With U.S. retailers projecting 22.1% increase in volume over the same time last year, the port of Yantian in Shenzhen China has issued a notice restricting truckers from returning loaded containers too early. The port terminals are awash in container volume, as evidenced by the massive traffic jams that have virtually stopped all flow on the highways leading to the port.
The port’s restrictions are an attempt to meter the flow of cargo. Their notice tells truckers not to bring loaded containers to the terminal for the next three days that have departure dates more than seven days out. Truckers in the Southern China port are, therefore, adhering to this temporary schedule:
February 9 – no containers accepted with ETD on or after February 16
February 10 – no containers accepted with ETD on or after February 17
February 11 – no containers accepted with ETD on or after February 18
It is hoped that this action will stem the flow of containers that truckers are trying to return in advance of the Lunar New Year holiday, and such delay will allow the ports to better process the huge volume arriving these next few days.
