COVID-19 Advisory Notice Greater China Update: March 16

As the outbreak of Omicron across China worsens, with impact being seen mostly in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong, local authorities are enforcing restrictions which will have an impact on our offices, warehouses, and operations. Please see below for a brief overview on the current situation.   

Shenzhen

Air Freight

• For the week of 14-20^th March the city of Shenzhen will be locked down
• All SEKO agent warehouses in Shenzhen and Dongguan are not operational due to this lockdown.  This lockdown has today been extended to Futian, Longhua, Pingshan districts.

• Airport terminals are still operational and flights cancellations may arise.  The impact on air freight shipments due to trucking restrictions if picking up from outside Shenzhen or a locked down area.

• Air export operations are still being processed but with a slight delay due to staff working from home.
• No trucks are allowed into and out of Shenzhen.  This means that only local cargo located in Shenzhen can be booked on SZX departing flights.
• Trucking services are still operating but with limited drivers due to 24hrs COVID test report policy.
• Most factories are closed, and few are open and must be checked case by case.
• SEKO staff are working from home 

Cross Border & Ecom

• Cross border trucks from Shenzhen to Hong Kong have stopped operating, except for essential goods to Hong Kong, and truck drivers must have a negative test result within 24 hours.
• Cross border operations of B2C and B2B can still operate out of Nansha and Huangpu ports.

Ocean Freight

• We have been advised that any rumours of Yantian pilot harbour building staff being quarantined are untrue, and there are still no issues at Yantian port.
• Currently there is no direct impact to ocean terminals and carrier operations but potential impact on ocean freight due to trucking restrictions if picking up from outside Shenzhen or a locked down area.
• Most carriers like CMA, ONE, HMM, MASTON have started working from home, which may cause potential delays on communication, emails and operations.
• There are trucking restrictions for vehicles travelling in and out of Shenzhen which means no cargo from outside the restricted area can enter.
• CFS warehouses are closed

Shanghai

The SEKO Shanghai office has been shut down for two days starting this morning.  All staff are working from home. 

Air Freight

• 48hrs COVID test reports are necessary for drivers to deliver cargo to agent warehouses
• A key issue in Shanghai is the lack of drivers, and drivers from other provinces willing to enter the city, and Shanghai drivers being rejected from entering other provinces.
• All agent warehouses are operating normally, though most staff are working from home.  Some are arranging disinfection of trucks and cargo in warehouses prior to unloading cargo.
• All Chinese airlines inbound passenger flights will change routings to land in other city airports.
• There may be delays for inbound shipments after flights land in other cities.  This is due to customs clearance / bonded transfer from other airports to PVG due to transportation control.
• Nanjing airport has requested disinfection of any cargo delivered there from Shanghai with an additional cost (CNY200 for 3 pcs, after with CNY20/pc).
• 48hrs COVID test reports must be provided for any truck moving in/out of Shanghai, and the same requested for warehouse cargo receiving.

Ocean Freight

• Currently there is no direct impact to ocean terminals and carrier operations. 
• Most carriers like CMA, ONE, HMM, MASTON have started working from home, which may cause potential delays on communication, emails and operations.
• Trucking restriction for trucks in Shanghai have caused some shipments to be moved out of Ningbo.
• CFS warehouse require drivers to have COVID test reports valid for 48 hours.

Click here for the China update

 

If you have any questions for the China operations team, please contact the following:

• General Operations – Dannis.Yang@sekologistics.com
• China Air Freight – John.Chen@sekologistics.com
• China Ocean Freight – Qi.Bei@sekologistics.com
• Shenzhen Management – Paulson.Xie@sekologistics.com
• China Management – David.Huang@sekologistics.com