Some major Chinese ports have stepped up anti-virus measures, including frequent testing and obligatory quarantine for workers, as part of a nationwide campaign to curb new outbreaks. The move has sparked a worry that commodity imports into the world’s second-largest economy would be delayed. However, the Chinese Communist Party-linked media Global Times reported that the impact would be limited and temporary.
Workers at Lianyungang port in East China’s Jiangsu Province are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine after work. This results in delays in ship unloading for up to one week. A port official said the measure would not significantly impact imports of aluminium ore and other commodities from Australia and Indonesia.
A Chinese firm said that costs to import cotton had increased around 10% because cargos have to undergo a disinfection process at the Qingdao Port in East China’s Shandong Province. The company said that higher fees have resulted in disputes with foreign suppliers as they refused to pay the additional costs.
Coal carriers are also required to wait 14 days after departure from an overseas port before entering a Chinese port. This has led to delays in discharging imported coal and sparked concerns of supply shortfall amid high power demand and curbed domestic mining output.
