Severe Winter Storm Disrupts European Supply Chains

Storm Goretti is causing widespread disruptions across Europe’s transportation networks, creating significant challenges for supply chains. The winter storm has brought heavy snow, black ice, and freezing temperatures across Northern and Central Europe since January 5, claiming at least six lives and forcing unprecedented truck restrictions in France and other regions. With temperatures dropping between -3°C and -10°C in many areas, the storm is impacting all primary modes of transportation, leading to delays and interruptions throughout the European logistics network.

Current Storm Disruptions

Truck Restrictions in France

French authorities have implemented one of the most extensive truck bans in recent memory, affecting 38 departments primarily in northern and western regions. Trucks over 7.5 tonnes are prohibited from traveling on public roads in these areas. In the Paris region specifically, authorities have banned all heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes across the entire Île-de-France road network.

Around Paris, traffic monitoring systems have recorded more than 1,000 kilometers of traffic jams. No pickups are currently possible in France this week due to the extreme conditions. Major highways, including the A1, A16, A26, and A21, are experiencing significant congestion, with traffic backed up for more than 100 kilometers in some areas.

Germany and Central & Western Europe

Germany is experiencing heavy snow and ice on roads, significantly impacting pickup performance and truck availability. Northern and Central Eastern Europe are facing similar conditions, with frozen infrastructure resulting in widespread service disruptions. The Netherlands has reported over 700 kilometers of traffic jams as trucks slide across roadways and snow plows work at slower speeds.

Port Operations

Major European ports are also experiencing disruptions due to the storm:

• Rotterdam’s ECT Delta terminal has suspended all operations until further notice
• Hamburg’s HHLA reports operations continue with severe restrictions across all transport modes
• Antwerp has slower operations with terminal activities temporarily suspended in some cases

Terminals are operating at reduced capacity due to snow and ice. This has caused traffic congestion and extended waiting times for trucks, with some work temporarily halted for safety reasons.

Rail Freight

Rail services across Europe have been impacted by frozen track switches and infrastructure failures:

• All domestic rail services in the Netherlands were suspended early Tuesday after an IT outage hit the rail network. Trains began running in parts of the country after 0900 GMT, but problems persisted around Amsterdam, with high-speed Eurostar services from Amsterdam to Paris either cancelled or late.
• Services between Rotterdam and Venlo are experiencing disruptions due to track issues and train cancellations
• Rail freight via the Brenner and Mont Cenis corridors faces slowdowns due to snow-related speed restrictions

Long-Term Recovery Outlook

Even after weather conditions begin to improve, the impact of the disruptions will continue for days and potentially weeks. The displacement of trucks, drivers, and equipment across Europe means restoring normal operations requires time. Drivers and vehicles stranded in the wrong locations will need to be repositioned, backlogs of delayed shipments must be cleared, and equipment imbalances throughout the network will take time to resolve.

Distribution centers and warehouses will work through accumulated backlogs of delayed shipments. Logistics firms that diverted perishable loads to satellite warehouses will need to reintegrate these inventories into normal networks. Container positioning throughout the European logistics network will remain disrupted, with equipment imbalances affecting availability for new shipments.

Complete supply chain recovery is expected to extend into late January, with potential long-term effects including delayed shipments, equipment imbalances, and inventory disruptions persisting for 2-3 weeks after weather conditions normalize. These ripple effects typically extend well beyond the weather event itself.

What NTG SCS Is Doing

The NTG Supply Chain Solutions team is actively monitoring this rapidly evolving situation and working closely with our European partners to minimize disruptions to your supply chains. Our teams in Germany and across Europe are in constant communication to track conditions and adjust operations as needed.

Our Actions:

• Real-time monitoring of weather forecasts and road conditions across all affected regions
• Proactive communication with our pickup partners to assess truck availability and route accessibility
• Rerouting shipments where possible to avoid the most severely impacted areas
• Evaluating alternative routing options, including shifts between transport modes where feasible
• Providing transparency on expected delays and working to set realistic pickup and delivery timelines

We expect service interruptions to continue through this week and into early next week, with pickup performance in France, Germany, and Central Europe being impacted through Friday. Starting next week, conditions should start to improve, but the market will need several days to recover from the breakdown.

How We Can Help

Our dedicated Account Management teams are available to discuss your specific shipments and develop contingency plans. If you have urgent freight requirements or concerns about scheduled pickups, please contact your Account Manager immediately so we can determine solutions.

We understand the critical nature of your supply chains and remain committed to finding ways to keep your operations moving, even in the face of these challenging conditions. For questions or concerns about your specific shipments, please contact your dedicated Account Manager.