The Meishan terminal at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port was closed on August 11 after a single worker tested positive for COVID-19. The closure of the critical part of the world’s third-busiest container port caused congestion in nearby ports as ships were diverted there. While Meishan resumed berthing activity on Wednesday, industry participants and analysts expect it would take weeks or even months to reach full capacity, prolonging the crisis in global shipping.
Danish shipowner association BIMCO said it would take about 60 days for Ningbo to return to normal operations as some workers and maritime pilots are still undergoing quarantine. BIMCO also said it could take weeks to clear the backlogs because China’s strict restrictions also affected railways and trucking. That means worldwide retailers will have to face a continued supply chain crunch as they race to replenish stocks ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season.
