February 28, 2020

China's backlog at top container ports clearing up

Workers have returned to ports to release backlog of cargos at China's top container ports after COVID-19 restrictions have eased, reported Reuters.

Sanderson Farms, a top US poultry processor said ports in China were gradually resuming to normal operations with most of the company's shipments delivered. Sanderson Farms exported about 18 million pounds of chicken products after China lifted a ban on poultry from the United States in late-2019.

There were port congestions at major ports in China due to worker shortages as the COVID-19 outbreak imposed quarantines and transport restrictions across the country. Ports were forced to operate with few workers.

Average wait times of 60 hours was expected between February 11 to 17, 2020 at Zhoushan, in southern China and the world's third biggest container port by annual handling capacity. According to Shanghai International Shipping Institute (SISI) data, this was 15 hours longer compared to week before, and 20 hours more than the average wait time in early January.

Wait times have slowly improve currently as workers return. Xu Kai, SISI director of the Shipping Information Research Institute said congestion in the port have decreased and logistics have recovered. 

There are also lower diverted shipments from China, at 61 container vessels last week compared to 144 at the start of February.

-      Reuters