Container Freight rates to increase on more China lockdowns

28 Mar 2022 CW Team

The number of container ships waiting off Qingdao port continues to rise as the country doubles down on its Covid Zero policy, adding more delays to an already strained global supply chain.The increased delays across China are expected to increase freight rates.

According to data, nearly 72 vessels were spotted off Qingdao port in Shandong, which almost doubled at the end of February. The increased delays across China are expected to increase freight rates.

This year, the volumes of container ships are being exacerbated by lockdowns aiming to curb new coronavirus outbreaks.

Salmon Aidan Lee, head of Wood Mackenzie, told the media that the Covid-19 pandemic situation has worsened in the past few days at Qingdao. He expects freight rates to increase because of increasing delays.

There is also a growing backlog of containers off Shanghai Ningbo and Zhoushan ports. There were 262 ships, up from 243 a week ago. However, the situation in Shenzhen and Hong Kong has eased a bit, down to 162 vessels.

The rapid spread of the pandemic had already strained supply chains reeling from the Russia-Ukraine war. Shipping lines like AP Moller-Maersk have cancelled their services to Russia and halted some rail shipments from China into Europe.

China has locked down Shenzhen and the northeast province of Jilin to control the pandemic, threatening technology and auto manufacturing output. The Yantian container port operations are continuing normally.

China's zero-tolerance policy has led to several partial closures of ports over the past year, exacerbating concerns about disruptions to supply chains and increase in production costs. The surging price of global oil and gas due to the Russian-Ukraine are increasing inflation risks in China as factory costs remain high.

Image Source

Also read: Mangalore port's container terminal to begin operations by March-end

Real Estate

08 May 2026

Integrated Waterproofing Strategies

Waterproofing buildings used to be an annual pre-monsoon affair but the evolution of real-estate development has changed that approach. In new developments, developers are weaving waterproofing solutions into both the design and construction phases, an approach that Nikhil Madan, Managing Director, Mahima Group, says, “is all about ensuring lasting durability [of the building] and keeping lifecycle risks including water seepage and extensive maintenance to a minimum.”Watertight by designAluminium formwork systems aren’t commonly thought of as a waterproofing tool but at the Mahima Group,..

GROHE Showcases Water-Led Design At Milan

GROHE unveiled its GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary at Milan Design Week 2026, transforming Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato into an immersive showcase of water, design and wellbeing. Built on the philosophy of ‘Wellbeing Through Water’, the installation reimagined bathrooms as holistic spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.The Aqua Sanctuary was presented through three interconnected sanctums. The first showcased the 3D-printed GROHE SPA AquaTree shower and faucet, highlighting bespoke innovation and biophilic design. The second featured the Atrio Private Collection and GROHE SPA x Buster..

Rahee Group Expands Rail Manufacturing Capacity

Rahee Group has outlined a multi-year investment roadmap to expand its operational footprint and strengthen manufacturing capabilities for India’s growing railway and urban transit sector. The Group is expanding in Odisha with a new Track Component Casting Unit, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 April 2026 in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.The Group’s flagship EPC arm, Rahee Infratech Ltd, continues to focus on complex rail infrastructure projects, including track systems, bridges, viaducts and ballastless infrastructure. Its wholly owned subsidi..