Shenzhen lockdown and Shanghai close to passenger flights

Shipping lines are considering schedule adjustments as the Chinese city of Shenzhen begins lockdown, until Sunday, at the earliest and Shanghai Pudong airport closes to to inbound passenger flights.

Authorities in Langfang, which borders Beijing and Dongguan, in Guangdong prvince, have imposed week-long lockdowns, joining Shenzhen, which started its own seven day lockdown on Sunday, while the entire province of Jilin has been placed in complete lockdown and Hong Kong restrictions are continuing, as China’s COVID cases jump.

Inbound international passenger flights to Shanghai Pudong are being diverted to 13 other cities for six weeks, as part of efforts to stop the spread of new Covid cases and while freighter flights are not affected, the diminished air cargo capacity will put pressure on rates.

Some Shanghai factories depending on locations have announced reduced or stopped operations based on local conditions.

We have seen reports that Shenzhen customs and trucking services are operating normally and while we have not yet been advised of any official restrictions to Yantian port, the offices of carriers are closed and low operating efficiency is expected. The port handled 26.55 million TEUs in 2020 and the lockdown could heavily restrict container movements, particularly if extended beyond the 20th March.

Some inbound international passenger flights are being diverted and reduced staffing levels means that ground handling efficiency and cargo receiving are affected.

HONG KONG
Despite COVID measure, shipping lines in Hong Kong have largely been operating as usual, but the suspension of flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nepal, the USA and UK will be extended until the 20th April.

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminal is operating under increased pressure, due to a reduced workforce of about 30%, while trucking services to Hong Kong via the Shenzhen border have been suspended and the alternative of using feeder vessels to Hong Kong is incurring cost and transit time.

We maintain long-term contracts with airlines, carriers and shipping lines that secure space and rates, to provide the best alternatives and options, whatever the situation.

With air freight capacity under severe pressure and prices rising again, our sea-air solutions are unaffected by current events and provide a cost-effective and dependable alternative.

Sea/air offers significant cost savings on air freight and accelerated transit times.