Track Shipment

Week 2 Freight and Customs Updates

January 12th, 2022

COVID continues to disrupt—everything.

The Port of New York and New Jersey is once again grappling with a spike in COVID-19 numbers, which has led to further congestion. The average wait time throughout 2021 was 1.6 days, but the final week of 2021 saw a wait time of 4.75 days. And, at a time when there’s significant volume growth, the number of longshoremen who are unavailable to work because of sickness or quarantine is up to about 350 per day. Problems have been further exacerbated due to heavy winter storms.

In the east, more goods are moving through the already congested Port of Shanghai, thanks to landside delays at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. Ningbo is facing another lockdown, which is severely limiting trucking access to the port. And with Chinese New Year just weeks away, some shippers are avoiding Ningbo entirely. Some are also facing feeder problems when using alternative ports, finding services suspended, or capacity limited.

1,000 miles south, in Shenzhen, new COVID cases are starting to spread and authorities are beginning to institute bans. Everyone should be prepared for an impact on trucker availability at this key box port.

Moving away from COVID-related news, the new Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) came into effect on January 1, 2022. By now, all shippers should have updated and reclassified their part numbers. Failure to provide freight forwarders and/or custom brokers with revised classification numbers could result in more delays at ports of entry. Regarding Section 301 tariffs against China, there has been no move to either reduce or eliminate them.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently added new or expanded Export Commodity Classification Numbers (ECCNs). Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are now classified under ECCN 2D352. Shippers need to remain up to date with all new export controls, such as using the correct ECCN number, in order to avoid violations, delays, or seizure of goods.

Not to be overlooked, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are still facing unprecedented traffic jams. As of Friday, January 7, there were a record number of 105 container ships waiting for birth at the port. This is three times the amount of vessels waiting to birth than there were at this time last year. Even though the holiday rush is over, the congestion at the court continues to increase, with concerns increasing over Omicron-related dockworker shortages.

For the rest of this week’s top stories, check out the article highlights below.

Congestion hits Port of New York and New Jersey as Covid cases spike

Congestion hits Port of New York and New Jersey as Covid cases spike

The Port of New York and New Jersey has been hit with congestion due to a spike in the number of port workers in quarantine for Covid-19.

Ningbo shippers divert as exports are hit by Covid-restricted trucking

Ningbo shippers divert as exports are hit by Covid-restricted trucking

Forwarders are shifting volumes to congested-Shanghai to avoid landside delays, despite carrier schedules so far unaffected by the newest Covid-disruption at Ningbo.

Shenzhen on alert as more Covid-19 cases crop up

Shenzhen on alert as more Covid-19 cases crop up

China’s whac-a-mole approach to containing Covid-19 is seeing restrictions rushed in at many more important hubs across the country as the nation struggles to contain more contagious variants spreading.

2022 Trade Update: How to keep freight moving

2022 Trade Update: How to keep freight moving

Shippers who are current on the global trade landscape are assets to their service partners and customers. Our global trade expert provides us with a review of the key trade topics that should be top of mind as we enter 2022.

New year brings new all-time high for shipping’s epic traffic jam

New year brings new all-time high for shipping’s epic traffic jam

America made it through Christmas without too many bare shelves, despite historic port congestion. Goods were brought in early and shoppers shopped early. Holiday sales were up 11% from 2019, pre-COVID.

2022-01-11T13:41:09+00:00January 12th, 2022|Shipping News|
Go to Top