Everstream Analytics monitors and produces a weekly summary of supply chain impacts due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The update is provided free-of-charge to the industry.
- Several cities in China have recently imposed partial lockdowns and ordered mass testing, such as in Tianjin, Shenzhen and Ningbo. A lockdown in Xi’an that has been in effect for nearly three weeks is gradually being eased commencing January 10 as COVID-19 cases decline. Overall, movement restrictions continue to impact manufacturing operations and logistics in China, including at the major ports of Ningbo and Tianjin.
- Widespread flight cancellations and delays to flights within, into or out of the United States as well as other countries have continued to be reported as the airline industry struggles with staff shortages amid strict quarantine requirements and high COVID-19 infection rates.
- Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific announced it has to significantly reduce its long-haul air freight schedules through March 2022 due to recently enacted aircrew quarantine measures imposed by authorities, strongly impacting overall airfreight capacity in Hong Kong.
- Thousands of cargo trucks have reportedly been waiting in Vietnam at border crossings with China recently due to reduced and partially suspended Chinese customs clearance amid strict COVID-19 control measures. Several border gates were announced to be reopening commencing January 7, however, long waiting times for cargo trucks in Vietnam are expected to remain due to strict controls and, hence, overall reduced customs capacity.
- Various states in India have imposed or extended nightly curfews to slow the spread of COVID-19, such as recently in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. COVID-19 infections have surged since the beginning of 2022 and are expected to continue rising; highest case numbers are reported in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, where Omicron has overtaken Delta as the most prevalent strain.
- Effective from January 15, Canadian authorities will require US truckers to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination when crossing the border into Canada. Unvaccinated Canadian truckers will still be able to enter Canada provided they undergo a 14-day quarantine. The new mandate is expected to result in labor shortages for cross-border cargo operations as well as longer border waiting times.