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A VLCC oil tanker is seen at a crude oil terminal in Ningbo-Zhoushan port, Zhejiang province, China. Picture: REUTERS
China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan container port, the world’s third busiest, remained partially closed for a sixth day on Monday amid ongoing concern over whether the shutdown will disrupt trade from the region in the longer term.
The port has not published any updates on its operations since Wednesday, when it halted all inbound and outbound container services at its Meishan terminal after one employee tested positive for Covid-19.
Consultant GardaWorld estimated the terminal accounted for about 25% of container cargo through the port, though Ningbo-Zhoushan had said it would redirect ships to other terminals and adjust operating hours at other docks.
An employee at the port’s media centre said they had no new information to share when contacted by Bloomberg News on Monday. No new infections have been reported at the port since the initial case.
Shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation warned clients of potential “port congestion” due to the partial closure in an advisory on Monday, while Orient Overseas Container Line has reminded customers to check terminals before arranging for their containers to be sent to Ningbo.
Maersk said on Friday it is having vessels on services between Asia and South America call at the Meishan terminal, and that all will omit Ningbo in August.
Yards at Beilun and Yongzhou terminals are up to 79% full with laden containers and as much as 85% for empty boxes, Maersk said on Monday. Other terminals at the port are operating normally.
Since bringing the initial coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan under control in 2020, China has taken a zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19, taking strict measures to quash even single cases, especially at strategic locations like ports.
The latest port disruption followed the closure for about a month of Shenzhen’s Yantian port in late May after an outbreak among port staff. It is also stoking fears that ports around the world could face similar outbreaks soon given the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, potentially triggering the sorts of curbs and disruptions that affected global shipping in 2020.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Huge Chinese container port closed for sixth day
China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan container port, the world’s third busiest, remained partially closed for a sixth day on Monday amid ongoing concern over whether the shutdown will disrupt trade from the region in the longer term.
The port has not published any updates on its operations since Wednesday, when it halted all inbound and outbound container services at its Meishan terminal after one employee tested positive for Covid-19.
Consultant GardaWorld estimated the terminal accounted for about 25% of container cargo through the port, though Ningbo-Zhoushan had said it would redirect ships to other terminals and adjust operating hours at other docks.
An employee at the port’s media centre said they had no new information to share when contacted by Bloomberg News on Monday. No new infections have been reported at the port since the initial case.
Shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation warned clients of potential “port congestion” due to the partial closure in an advisory on Monday, while Orient Overseas Container Line has reminded customers to check terminals before arranging for their containers to be sent to Ningbo.
Maersk said on Friday it is having vessels on services between Asia and South America call at the Meishan terminal, and that all will omit Ningbo in August.
Yards at Beilun and Yongzhou terminals are up to 79% full with laden containers and as much as 85% for empty boxes, Maersk said on Monday. Other terminals at the port are operating normally.
Since bringing the initial coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan under control in 2020, China has taken a zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19, taking strict measures to quash even single cases, especially at strategic locations like ports.
The latest port disruption followed the closure for about a month of Shenzhen’s Yantian port in late May after an outbreak among port staff. It is also stoking fears that ports around the world could face similar outbreaks soon given the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, potentially triggering the sorts of curbs and disruptions that affected global shipping in 2020.
Bloomberg
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