Container volumes at China’s ports increased slightly during January-April, despite the impact from the country’s widespread Covid restrictions, including the latest lockdown in Tianjin.
According to China’s ministry of transport, port volumes increased 1.7% year-on-year during the period, to 91m teu, with 23.6m handled in April alone.
The Covid-related supply chain disruption is continuing at ports across the country, however. For example, in its latest update, Fibs Logistics noted that Tianjin is the latest major port city to go into lockdown.
The forwarder said: “Carriers have cancelled many vessels, causing delays and blank sailings at Tianjin and Xingang. Factories and ports are fully operational, and pushing up freight rates, but this might change with the lockdown this week.”
In South China, Fibs said the there was no congestion at Yantian and Shekou, with good spot rates available to the US and EU markets. However, PCR testing is still required for drivers, and cross-border trucking with Hong Kong has been suspended again until further notice.
Likewise, Guangzhou is still under lockdown, the forwarder added, with restrictions on trucks and drivers, while shipping lines have been “cancelling some voyages due to congestion and reduced demand.”
In Shanghai, the reality on the ground has failed to live up to the latest reopening hype from local officials.
Fibs’ head of Greater China Thomas Gronen told WPO: “We’re currently in a period of ambiguity. There’s an official ruling by the city-government of relaxation, but it’s not yet being followed at the local neighbourhood committee level.
“To leave your residential neighbourhood and go back to work is still not possible, either. The closed-loop working conditions remain generally in place.”
Furthermore, Mr Gronen noted, there’s not yet any sign of a post-lockdown cargo surge.
“We’re not seeing any rush at all,” he explained. “The more likely upcoming challenge is the further increase in blank sailings – in which case, even a moderate restart in shipping volumes could lead to congestion.
“Based on the largely unchanged conditions, our recommendation remains in favour of using Ningbo port.”
Meanwhile, air cargo operations at Shanghai Pudong are slowing recovering.
Jimmy Hu, business development manager at YAD Supply Chain Logistics, said: “The number of closed-loop operators in the cargo area of Pudong airport has increased to 8,200, and the support units such as ground service, maintenance, cargo terminals, and freight forwarding have further increased too.
“There are currently 48 airlines operating cargo flights, with the number of cargo routes restored to 53 – an increase of seven airlines and nine routes, compared with mid-April.”
