SHANGHAI – NINGBO PORTS REOPEN AFTER TYPHOON DOLPHIN: POST-STORM CONGESTION CONTINUES TO CAUSE DELAYS

Following widespread disruption caused by Typhoon Dolphin, major ports and airports across Eastern China have gradually resumed operations from August 10–11.

However, the reopening of Shanghai and Ningbo ports does not mean that logistics operations have immediately returned to normal.

The large backlog of vessels, containers, cargo, and trucks accumulated during the disruption is now moving back into the logistics network at the same time. As a result, the main challenge has shifted from port closures caused by the typhoon to post-typhoon congestion and schedule disruptions.

For businesses moving cargo from Shanghai, Ningbo, and other parts of Eastern China to Vietnam, close monitoring of vessel schedules, terminal operations, container availability, and inland transportation remains essential in the coming days.

1. Shanghai–Ningbo Ports Reopen, but Vessel Waiting Times Remain High

Port operations across the Shanghai–Ningbo area are gradually being restored, but congestion remains a key concern.

• Yangshan Port

At Yangshan Port, laden container gates reopened at 08:00 on August 11, while empty container acceptance resumed at 10:00.

During the peak impact of Typhoon Dolphin, some Yangshan berths recorded waiting times of up to 12 days.

Although the reopening of gates is helping clear the accumulated container backlog, the sudden return of vessels, trucks, and containers is putting additional pressure on terminal yards and inland transportation.

• Waigaoqiao Port

Operations at Waigaoqiao Port have also resumed:

• 02:00 on August 11: laden container acceptance
• 08:00 on August 11: empty container acceptance

Businesses should still reconfirm terminal gate-in availability and container handling arrangements before dispatching trucks.

• Ningbo-Zhoushan Port

At Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, laden container acceptance resumed at 16:00 on August 10.

Berthing waiting times are currently estimated at approximately 3–5 days.

More than 800 commercial vessels that had anchored for shelter during the typhoon are gradually returning to the shipping lanes. This is creating additional operational pressure as the port works to restore normal vessel rotations.

• Shanghai Port

At Shanghai Port, berth waiting times are expected to remain around 5–8 days over the coming week.

Container yard density is also still high at approximately 75–90%, indicating that the post-typhoon cargo backlog has not yet been fully cleared.

2. Key Shanghai–Ningbo Port Congestion Indicators

Location	Current Situation
Shanghai	Berth waiting time of approximately 5–8 days
Ningbo	Berth waiting time of approximately 3–5 days
Yangshan	Waiting times reached up to 12 days at certain berths
Shanghai container yards	Approximately 75–90% yard density

These figures show that port reopening is only the first stage of the recovery process. Vessel schedules, terminal capacity, trucking, feeder services, and inland transportation still need time to stabilize.

3. Air Freight in Eastern China: Operations Resume, but Backlogs Remain

The impact of Typhoon Dolphin has not been limited to maritime transportation.

Major airports including PVG and Hongqiao have resumed ground handling and cargo loading and unloading operations. However, an additional 24–48 hours may be required to clear the cargo backlog accumulated during the disruption.

Flight operations in Hangzhou and Ningbo have also gradually returned to normal.

Despite this recovery, air export capacity in Eastern China may remain under short-term pressure, particularly because of cargo rolled over from flights cancelled on August 9–10.

For time-sensitive air freight shipments, businesses should verify:

• Actual flight schedules
• Cargo acceptance status
• Available export capacity
• Potential flight rollovers
• Revised cargo cut-off times

This is particularly important for shipments with strict delivery deadlines.

4. Road, Rail and Feeder Services Are Recovering at Different Speeds

Several key transportation routes across Eastern China have resumed operations, including:

• Donghai Bridge
• Hangzhou Bay Bridge
• Major expressways
• Railway services

However, Yangtze River feeder services may continue to experience delays of approximately 2–4 days as mother vessel schedules are adjusted following the typhoon.

This means that even when a shipment is no longer directly affected by a port closure, delays can continue at subsequent stages of the supply chain.

Port → Mother Vessel → Feeder → Depot → Truck → Final Delivery

If one link remains unstable, the final delivery schedule may still be extended.

5. The Main Risk Has Shifted From Port Closure to Post-Typhoon Congestion

Now that the major ports have reopened, the key question for importers and exporters is no longer simply whether the port is operational.

The more important question is:

Where is the cargo now, and what is the actual status of its transportation schedule?

Businesses should be prepared for several potential disruptions in the coming days:

• ETB/ETD discrepancies and vessel schedule changes
• Changes to container cut-off times
• Difficulty securing gate-in slots
• Container rollovers to subsequent voyages
• Vessel changes or port omissions
• Delays in container pickup and delivery due to congestion around terminals
• Additional DEM/DET, storage, and truck waiting charges
• Continued delays across feeder and inland transportation networks

According to SEKO, the supply chain recovery process across Greater China ports may extend into mid-to-late August.

The impact may also continue to ripple through feeder networks and inland depots even after the main ports have reopened.

6. Shanghai–Ningbo to Vietnam: ETA Risks Remain

Shipments moving from Shanghai and Ningbo to Vietnam remain exposed to short-term schedule disruptions.

Particular attention should be paid to the following routes:

Shanghai/Ningbo → Hai Phong
Shanghai/Ningbo → Cai Mep
Shanghai/Ningbo → Cat Lai
Cargo transshipped via China

Mainline vessel schedules may need to be adjusted to clear the backlog of vessels accumulated during the typhoon.

At the same time, feeder services, trucking, depots, and inland transportation networks also require time to realign their operations.

As a result, businesses shipping cargo from Eastern China to Vietnam during mid-August should consider adding approximately 3–5 days of additional transit time to their planning.

Shipments facing severe congestion, vessel rollover, or port omission may experience longer delays. The actual impact will depend on the shipping line, service route, terminal, and specific shipment conditions.

7. What Should Businesses Do After Typhoon Dolphin?

• Check Actual Vessel Departure Instead of Relying Only on ETD

Published ETD and ETA information may change after a major weather disruption.

Businesses should verify Actual Sailing and Actual Departure to determine whether the vessel has actually departed and whether the original schedule remains valid.

• Reconfirm Terminal Gate-In Before Dispatching Trucks

Before sending trucks to the port, confirm the latest gate-in arrangements, container receiving status, and trucking appointments with the relevant terminal or logistics provider.

This can help prevent unnecessary truck waiting time and additional charges.

• Check for Rollover, Vessel Changes, or Port Omission

For time-sensitive shipments, businesses should proactively contact the shipping line or agent to determine whether the cargo is at risk of:

Rollover → Vessel Change → Voyage Change → Port Omission

Early confirmation gives businesses more time to consider alternative solutions.

• Reconfirm Empty Container Return Locations

Empty container depots may be adjusted as carriers rebalance equipment following the disruption.

Businesses should therefore reconfirm the empty container return location before arranging trucking.

• Communicate Potential Delays Early

If a shipment is likely to be delayed, early communication with factories, customers, and other stakeholders can help minimize the impact on production and delivery schedules.

8. Port Reopening Does Not Mean the Supply Chain Has Fully Recovered

The reopening of Shanghai and Ningbo ports is an important step toward recovery, but the effects of Typhoon Dolphin may continue to impact the wider logistics network.

The current situation should therefore be viewed as a supply chain recovery process, rather than simply a port reopening event.

Businesses moving cargo through Eastern China should monitor the entire transportation chain:

Port → Vessel → Container → Feeder → Depot → Trucking → Final Delivery

A disruption at any one stage can continue to affect the final delivery timeline.

For shipments between China and Vietnam, proactive monitoring and additional lead-time planning can help reduce the risks of cargo delays, rollovers, missed connections, and unexpected logistics costs.

9. Dolphin Supports China–Vietnam Logistics During Market Disruptions

As logistics operations across Eastern China gradually recover, Dolphin Sea Air Services Corp continues to monitor developments across sea freight, air freight, inland transportation, and terminal operations.

With solutions covering ocean freight, air freight, inland transportation, customs services, and international logistics, Dolphin supports businesses in managing shipment schedules and responding to disruptions across the China–Vietnam supply chain.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

• Are Shanghai and Ningbo ports open after Typhoon Dolphin?

Yes. Major port operations in Shanghai and Ningbo gradually resumed from August 10–11. However, congestion, vessel queues, and schedule disruptions remain.

• How long is the waiting time at Shanghai and Ningbo ports?

Current estimates indicate approximately 5–8 days at Shanghai and 3–5 days at Ningbo. Some berths at Yangshan have experienced waiting times of up to 12 days.

• Will Shanghai–Ningbo shipments to Vietnam be delayed?

There is still a significant risk of short-term delays. Businesses shipping from Eastern China during mid-August should consider allowing an additional 3–5 days of transit time, with longer delays possible for shipments affected by severe congestion, rollover, or port omission.

• Have air freight operations resumed in Eastern China?

Yes. PVG and Hongqiao airports have resumed ground handling and cargo operations, while Hangzhou and Ningbo flight operations have also gradually recovered. However, cargo backlogs may continue to affect air export capacity in the short term.

• When will logistics operations return to normal?

According to SEKO, the recovery across Greater China ports may extend into mid-to-late August, with feeder networks and inland depots potentially remaining affected even after the main ports reopen.

Are you shipping cargo from Shanghai, Ningbo, or other parts of Eastern China to Vietnam?

Contact Dolphin for the latest route updates and a suitable transportation plan for your shipment.Frequently Asked Questions

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