WHAT’S THE LATEST

Super Typhoon Ragasa made landfall on the South China coast early this morning, September 24. It has been reported as the strongest tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific and South China Sea region this year. While the typhoon warning has now been lifted, we anticipate ongoing air and ocean freight delays as the typhoon continues its westward path towards Vietnam, where further disruptions are expected.

Please note that the disruptions caused by Typhoon Ragasa are coinciding with China’s upcoming National Holiday (October 1-7). Although operations are returning to normal, please bear in mind that this will have an impact on cargo port congestion and equipment shortages in the lead up to golden week.

Our team is available to assist you in identifying the best solutions over the coming weeks.  Please contact your local SEKO representative for more information.

WHAT WE KNOW

Air Freight: 

• Hong Kong (HKG): Due to safety concerns, flights will resume at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) at midnight tonight as the typhoon moves away from the city.  A “small number” of flights will arrive after midnight, and airline operations will return to normal after 6am on Thursday.  Around 1000 flights have been affected, including 500 operated by Cathay Pacific.

• Guangzhou (CAN): Guangzhou airport has cancelled all flights until Wednesday evening.  This will further strain cargo capacity ahead of the Golden Week holiday and is likely to cause inventory clearance delays of around 3-7 days. Shippers may consider diverting cargo to alternative airports such as Xiamen (XMN) or Ezhou (EHU).

• Shenzhen (SZX): Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport has announced the resumption of flight operations starting at 8pm this evening, following the cancelled 210 departing flights and 319 incoming flights.  Delays of around 2-3 days are expected for all air freight shipments.

• Vietnam - Noi Bai (Hanoi), Cat Bi (Hai Phong), and Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City): Airports are expected to experience delays from today due to adverse weather conditions including strong winds and low visibility.  Airlines are monitoring the situation closely and may adjust flight schedules for safety. Clients are advised to check with carriers for real-time updates

Ocean Freight: 

• Port Closures: To prepare for the typhoon, port operations were suspended in Yantian, Nansha, Shekou, and Hong Kong.  The typhoon warning has now been lifted, and Terminal operations are expected to return tomorrow morning.  

• Service Delays:

  • Guangzhou & Shenzhen: Sea freight will experience delays of 3-7 days following the typhoon. Feeder services and mother vessel schedules are expected be resume service tomorrow.

  • Shenzhen CFS Hub: The consolidation hub is expected to resume service tomorrow.

  • Vietnam:

    •    Hai Phong Port: Currently operating without delay, but weather alerts remain active. Vessel movements may be suspended temporarily depending on storm progression. 
    •    Cai Mep and Cat Lai Ports: Experiencing moderate delays (2–3 days) due to precautionary measures and congestion. Port authorities are prioritizing safety and may halt operations if conditions worsen

Regional Status & SEKO Office Operations: 

• Hong Kong:

  • All business and transport operations will return to normal tomorrow.

• Shenzhen:

  • All business and transport operations will return to normal tomorrow.

• Guangzhou:

  • All business and transport operations will return to normal tomorrow.

• Xiamen:

  • All business and transport operations will return to normal tomorrow.

• Taiwan:

  • All business and transport operations are continuing as normal.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your SEKO representative, or email us at hello@sekologistics.com.