Typhoon "White Dolphin" Passes | Ningbo Zhoushan Port Closed for 68 Hours, Estimated Backlog of Over 200,000 TEUs

Ningbo Zhoushan Port Closed for 68 Hours, Estimated Backlog of Over 200,000 TEUs

In August 2026, foreign trade practitioners in East China experienced more than ten thrilling days.

In mid-to-late July, Typhoon "Bavi" had just forced East China ports to shut down for several days, and the backlog of vessels and containers had not yet been fully digested; in early August, Typhoon No. 13 "White Dolphin" seamlessly followed, and Ningbo Zhoushan Port was closed in all areas starting from 18:00 on August 7. It was not until 16:00 on August 10 that core port areas such as Beilun, Daxie, Meishan, Chuanshan and Jintang resumed full-container pickup and delivery operations. The full-container operations of core port areas were interrupted for as long as 68 hours.

At 20:00 on August 10, the first large container ship "Chengda" sailed smoothly into the Beilun port area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port after the typhoon passed, slowly berthing at Berth 2 of Beilun Second Container Terminal, and foreign trade shipping operations at Ningbo Zhoushan Port resumed in an orderly manner. As of 17:00 on August 11, 42 large container ships had entered Ningbo Zhoushan Port for operations, and all port areas had resumed operations.

Taking the Jintang port area as an example, on August 11 it completed a container throughput of over 10,000 TEUs in a single day, with production order resuming in an orderly manner. Vessels came and went at the port terminal, and container loading/unloading and vehicle pickup/delivery operations had resumed.

According to industry estimates, the daily average container throughput of Ningbo Zhoushan Port is about 118,000 TEUs, and the core terminals under this closure undertake about 80% of the port's container share. With full-container closure for 68 hours (2.83 days), it is estimated that about 200,000 to 250,000 TEUs of normal pickup and delivery demand were backlogged. At present, the port is making every effort to digest the backlogged volume, and the recovery progress continues to accelerate.

Challenges Remain: Digesting the Backlog Takes Time

Vessels Concentrated Entry, Pressure Not Yet Fully Relieved

After the lifting of the closure, vessels sheltering at outer anchorage concentrated in applying for berthing. The industry expects that with the terminal operating near full capacity, berthing waiting times may still take several days, and some voyages have already seen late berthing, port skipping, vessel changes or call cancellations.

Container Truck Passage Efficiency Gradually Recovering

In the early stage of recovery, tens of thousands of container trucks rushed into the port in a short period, and traffic around the port area once faced considerable pressure. As the terminals resume operations in phases, passage efficiency is gradually improving. It is recommended that enterprises confirm specific terminal notices in advance to avoid concentrated vehicle entry or empty runs.

Drop-Off Fees Still at High Levels

Affected by tight yard space and increased container return pressure, drop-off fees in East China remain at a high level. As the backlogged volume is gradually digested, fees are expected to gradually fall back, but will still bear certain pressure in the short term.

Multiple Negative Factors Stacking Up, "Old Debts Not Settled, New Debts Added"

The port paralysis caused by "White Dolphin" this time is by no means a single weather event, but a general eruption of multiple industry contradictions triggered by extreme weather:

Geopolitics and Weather Strike in Tandem

The continued tension in the Middle East Red Sea situation has forced a large number of routes to reroute, adding 10 to 14 days of sailing time and seriously disrupting global schedules; coupled with Typhoon "Bavi" in July causing several days of closures at East China ports, the backlog has not yet been digested, and the port's full-container turnover was already in an extremely fragile tight balance.

Peak-Season Shipments Compounded by Panic Rush Shipping

As expectations of freight rate increases intensified, foreign trade factories and forwarders rushed to load and send containers into the port, and container receiving demand once broke through the terminal's carrying limits.

Carrier Overselling Intensifies Yard Pressure

Some routes are seriously overbooked with bursting cabins, and a large number of full containers that have entered the port cannot be loaded and shipped out in time, forming a vicious circle of poor container turnover.

Response Suggestions for Foreign Trade Practitioners

Although the port has fully resumed operations, digesting the backlogged volume still takes several days. It is recommended:

01 Confirm Terminal Notices in Advance

Different terminals and container types may have different operating times; be sure to confirm the specific opening arrangements before sending containers.

02 Keep Close Watch on Schedule Changes

Some voyages have already seen port skipping, vessel changes or call cancellations; it is recommended to maintain daily communication with the shipping company/agent.

03 Reserve Sufficient Time

Recently shipped goods should reserve more transport time, and avoid arranging production and delivery according to normal cycles.

04 Arrange Tractor-Trailer Resources Reasonably

Avoid additional costs caused by concentrated vehicles during the recovery peak.

From "Bavi" to "White Dolphin," consecutive natural disasters compounded by geopolitical conflicts, freight rate fluctuations and peak-season shipments have pushed East China ports to their limits. The good news is that all port areas of Ningbo Zhoushan Port have fully resumed operations. The more than 200,000 TEUs backlogged during the 68-hour closure are being digested at an accelerated pace. But challenges remain — vessel berthing waiting, high fees and schedule disruptions; the complete elimination of these impacts still takes time.

At critical moments, planning ahead is more important than anything else. Lock in space early, confirm schedules frequently, and think about backup plans in advance. Jinlian International Logistics is committed to providing customers with quality logistics service solutions. If you have shipment or space issues, welcome to contact the Jinlian team. We will wholeheartedly lock in space for you, plan the optimal route, and ensure stable shipment.

May all your goods enter the port smoothly and set sail steadily.