China Locks Down City Containing One of World's Busiest Ports, Could Impact Supply Chain

The Chinese industrial city of Ningbo has been shut down due to COVID-19 and the lockdown has its port continuing to be backed up. Located in the Zhejiang province of China, Ningbo is home to the third-largest port in the world. However, lockdown measures could worsen the already-disrupted port as worldwide supply chain woes persist. The city is currently experiencing a small but impactful wave of COVID-19 infections, with at least 23 cases being reported according to the Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times.

This spike in cases adds to an already stressful time for the Ningbo port. Only around 6,000 of 20,000 local drivers have been given special passes to enter and leave the port. Such a shortage could result in worsening supply chain issues. "Some truck drivers trapped in the lockdown area are unable to apply for the passes," said an anonymous freight forwarder to freight news website Lloyd's List. "Some are reluctant to go to Beilun and the terminals now deemed as a COVID-risky area that can invoke quarantine requirement in other cities."

Although there are currently no direct cases currently reported involving port employees, many of those infected work at a workshop owned by Shenzhou International, which frequently ships products out of the port. More than 5,300 people work at the port.

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