FOCUS: Container delays ramp up, free days cut down after China port closure

The global markets for containerized freight have entered even deeper water in recent weeks, with closures at the key port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in China leading to worsening cargo delays, port congestion and a further cutback in free days.

This latest setback to containerized shipping has led to greater difficulty for anyone involved in buying, selling and arranging containerized cargoes of metal in the past week, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 25.
The most recent episode can be traced back to August 12, when the closure of the Meishan wharf at the pivotal Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in China, on reports of a Covid-19 infection, sent shockwaves through the global containerized shipping markets.
That was followed on August 15 by the closure of Alashankou port in the Bortala Mongol autonomous prefecture, affecting both copper and zinc deliveries, also due to reports of Covid-19 cases in the region.

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