A surge in Omicron variant infections has caused Chinese authorities to lockdown residents in key port cities such as Shenzhen and Shanghai. While carriers and port owners claim that terminals are operational, lockdowns mean that factories, warehouses, and distribution centers are shuttered, and trucking capacity is constrained. All port terminals and airports in China are still functioning as normal.
On Tuesday, China authorities reported more than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number in the country in two years.
Here is a recap from the Hong Kong office of Worldwide Logistics Group:
Southern China
On Sunday, the cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan were put on lockdown. All residents will get tested three times between March 14th and 20th.
Public transport is suspended. Port terminals are fully functional. Truckers are allowed to pick up and return containers to and from terminals; however, roads are closed in some areas.
All bonded warehouses are closed during the lockdown, so all LCL shipments will be delayed.
The Shenzhen office of Worldwide Logistics Group is closed with staff fully functional working from home.
Central China
Shanghai is not under citywide order to stay at home, but individual housing compounds are locked down as the megacity ramps up containment and testing efforts.
The Shanghai port terminal and warehouses are not affected; however, road closures in some areas may affect exportation.
The country will begin diverting international passenger flights to Shanghai to other Chinese destinations on March 21st, with this policy remaining in place for six weeks until May 1st. During this time, a total of 106 flights are expected to be impacted. Airlines affected are Air China, China Eastern, Juneyao Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and Spring Airlines. All five have bases at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Cargo flight is not affected by the diversion.
The Shanghai office of Worldwide Logistics Group remains open with limited staff on duty. Most staff are working remotely.
Xiamen and Fuzhou offices remain opened and functioning as normal.
Northern China
Jilin, the city at the center of the outbreak in the Northeast, and Yanji, an urban area of nearly 700,000 bordering North Korea, were both put under lockdown this weekend.
The neighbouring city of Changchun, an industrial base of nine million people, was locked down Friday. Three other small cities have been locked down since March 1st.
The port terminals in Northern China are still functioning as normal, but the city lockdown and road restrictions may affect factory exports.
The Qingdao office of Worldwide Logistics is opened and functioning normally.
Please contact your Worldwide Logistics Group representative for more details.