On October 9, the Safety Supervision Department and Production Business Department of SIPG issued an announcement stating that, according to the requirements of the relevant documents of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, from 0:00 on October 15, 2022 to 24:00 on October 23, Shanghai Port (Yangshan) Port operations for explosives and radioactive substances will be suspended. If it involves the national economy and people's livelihood, urban operation and major production projects, it can be handled in the business acceptance office of Shanghai Port and Shipping Business Development Center according to regulations
144 ships and 2253 barges lined up! Shipping blocked freight rates soaring!
According to the latest reports, due to factors such as severe dry weather, the water level of the Mississippi River in the United States has dropped to its lowest level in a decade, leading to the closure of important barge channels for transporting goods in the central central United States.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a report saying that as of the 7th local time, there were 144 ships and 2,253 barges waiting in line due to the closure of the waterway. In addition, low water levels caused eight barges to run aground last week.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it is working to open one-way traffic with restrictions if it is safe to do so, but has not yet determined when normal operations will resume. But it is estimated that even with the reopening of barge access, ships will have to carry 20% less cargo than usual.
Inland barges are still one of the main methods of transporting many goods across the United States. The National Grain and Feed Association noted that shipments of agricultural products and fertilizers have been severely impacted due to reduced barge and freight volumes. Current barge capacity on the Mississippi has decreased by about 50%, and barge rates have soared to the highest levels on record.
It is well known that the Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world and the largest river in the United States, with a total length of more than 6,000 kilometers.