Typhoon Dolphin, equivalent to a Category 1 Storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, made landfall along the east coast of China near Yuhuan in Zhejiang at 17:30 local time on August 9, with maximum sustained winds of 94 mph (151 km/h).
While the storm has weakened into a remnant low, torrential rainfall will continue over the next several days across parts of Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, and parts of Anhui and Jiangsu.
The storm first hit Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures in Japan on August 8 as a Category 2 storm with severe winds and rainfall, causing power outages, flight disruptions, and prompting widespread evacuations.
Impacts on industrial activity have occurred in the affected areas, with manufacturers having issued proactive production halts in anticipation of the passage of the storm. Widespread power outages due to intense wind speeds and evacuation orders are anticipated to prolong operational disruptions.
Logistics operations have also been disrupted as airlines have canceled flights across the region, ports have closed, and ground freight deliveries have been suspended. Infrastructure damage assessments following the dissipation of the storm are likely to confirm extended production halts and logistics disruptions in some areas.
Typhoon Dolphin disrupts logistics continuity across affected areas
Logistics disruptions were reported in affected areas in Japan during the early passage of the storm. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) canceled around 600 flights at Naha Airport (IATA: OKA) in Okinawa, Japan between August 6 and 9. Though airlines began gradually resuming operations from August 9, lingering delays and cancelations are expected. Heavy winds and rainfall also affected road and rail transportation in Okinawa. The Okinawa Expressway was closed between Naha and Kyoda from August 6 until 19:00 local time on August 8, and transit restrictions were imposed on bridges, coastal and elevated roads in Miyakojima, south Okinawa.
In China, logistics impacts included port disruptions, cargo delivery delays, and flight disruptions. Ports along the east coast implemented restrictions from August 6. Warehouses and barge facilities suspended operations in areas like Ningbo. At the Vopak Wharf in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, vessels were moved to safe waters after unloading cargo, and transport pipes and mooring lines were dismantled on August 6. The Donghai Bridge, connecting the Yangshan Deepwater Port to Shanghai, was closed on 19:30 local time on August 9. The G15 Shenhai Expressway in Suzhou and Nantong in Jiangsu was also shut down, impacting connectivity to the Nantong Development Zone, Changshu Development Zone, and Zhuhang.
Airlines in China began facing disruptions from August 8, with 1,500 flights canceled between Shanghai Pudong International Airport (IATA: PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (IATA: SHA). Additionally, rail services in Shanghai and surrounding areas were disrupted after the Shanghai Railway Group announced suspensions between August 9 and 11. Airlines in Taiwan and Singapore also announced cancelations and delays due to the storm.
Prolonged manufacturing disruptions anticipated due to evacuations and power outages
The typhoon’s passage impacted power infrastructure in Japan, with around 50,000 outages reported in Okinawa, and 39,000 in Kagoshima.
Japanese authorities issued evacuation orders for 260,000 residents in Kyushu and Okinawa, as strong wind conditions posed a threat to infrastructure stability.
The automotive industry in Japan faced operational disruptions due to the related power outages and evacuation mandates. Toyota Motor Corporation halted 17 production lines at nine domestic plants from August 7. The suspension includes the plants in Motomachi, Takaoka, Tsutsumi in Aichi, and those of its group companies like Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. In Kyoto, Toyota Auto Body and Toyota Industries. Operations are expected to remain suspended until August 17, as the suspensions overlap with the summer vacations at the plants.
In China, authorities evacuated around 900,000 people from Wenzhou, 390,000 from Taizhou in Zhejiang, 98,900 from Fujian, and 30,300 from Shanghai, as the storm brought risks of floods and landslides. Authorities further ordered work stoppages in Zhejiang on August 8, and in Jinshan, Shanghai on August 10, halting businesses and production activities in each zone.
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