Image Credit: Cruisemapper

The World’s second largest port, Ningbo Zhoushan in China has been closed after one of the workers tested positive for COVID-19. The port worker is believed to be fully vaccinated. On Monday, China reported 143 cases of COVID-19, and are following a very strict policy of extreme caution and prevention. They ordered mandatory mass testing of Wuhan’s population after three people were found positive for the Delta variant of COVID-19 last week. The city’s 11.3 million people were tested in less than a week.

The closure of the port due to COVID-19 will most likely affect the already overstretched global supply chains. The busy port was immediately closed by authorities after a port worker, 34, was found positive for the virus. All close contacts of the worker have been quarantined. The port is being disinfected and local reports claimed that they are turning away incoming ships.

While it is the largest cargo port in China, it is the second-busiest port after Shangai port. Ningbo-Zhoushan port handled over 16 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit. A measure of volume for cargo capacity, used for container ships. One 20 foot container = One TEU) in the first half of this year. It handled a total of 623 million tons of cargo in the first six months of this year, and the throughput of this port in 2020 increased by 5% to 1.2 billion tons of cargo.

Disruptions at the Ningbo-Zhoushan port will undoubtedly cause a ripple effect on global trade and according to Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea Intelligence, vessel delays will lead to severe capacity shortage which would drive up freight rates.

More details to follow.

Published by truthisacommodity

Residing on the small island of Malta, I have developed a keen interest in foreign politics and science and in bringing truth to my audience by providing daily news! Email: info@whatnownews24.com View all posts by truthisacommodity