China air cargo disruptions advance ‘super peak’ as prices soar after Shanghai freight terminal closure
- Seven coronavirus cases were detected at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, forcing authorities to suspend cargo aircraft operations
- Goods shipping in China had already been disrupted by the partial closure of a terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port for two weeks earlier this month
Air freight prices have risen by up to 30 per cent since a terminal at China’s largest cargo airport was closed due to an outbreak of coronavirus cases, jacking up further skyrocketing costs of sending goods by air.
Due to the closure and resulting labour shortage, air freight capacity at Pudong has since fallen further, forcing up prices that had already been rapidly rising since early last year, putting upwards pressure on the cost of Chinese goods.
“Rates out of Pudong airport have increased by around 30 per cent due to the flight cancellations and ground operation issues,” a spokeswoman at international freight provider SEKO Logistics said.
“We are expecting this Pudong outbreak to bring forward the super peak we were expecting in October.”