China closes terminal of the world's third largest port due to COVID-19

China has closed one of the terminals of the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, which has the third largest cargo turnover in the world. Such measures had to be resorted to after the detection of a case of infection of a port employee with COVID-19. Experts warn that this threatens already fragile supply chains, as well as global trade in general.
Operations at the Meishan terminal were suspended on 15 August.

According to the consulting company GardaWorld, about 25% of all cargo in the Ningbo-Zhoushan port passes through Meishan. The company's experts warn that "the terminal shutdown could have serious negative consequences for the volume of cargo handling and transportation."

The long-term suspension of the Meishan terminal could be especially painful for the global economy, as the volume of sea freight traditionally increases towards the end of the year, when business begins to prepare for the Christmas holidays.

There is reason to believe that the situation with the Meishan terminal will not be the last. Many ports around the world will soon face the same powerful wave of coronavirus restrictions as last year, when flows of all kinds of goods - from perishable goods to electronics - were virtually paralyzed.

The Ningbo-Zhoushan port authorities said that all its other terminals are operating normally, and it is actively cooperating with shipping companies, redirecting them to other terminals.