Covid-19 epicentre

Dalian the latest China port to be hit by Covid restrictions as delays persist

Dalian is the latest port city in China to detect the Omicron variant, as forwarders warn of more shipping delays in the countdown to Chinese New Year.
So far, there has been no impact on Dalian’s port operations, but the outbreak is reportedly growing at nearby Tianjin, under lockdown and where car manufacturer Toyota has temporarily suspended production.
According to Westbound Global Logistics, Tianjin’s port is open, but “restrictions on truck drivers …

The post Dalian the latest China port...

https://theloadstar.com/dalian-the-latest-china-port-to-be-hit-by-covid-restrictions-as-delays-persist/

Freight rates out of India on the rise after record export figures

Freight rates are rising again in India, following a record-setting month for exports and knock-on effects from global Covid disruption.
Exports tallied $37bn for the first time in December, up 37% year on year, and for the first nine month’s of the financial year, passed $300bn for the first time.
According to a report by local investment firm Motilal Oswal, India’s container volumes increased 9% last month, however, “growth could have been …

The post Freight rates out of India on the rise...

https://theloadstar.com/freight-rates-out-of-india-on-the-rise-after-record-export-figures/

As Ningbo slowly recovers, Covid ripples reach ports of Tianjin and Shenzhen

The port of Ningbo has largely recovered from its latest Covid disruption, but the risk of shipping delays from China has already spread to Tianjin and Shenzhen.
In an update yesterday, Maersk said: “Container gate operations have been recovered completely at Ningbo.” However, forwarders have reported severe disruption to landside operations, which are taking longer to recover.
Maersk said trucking had recovered to 75% of normal capacity, with some services remaining suspended in …

The post As...

https://theloadstar.com/as-ningbo-slowly-recovers-covid-ripples-reach-ports-of-tianjin-and-shenzhen/

Omicron outbreak in Australia wreaking havoc with supply chains

Australia’s Omicron wave has skyrocketed staff shortages in container logistics, putting the sector under “enormous strain”.
This week, local media reported bare supermarket shelves across the country, due to “up to half” of all truck drivers being absent from work, thanks to either a positive test result or isolation rules.
Industry sources say the country’s testing rules, combined with a lack of test kits for transport workers, is at the root of …

The post Omicron outbreak in Australia...

https://theloadstar.com/omicron-outbreak-in-australia-wreaking-havoc-with-supply-chains/

Ningbo shippers divert as exports are hit by Covid-restricted trucking

Forwarders are shifting volumes to congested-Shanghai to avoid landside delays, despite carrier schedules so far unaffected by the newest Covid-disruption at Ningbo.
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has repeatedly fallen victim to China’s tough Covid restrictions over the past six months, with the latest lockdown taking place in Ningbo’s Beilun district, which borders three of the port’s container terminals.
Container loading and discharge is operating normally, but the impact on trucking and access to the...

https://theloadstar.com/ningbo-shippers-divert-as-exports-are-hit-by-covid-restricted-trucking/

Factories shut and Ningbo restricts truckers in Zhejiang province lockdowns

Lockdowns across China’s Zhejiang province have prompted multiple factory closures, and new restrictions have been placed on trucking.
China reported new Covid cases in Tianjin and Guangzhou this week, including the Omicron variant, but the outbreak in Zhejiang, another major manufacturing heartland, remains the most serious.
For example, 20 listed companies operating in the province have suspended operations, according to Reuters, including battery, textile and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
The...

https://theloadstar.com/factories-shut-and-ningbo-restricts-truckers-in-zhejiang-province-lockdowns/

Another Ningbo lockdown adds to Covid threat hanging over supply chains

A new partial lockdown in Ningbo has highlighted the threat to container supply chains from China’s strict zero-Covid policy.
Positive cases in Ningbo’s Zhenhai district prompted “closed loop” management to be imposed on Monday, according to local media.
The city is home to the world’s third-largest container port complex, Ningbo-Zhoushan, which handled 28.7m teu during the first ten months of the year, surpassing 2020’s total throughput.
There has been no impact on supply …

The post Another...

https://theloadstar.com/another-ningbo-lockdown-adds-to-covid-threat-hanging-over-supply-chains/

South China feeder services set for decline, thanks to harsh Covid restrictions

China’s quarantine rules for seafarers are set to cause a big drop in Pearl River Delta feeder capacity in the run-up to Chinese New Year (CNY) in February.
Both ONE and Hapag-Lloyd have issued advisories warning of disruption from late December to mid-February, after feeder operators announced service suspensions due to a lack of crew.
Hapag-Lloyd said: “This suspension is caused by the Covid-19 quarantine requirement for ship crews plying between South …

The post South China feeder services...

https://theloadstar.com/south-china-feeder-services-set-for-decline-thanks-to-harsh-covid-restrictions/

China celebrates a new year, but sees return of old supply chain congestion

The Year of the Ox may have begun today, but more trouble lies ahead for container supply chains post-Chinese New Year.
In fact, a carbon-copy of the port congestion and landside disruption seen in China twelve months ago could be on the cards.
Most Chinese were at home celebrating the holiday when the Covid-19 virus first surfaced in Wuhan in January 2020, triggering the first lockdowns across the country.
As a result, when …

The post China celebrates a new year, but sees return of old supply...

https://theloadstar.com/china-celebrates-a-new-year-but-sees-return-of-old-supply-chain-congestion/

Market Insight: MSC’s Covid-19 blueprint reaction – be ‘indispensable’ to survive

Soon after the Covid-19 crisis broke in so many countries, and the extent of the damage became apparent, preparations were made by the private sector to help cope with the outbreak. They have all been there to help, thankfully.
In fairness, in many cases it’s not an act of kindness so much as a necessity for any business service providers, aimed at strengthening existing relationships across different verticals.
In spite of the …

The post Market Insight: MSC’s Covid-19 blueprint reaction – be...

https://theloadstar.com/market-insight-mscs-covid-19-blueprint-reaction-be-indispensable-to-survive/

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