Precautions on Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Feb. 10, 2020

To prevent agricultural exports from going bad, some border gates between Vietnam and China have reopened. Additionally, terminals continue to experience a shortage of reefer plugs and extensions of office closures for ocean carriers are announced.

Vietnam

• Vietnamese authorities issued instructions for some border gates on the Vietnam-China border to reopen on weekdays from 09:00-17:00. Drivers transporting goods from Vietnam to China would be quarantined for 14 days upon their return. Drivers coming from China will complete medical examination prior to customs clearance. Containers will then be quarantined at the border gate and the drivers must immediately return to China. The government officials will allow drivers to declare that they stayed on their truck, did not stay overnight in Vietnam, and had no face-to-face contact with others while in Vietnam in order to be exempt from the mandatory quarantine.

Reefer Congestion in Chinese Terminals

• Carriers have begun announcing a congestion surcharge for import of reefers mainly to Shanghai and Xingang. Additionally, CMA-CGM clarified in an advisory today that the port storage and plug-in costs are excluded from free time waiver.

Ocean Carrier Work Resumption Date

• Some ocean carriers, including CMA-CGM and ONE, have extended their return to office date in China to February 17. 

Reopening of Minor Vietnam-China Border Checkpoints Delayed
Maersk Reefer Congestion Surcharge Announcement
Zim Reefer Congestion Surcharge Announcement
CMA-CGM Announcement
ONE Announcement

The overall situation remains very fluid. Contact your local Expeditors representative for more information and operational assistance.