HIGHLIGHTS
- According to a notice from Ningbo – Zhoushan port, from August 11, all container services moving to and from the Meishan station of this port are suspended until further notice.
- The closure of Ningbo port for a long time can cause significant difficulties for the world economy.
FULL ARTICLE
According to a notice from Ningbo – Zhoushan port, from August 11, all container services moving to and from the Meishan station of this port are suspended until further notice. Authorities here said that an employee at the port has been infected with Covid-19 and all close contacts have been localized and isolated.
According to calculations by consulting firm GardaWorld, the closed terminal operates about 25% of cargo through the port. In addition, containers passing through other terminals of the Ningbo-Zhoushan port may also be forced to slow down. According to logistics and shipping company CMA CGM, the current port only accepts container ships within two days of the expected arrival date.
Previously, the Yantian port in Shenzhen had to stop working at the end of May for about a month. The shutdown at the port will cause cargo to stagnate, freight rates can skyrocket while capital is already at a high level.
The nightmare with the global supply chain about to repeat?
Many experts believe that the closure of Ningbo port for a long time can cause significant difficulties for the world economy because commercial activities are usually busier at the end of the year when companies increase the delivery of products to serve the Christmas holiday at the end of the year. This stretch is likely to slow growth and cause high inflation.
According to some predictions, the port of Los Angeles will once again see a sharp drop in cargo volume, similar to the previous closure of Diem Dien port. On the other hand, many chartering companies have added a Covid clause to their insurance policies, so they do not have to compensate for ships stuck at the port.
The closure of the Ningbo-Zhoushan port is raising concerns that ports around the world will soon face the same risk of disease outbreaks. While coronavirus restrictions slowed the flow of everything from perishable food to electronics last year.
Phan Quyen
FURTHER READING
The global supply chain threat: China’s Yantian Port suddenly shut
