As Shanghai’s lockdown eases, operations in Shanghai port are returning to normal. The burden on Shanghai yard resources is reducing, according to CMA CGM’s latest customer advisory, while the waiting time for ships in the Waigaoqiao port region has decreased as more port staff return to work.
Shanghai’s Covid-19 infections have fallen to the hundreds in mid-May, according to French logistics firm GEODIS, indicating that the world’s busiest cargo port is returning to normalcy. After the lockdown began on March 28, commercial enterprises and public transportation have gradually reopened since mid-May.
GEODIS said, “The exclusive lockdown campaign in Waigaoqiao ended. Consequently, facilities such as container freight stations and container depots associated to Waigaoqiao have gradually gone back to normal in the past week. As a result, the traffic congestion in the Yangshan area has been relieved.”
A commentary from VesselsValue, dated 27 May, said that Shanghai’s congestion remains high for the time of year, but is steadily normalising as the Covid-19 outbreak subsides.
Average waiting times for container ships in Shanghai are now down to 36 hours, from a peak of 69 hours in late April, but remain some 13 hours higher than in the same period in 2021.
On 26 May, China’s Ministry of Transport held a press briefing, where deputy director of transportation services, Li Huaqiang said that in the previous week, Shanghai’s container throughput had recovered to 95.3% of pre-Covid-19 levels.
Trucking volume, affected by inter-city Covid-19 testing, has also rebounded to 90% of pre-pandemic levels. Li said, “Today, our efforts at facilitating logistics are gradually moving from opening up the main artery to smoothing out the fine details. In the next step, the ministry will focus on improving logistical efficiencies, protecting people’s livelihoods, and reducing burdens. We will provide more support to maintain economic and social stability.”
