Maasvlakte transport under pressure after A15 restriction

Market today in figures (CargoNice data)

The Orlen diesel price was 7,51 PLN/l on 18 September 2026, down 0,05 PLN/l from the previous reading. The average diesel price in the EU reached 2 158,74 EUR/1000L on 14 September 2026, after rising by 51,35 EUR/1000L; in Germany, it stood at 2 426,00 EUR/1000L on the same day, which was 98,00 EUR/1000L higher than previously.

The spot rate on the Poland–Germany lane was 2,27 EUR/km on 15 September 2026, up 0,33 EUR/km from the previous reading. In the opposite direction, Germany–Poland, the rate reached 1,65 EUR/km on 15 September 2026. Higher fuel prices in the EU and rates on the PL–DE lane are limiting room to reduce road transport quotations despite weaker signals from parts of the ocean freight market.

A15 to Maasvlakte: traffic using the hard shoulder

Rijkswaterstaat has introduced, with immediate effect, a restriction on the western section of the Suurhoffbrug bridge on the A15 towards Maasvlakte. The reason is cracks detected in the main girder. The two regular traffic lanes have been closed, and all traffic has been directed onto the hard shoulder.

The crossing is one of the main road access routes to the Port of Rotterdam. According to the road authority, approximately 36 500 vehicles use it every day, including around 15 500 trucks. A newer bridge is also being prepared to enable traffic in both directions. Source: Rijkswaterstaat

For drayage, container collections and export deliveries, the main risk concerns meeting terminal time slots and subcontractors’ declared ETAs. The traffic diversion itself does not determine the transit time, but it eliminates spare capacity on the section serving Maasvlakte.

Ocean freight is getting cheaper, but port execution remains a risk

Flexport reported that rates from Asia to Northern Europe fell by 3,78% week on week. Rates on the Shanghai–Rotterdam and Shanghai–Genoa routes also declined. The reasons cited were greater effective capacity due to shorter voyages via the Suez Canal and weaker demand after the peak season. Source: Flexport

Falling ocean freight prices do not, however, resolve congestion in Northern European hubs, which continues to affect inland delivery schedules. At the same time, export capacity from Northern Europe and the Mediterranean region to the US remains tight. Door-to-door quotations should therefore separate the cost of ocean freight from terminal and road risks, as well as the risk to the final delivery date.

Maersk has stopped charging a specified peak season surcharge for LCL cargo from the Far East to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean basin on the E1W and E2W services. The change applies to price calculations dated 17 September 2026 and concerns the specified product and trades; it does not automatically apply to every all-in price. Source: Container News

Low Rhine levels increase the cost of the waterway alternative

Falling water levels on the Rhine have reduced barge capacity and driven up rates over the week, despite fewer concluded transactions. The market was also affected by uncertainty related to higher oil prices and a temporary complication following an incident at a Swiss refinery; the impact of the latter was mitigated by the release of stocks. Source: TankTerminals

This primarily affects operators of liquid bulk loads and industrial goods using inland waterway connections in Germany and the Benelux. When some volumes shift from barges to road, the availability of tankers, the validity period of rates and carriers’ ability to handle additional transport orders require particular verification.

In brief

• EU multimodal reservations: On 18 September, the Council of the EU Working Party on Transport is discussing the first Council Presidency compromise of 11 September concerning the regulation on multimodal travel information and booking services, which is intended to repeal Regulation (EC) No 80/2009. For freight forwarding combining road, rail and sea, the potential effects on booking data, distribution and contractual liability are significant. Source: Council of the EU
• Rotterdam, project cargo: Maple Group has acquired Fladderak Industriële Verpakkingen in Eemhaven. The combined business states that it has more than 40 000 m² of production, warehousing and transshipment space, including 25 000 m² of covered space, as well as lifting capacity of up to 80 tonnes. Source: Container News
• France–Italy, sugar by rail: Forwardis organised a series of 26 weekly trains from the Tereos plant in Dunkirk to Italy, with road pre- and onward haulage at both ends. The model demonstrates how a road offer can be compared with a rail solution on the main leg without abandoning road transport for the first and last mile. Source: Railmarket