Maersk says that the plug shortage in Shanghai and Xingang has been worsening in recent weeks with similar reports coming from ports in the surrounding area.
This is why Maersk will be expanding the scope of the congestion surcharge, adding also Ningbo port to the list of congested ports for reefer boxes.
The tariff applicable will be the same, US$1,000 per container, and the effective date will be 28 February 2020 for non-FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) corridors and 22 March 2020 for FMC corridors.
The Danish shipping company recommends to customers, when possible, to ship cargo via other Chinese ports in order to avoid the congested facilities. This recommendation is in particular for transit time-sensitive, perishable, chilled commodities with a limited/short shelf life, e.g. fruit/vegetables and frozen meat.
It is reported that for cargo already in transit, Maersk will offer a free change of destination for those customers who decide to divert the cargo to other Chinese destinations.
