Far East shipping operations are once again being affected by severe weather, following Typhoon Dolphin’s landfall in China’s Zhejiang province yesterday.
Port activity across parts of eastern China has been temporarily suspended or restricted, while hundreds of flights have been cancelled around Shanghai and Ningbo. Further heavy rainfall is expected over the coming days, raising the prospect of continued disruption across regional transport networks.
The latest storm follows an already challenging year for Far East logistics, with Typhoon Maysak and Super Typhoon Bavi among the weather systems to have caused significant disruption during 2026.
Bavi’s impact during July added to existing pressure on ocean freight networks, contributing to vessel delays, cargo backlogs and ongoing schedule disruption.
Those problems coincided with the Asia peak season, when higher cargo volumes naturally place greater demands on terminal capacity, vessel space and equipment availability. Delays of up to five days have become increasingly common, with Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Shekou and Nansha among the ports experiencing the greatest pressure.
Further severe weather can quickly amplify these existing challenges. Even short-term port closures or interruptions to vessel movements can create knock-on effects across sailing schedules, increasing the likelihood of rolled bookings, missed connections and equipment shortages.
Typhoon Dolphin therefore arrives at a particularly difficult time for Far East supply chains, with many services already operating under sustained pressure.
Global Freight Services is monitoring developments closely with our overseas partners and will keep customers informed of any significant impact on their freight movements.