One can hardly be surprised that a great chunk of souvenirs for different occasions are produced in China. During the holidays, shelves in shops are bursting with various souvenirs that China exports in huge quantities. However, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted global supply chains. Therefore, merchants have been extremely worried that they might be unable to buy up items for the upcoming Christmas holidays.
Their worries have intensified after the Meishan terminal at China's Ningbo port suspended work due to a surge in coronavirus cases. Notably, this terminal is China's second-largest container port. The closure of the terminal has caused logjams at ports and further raptured global supply lines. Luckily, in-gate, out-gate, and berthing activity have resumed lately. Merchants managed to avoid a shortage of non-essential goods as deliveries around the world normalized. Thus, residents of Europe and the United States can buy Christmas decorations and gifts for Christmas. The Meishan terminal accounts for about a quarter of the capacity of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.
Despite the fact that congestion and delays on world shipping routes have occurred throughout the coronavirus crisis, experts failed to figure out how to mitigate the negative consequences. Besides, the closure of one of the largest ports in China only added pressure to the already disrupted supply chains. The volume of Chinese exports is breaking new records amid growing global demand. At the same time, demand for ships and containers for transportation is increasing as well. Companies are pumping up supplies to Europe and the United States for the Christmas shopping season. Even partial closure of the port cost manufacturers and buyers a penny.
