World’s busiest port in middle of China lockdown crisis
Omicron outbreak in Zhejiang Province closes factories, stalls haulage and hits port of Ningbo, leaving world's supply chains bosses fearing worst ...
21 December, 2021
Blog
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...
16 December, 2021
Port of Vancouver ship backlog hits 60
The Port of Vancouver hit a grim milestone this week as the number of ships waiting for a berth reached 60 despite the resumption of rail service. It happened Tuesday night, and included nine container, 17 grain and 16 coal vessels. The number had dipped to...
12 December, 2021
Another lockdown at Ningbo has exporters on edge
More than 300,000 people have been tested for coronavirus in a district in the port city of Ningbo, following an outbreak of the illness, detected on Monday. The district of Zhenhai has been put on a two-week lockdown after five people tested positive for Covid-19. Early...
09 December, 2021
Grim picture for shippers with no relief from elevated air freight rates in sight
Shippers hoping for relief in air freight rates early next year can expect to be disappointed, according to consultants and analysts. A host of factors, including the Omicrom variant and its likely impact on belly capacity and lockdowns, spurring spending on goods rather than services, as...
08 December, 2021
‘Indefinite’ Strike Looms at India’s Ports as Unions Claim New Law Threatens Jobs
India’s major public ports – already under growth pressure because of increasing competition from non-government cargo handlers led by Adani Group – face a renewed threat of labour stoppages after the government cleared new legislation reforming management systems. Trade unions representing dockworkers have voted to stage...
07 December, 2021
Port of Vancouver Operations Update
Cooler temperatures and mixed precipitation, including snow, is forecast for southwestern B.C. Rail operations: Both CP and CN mainlines between Vancouver and Kamloops are fully operational. Rail traffic through the Fraser Canyon corridor has resumed in both directions. All eastbound trains are transiting via CP’s line...
07 December, 2021
Feeder operators to wind down across the Pearl River Delta for six weeks ahead of Chinese New Year
The latest curveball likely to have sizeable impact on global supply chains comes from south China, one of the most important manufacturing powerhouses in the world, where new Covid constraints are coming in at many local ports. Both Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Hapag-Lloyd have warned...
01 December, 2021
China’s COVID Zero Policy Towards Seafarers Escalates Supply Chain Crisis
China’s increasingly extreme COVID Zero policies are standing in the way of a full recovery for the shipping industry and prolonging a crisis that’s snarled ports and emptied shelves worldwide. In its attempts to keep the virus out, China is continuing to prohibit crew changes for...
26 November, 2021
Port of Vancouver Operations Update
Trucking Strike Could Further Impact Port of Vancouver Operations Drivers at two Vancouver port trucking companies have voted to strike “if necessary to achieve a fair agreement,” said Unifor, the drivers’ union, in a statement yesterday. A strike would affect almost 200 truckers servicing the Port...
25 November, 2021
English (Canada) 
Français du Canada