11 Aug 2021 | 07:32 PM UTC
China: Authorities close Meidong Container Terminal at the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province as of Aug. 11 due to COVID-19 concerns
Meidong Container Terminal at Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in China closed as of Aug. 11 due to COVID-19 concerns. Shipping disruptions likely.
Event
Officials have halted operations at the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan's Meidong Container Terminal in Zhejiang Province, China, after a port worker tested positive for COVID-19 Aug. 10. Inbound traffic and lift-off services at the terminal have been suspended as of Aug. 11. The Meishan free port area is also reportedly closed. The government has not confirmed how long the suspension will last. Supply chain delays are possible if officials prolong the closure.
Context
Meidong terminal accounts for approximately 25 percent of cargo through the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, and the suspension could severely impact cargo handling and shipping. The most significant disruptions are likely to affect shipping companies Cosco, CMA CGM, and Evergreen, which primarily use the terminal. Delays could also impact shipping companies that have operations or store cargo in the Meishan free port area.
A COVID-19 outbreak in May at the port of Shenzhen in southern China caused several weeks of disruption to global shipping.
Advice
Confirm maritime shipments if shipping through the Meidong Container Terminal. Consider alternative shipping methods for critical freight.
