On Wednesday, China lifted health restrictions imposed on one of the largest ports in the world, which had been partially shut down since August due to a COVID-19 outbreak that negatively impacted logistics. The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, located 250 kilometers south of Shanghai, is one of China's main shipping ports. Last year, 1.2 billion tons of goods passed through this port, making it the third largest in the world in terms of exports. The discovery of a COVID-19 case among port workers led to the closure of the Michan terminal, which has the capacity to handle ten million containers.
Public television "CCTV" reported, citing a memorandum from local authorities, that the health restrictions on the Michan terminal would be lifted on Wednesday and that operations would resume "gradually." The terminal is expected to return to full capacity on September 1, according to the memorandum. About 2,000 workers were asked to self-isolate, while global supply chains were already under strain. The maritime transport sector has faced significant pressure in recent months globally due to health restrictions and the resurgence of economic activity, which has increased demand for goods. In May, the temporary closure of the Yantian port in southern China due to COVID-19 resulted in weeks of delays for exports.
