Το λιμάνι του Ningbo έχει ανακάμψει σε μεγάλο βαθμό από την τελευταία του διακοπή Covid, αλλά ο κίνδυνος καθυστερήσεων στη ναυτιλία από την Κίνα έχει ήδη εξαπλωθεί στο Tianjin και το Shenzhen.
Maersk said trucking had recovered to 75 percent of normal capacity, with some services remaining suspended in Covid-hit areas and "operational efficiency negatively impacted by the requirement of nucleic acid testing".
Shippers hoping to get their goods out of China before the Chinese New Year holiday have little time to breathe a sigh of relief, however, because Tianjin has become the latest port city to feel the brunt of China's "dynamic" zero-Covid policy.
Η πόλη των 14 εκατομμυρίων υποβάλλεται σε μαζικές δοκιμές, διακόπτοντας τις λειτουργίες στο λιμάνι, το μεγαλύτερο στη Βόρεια Κίνα, με πάνω από 20 εκατομμύρια teu σε ετήσια διακίνηση.
Η CH Robinson είπε στους πελάτες χθες να αναμένουν καθυστερήσεις θαλάσσιου και αεροπορικού φορτίου μέχρι να ολοκληρωθούν οι δοκιμές.
"Pick-up operations for all import containers have been suspended immediately," the forwarder noted. "The shortage of staff at Tianjin Airport and ocean port terminals is likely to cause delay for cargo delivery and is expected to last at least 48 hours.
"Beijing airport is operating normally, but truck deliveries from Tanjin to Beijing are restricted," the forwarder added.
Mass Covid testing is also taking place in South China, after a "cluster" of four cases was detected in Shenzhen, raising alarm bells for shippers hit by last year's disastrous closure at Yantian.
Health officials claimed, without providing evidence, it was "highly likely" one infection was due to a supply chain worker being exposed to "contaminated goods", according to the South China Morning Post.
The Loadstar understands operations at the port are so far unaffected but, like Ningbo and Tianjin, there's a risk of delays due to testing workers and restrictions on trucking, forwarders said.
Εν τω μεταξύ, με την CNY και τους Χειμερινούς Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες του Πεκίνου να ξεκινούν την 1η και 4η Φεβρουαρίου, αντίστοιχα, οι μεταφορείς δεν αναμένουν-ενδεχόμενες διακοπές φορτίου, δεδομένων των σημερινών υψηλών επιπέδων συμφόρησης των λιμανιών στη χώρα.
For example, Fibs Logistics described congestion at Shanghai as "massive" and noted: "Vessels are delayed by about one week. Due to Covid-19 in Beilun district in Ningbo, some shipments are transferred to Shanghai, which resulted in further terminal congestion."
The firm said China's key gateway ports were generally suffering from a lack of space and equipment and, with the pre-CNY peak pushing up rates, "premiums are needed to secure space".
Fibs added: "This serious port congestion is resulting in delayed voyages, continuous accumulation of delays and multiple suspensions. Forwarders and cargo owners will inevitably face further difficulties in the coming months."
