Fog Disruptions Continue to Impact Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Operations

Persistent fog conditions are continuing to disrupt operations at two of China's busiest container ports, Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan, creating delays for vessels, terminals, and landside transport providers.

According to reports from the region, vessel queues at anchorage remain significant, with deep-sea vessels experiencing berthing delays of between two and five days. The congestion has been driven by intermittent morning channel closures, which restrict vessel movements and reduce overall port productivity.

The impact is also being felt onshore. Terminal operations and truck gate-in efficiency have declined as fog related restrictions slow the movement of containers through the ports. As a result, some shipping lines have adjusted schedules, postponed cargo cut-off dates, or omitted port calls in an effort to recover network reliability.

Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan are among the most critical gateways for global containerised trade, handling large volumes of exports destined for markets across Australia, Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia. Any disruption at these hubs can quickly ripple through shipping schedules and supply chains worldwide.

Current forecasts indicate that morning fog conditions are expected to persist for at least the next two to three days, meaning congestion is likely to remain an ongoing challenge in the short term. Even after weather conditions improve, it may take several days for vessel schedules and terminal operations to fully recover.

Importers and exporters with cargo moving through Shanghai or Ningbo-Zhoushan should expect potential delays and remain in close contact with their logistics providers regarding vessel schedules, cargo cut-offs, and delivery timelines.

While weather related disruptions are not uncommon at major ports, the scale of activity moving through these gateways means that even temporary restrictions can have a noticeable impact on global supply chains.