Shanghai lockdown hits Oakland container volumes

China’s zero-tolerance in the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown in Shanghai have affected the Port of Oakland in the United States, which has seen a 7% reduction in its box volumes in April, compared to the same month last year.

In particular, the port's containerised import loads fell 17% last month, while exports sagged 18%. The decline is largely due to the closure of factories and ports in China, Oakland’s largest trade partner.

According to the Port of Oakland, the disturbance in the port of Shanghai is delaying the import shipments to the US and that wreaks havoc on ocean carrier scheduling. “US exports have been hampered by vessel schedules thrown into disarray in China,” said Port of Oakland maritime director, Bryan Brandes, who admitted that “most of Oakland’s business depends on the Asia-US trade route”.

Apart from China, the cargo flow in Oakland has been affected by additional factors, such as the reduction of the number of ships stopping in the Californian port. At the same time, importers are slow to retrieve shipments, and as a result, there are crowding container yards and slowing cargo discharge from ships. Additionally, there is container shortage and it is making the loading of export shipments a hard challenge.

However, the port seems to remain positive, as it believes that perhaps the relief of the supply chain is on the way. "Proof of this could be the fact that cargo activity in Shanghai has recently increased," noted a port official.

Furthermore, the port is in talks with shipping lines about increasing the number of Oakland vessel calls.

Source: Container News


Related News

MSC sets increased prices from Israel to Canada and Mexico
MSC sets increased prices from Israel to Canada and Mexico

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has published fresh increases in its freight rates for sailings from Israel to Canada and Mexico.

Threat to peak season extra loader services as desperate carriers hunt tonnage
Threat to peak season extra loader services as desperate carriers hunt tonnage

Ocean carriers are said to be “scraping the barrel” to find enough container tonnage for their extra loaders from Asia.

CMA CGM keeps air cargo results to itself, but spends big on aircraft
CMA CGM keeps air cargo results to itself, but spends big on aircraft

CMA CGM has spent some $753.3m in prepayments on its aircraft orderbook, up from $723.2m at the end of 2021, following its recent order for two 777 freighters, set to deliver in 2024. Meanwhile, the first of its previous order for two 777Fs joined the fleet on 31 May, with the second “in the process of being delivered”.


main.add_cart_success