Another Typhoon Threatens Shipping as China’s Ports Recover

Just when things appeared to be returning to normal around China’s major ports, another powerful storm is approaching.

Super Typhoon Champi is moving across the western Pacific towards Taiwan, raising concerns about potential disruption to shipping routes, port operations and transport services across the region.

According to the China Meteorological Administration’s bulletin issued on 22 October, Champi was located approximately 750 kilometres southeast of Taipei at 5am, with maximum winds near its centre of 198 km/h. The forecast at that time had the storm moving northwest towards the waters east of Taiwan, gradually weakening.

Subsequent reporting indicates that Champi is expected to pass northeast of Taiwan before moving towards the East China Sea and eventually southern Japan. Its precise track and the extent of its impact on China’s coast remain uncertain.

Shipping disruption could extend beyond the storm

Even if a typhoon does not make direct landfall near a major port, strong winds and rough seas can affect vessel movements, prompt precautionary restrictions and temporarily suspend terminal operations.

The impact can continue after the weather improves, as vessels return to port, missed calls need to be managed and shipping schedules adjust to the disruption.

Recent events around Shanghai and Ningbo provide a clear example of how quickly these effects can build.

In August, Typhoon Dolphin caused widespread disruption along China’s eastern coast, leaving more than 2.4 million TEU of containership capacity affected. Terminal operations at Shanghai and Ningbo were suspended on 7 and 8 August, forcing vessels to shelter away from the storm.

By 12 August, 117 vessels had returned to Shanghai’s anchorage area and 60 to Ningbo’s. Average vessel waiting times over the preceding seven days had reached 3.95 days in Shanghai and 2.26 days in Ningbo.

These figures highlight the scale of disruption that a major weather event can cause across container shipping networks.

Shanghai’s recovery in numbers

The impact of successive typhoons was also reflected in Shanghai’s port activity over the following weeks.

The port handled a record 5.135 million TEU in September 2026, an increase of 6.2% year on year. According to the Shanghai International Port Group, operations continued through China’s National Day holiday, with 1.15 million TEU handled during the holiday week.

Despite this strong throughput, congestion remained a concern. Linerlytica data reported by The Maritime Executive showed 114 vessels at anchor off Shanghai and another 82 alongside on 10 October, with more than 629,000 TEU of capacity at anchor.

The figures are a snapshot of conditions at that time, rather than a measure of the current queue. Shanghai’s port operator has reported that operations have returned to normal, while analysts have continued to highlight the number of vessels waiting offshore.

What happens next?

Champi introduces another weather risk for shipping services operating around Taiwan and the East China Sea, with eastern China’s coastal ports also needing to monitor conditions as the forecast develops.

The actual impact will depend on the storm’s track, its intensity and any restrictions imposed by local authorities. It is too early to determine whether Shanghai or Ningbo will experience another significant backlog.

For businesses moving containerised cargo through the region, it is worth keeping an eye on carrier advisories, port updates and changes to vessel schedules over the coming days.

After several rounds of typhoon-related disruption, the focus will be on how Champi develops and whether shipping operations can continue without another prolonged interruption.

Image credit: Credit: JMA/Himawari-9, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers