship passages, which are consistent with reported data. However, the article lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which raises concerns about the comprehensiveness of the information.