All Yantian port berths resumed full-scale operations

All Yantian port berths have resumed full operation since June 29, Platts reports, noting that the situation will return to normal only after the port has coped with the large volume of accumulated cargo and a long queue of vessels.

The port has been under significant restrictions for almost a month after new cases of COVID-19 have been identified.

The introduction of additional measures to control the spread of infection has led to a serious slowdown in operations and, as a result, delays in ships. These problems then spread to the neighboring ports of Nansha and Shekhu, and then around the world to the ports of Asia, America and Europe. Serious delays in Rotterdam, Singapore, and Indonesian ports are already forcing operators to cancel calls.

A Singapore-based freight forwarder told Platts that shippers are increasingly opting for air transport to deliver their cargo.

With continued capacity shortages, delays, new surcharges and an imbalance in the container shipping market as a whole, spot rates have reached new highs this month.