Covid-19 Still Plaguing Global Supply Chains

No one could have imagined that some 16 months after the “official” start of the pandemic that Global Supply Chains would still be negatively impacted by Covid-19.   But the reality is we STILL are and probably will be for a while.  The folks at Everstream Analytics monitors and produces a weekly summary of supply chain impacts due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Their updates are provided free-of-charge to the industry and we are re-publishing this week’s report for all of our readers.

• COVID-19 protocols and labor shortages continue to cause substantial flight delays at major Chinese airports, including at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK), Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG), Zhengzhou Airport (CGO), and Xiamen Airport (XMN). Furthermore, China Cargo Airlines and China Eastern Airlines will suspend passenger belly freighters until the end of August.
• Chinese authorities completed COVID-19 testing of 12 million residents in Wuhan. Last week, parts of an unspecified industrial and technology zone were sealed off, but no further restrictions on manufacturing and logistics have since been announced.
• Indonesian authorities relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in 26 areas including Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Semarang, while measures were extended in 45 other districts and cities until August 23.
• In Vietnam, containment measures in Hanoi will remain in place until August 23, while movement restrictions in Ho Chi Minh City and several surrounding provinces were extended until mid-August.
• Australian authorities imposed tighter restrictions in parts of New South Wales through August 16, while measures in Victoria are expected to be eased after August 12.
• Domestic and international travel restrictions will remain in place across Honduras until at least m.id-August.
• Argentina extended the land border closure with Brazil until October 1, but truckers are exempt with a negative COVID-19 test taken within one week of transit.
• In Pakistan, several cities across the state of Punjab, including Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad will remain in lockdown until August 31^st.

Covid-19 continues to play havoc with international supply chains with no end in sight.  As you can see from the details below, the disruptions are coming from a wide range of regions throughout the world.  Supply Chain Executives and their Corporate Management Teams will need to continually track their current global suppliers, as well as give strong thought to seek competent suppliers closer to home.  This decision simply cannot be put off any longer.  These Covid-19 disruptions, coupled with tight capacity constraints and skyrocketing shipping costs for all modes of transportation, make alternative supplier analysis a must.

• Beijing locked down six residential communities following a COVID-19 outbreak. Other cities such as Zhangjiajie and Zhuzhou in Hunan have also issued lockdown and stay-at-home orders.
• Nanjing Lukou International Airport has suspended all flights until at least August 11. The suspension is due to a recent outbreak of the Delta COVID-19 variant.
• Port of Cat Lai in Vietnam stopped receiving certain import and transshipment cargo until at least August 16 amid container pile up due to a shortage of employees and trucks.
• Authorities in Thailand have extended COVID-19 restriction measures for two weeks and expanded the lockdown zones from 13 to 29 provinces. The lockdown measures include a night curfew and a curb on inter-provincial travel.
• Queensland extended COVID-19 lockdown measures in Brisbane until August 8; lockdown measures implemented include orders for non-essential businesses to remain shut.
• The Netherlands reinstated work-from-home guidelines amid increasing COVID-19 cases; recommendations to work from home are not compulsory and apply to those who can do so.
• Bulgarian authorities have extended the country’s state of emergency until at least August 31 to allow for the modification of COVID-19-related restrictions on short notice.
• Oman has extended the nightly COVID-19 curfew with all movement and commercial activities to be restricted between 22:00 and 04:00 local time until further notice.
• Paraguay extended COVID-19-related measures to August 9 with a nightly curfew to remain in effect between the hours of 01:00-05:00.

This report, from Everstream Analytics monitors and produces weekly summaries of supply chain impacts around the globe due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The update is provided free-of-charge to the industry.

We will continue to provide these update as they become available.  Reach out to us if you need more information on how your supply chain may be affected by restrictions.