A Covid-19 outbreak in southern China is curbing activity at some of the country’s biggest ports, stoking fears that further disruption in international trade risk pushing up the price of its exports.
More than 100 new cases have been reported since late May in Guangdong province, one of China’s most important manufacturing hubs, leading to strict counter-measures from the government.
Processing at the Yantian container terminal in Shenzhen, which suspended exports for almost a week last month after workers tested positive, has plummeted. There has also been a sharp decline in the number of ships berthing as authorities enforce coronavirus prevention measures.