7-week quarantine in China harms the recovery in shipping and economy.
While China’s strict stance on the “Zero Covid” policy causes the crisis in the ports to prolong, it also negatively affects the full recovery in shipping. Shipping is also intertwined with the global economy, as more than 85% of commodities in international trade are transported by sea. In terms of container throughput, Shanghai Port is the world’s largest port, whereas Ningbo-Zhoushan is the world’s largest port in terms of cargo tonnage.
As part of the fight against the virus, China has imposed a seven-week quarantine requirement for Chinese seafarers to return to the country. The foreign ship also forbade any changes to the crew. Ships that change crews in a different country are held for two weeks before they can enter Chinese ports.
Guy Platten, President of the International Chamber of Shipping Commerce, stated that China’s restrictions will have secondary effects and said, “Any restriction on shipping activities will bring with it problems and cause destruction in the supply chain.”
China’s exports accounted for 39.18 percent of the country’s GDP in 2020, making it the world’s largest exporter and manufacturer of industrial goods. Meanwhile, after the United States, China is the world’s second-largest importer.
