Source: Channel News Asia
Date: 11th August 2026 

Warehousing and trucking operations across Shanghai and Ningbo have resumed, although cargo backlogs and schedule adjustments may continue following widespread transport disruption.

Logistics operations across eastern China are returning to normal following Typhoon Dolphin, with warehousing and trucking services resuming across key manufacturing and transportation hubs after several days of severe weather disruption.

The storm affected Shanghai, Ningbo, Zhejiang and surrounding areas over the weekend, temporarily disrupting airport, port and inland transportation operations across one of China’s most important international trade corridors.

By 10 August, conditions had improved sufficiently for emergency measures to begin easing. Ningbo lowered its typhoon emergency response to Level III, while Shanghai adjusted its response to Level II. Ningbo warehouses resumed operations from 08:00, while warehouse operations in Shanghai and trucking services across eastern China were reported to be operating normally.

Air transportation has also been recovering following extensive cancellations. Ningbo International Airport resumed flight operations from midday on 10 August, although passengers and cargo operators were warned that individual services could still experience delays or cancellations as schedules were restored.

The recovery follows substantial disruption over the weekend. Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports had planned cancellations affecting 1,384 flights on 9 August, while Ningbo airport suspended operations as the typhoon approached.

Maritime operations were also affected ahead of landfall. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port implemented a port-wide closure from the evening of 7 August, with operational vessels moved to sheltered anchorages as part of precautionary measures.

With the immediate weather threat easing, attention is now shifting from operational shutdowns to the clearance of accumulated cargo and restoration of transportation schedules.

Even where terminals, warehouses and trucking services have returned to normal, temporary congestion may persist as vessels, aircraft and cargo delayed during the disruption are repositioned and rescheduled.

For exporters across the Yangtze River Delta, the main concern over the coming days will therefore be less about infrastructure closures and more about possible changes to vessel schedules, cargo cut-offs, flight capacity and equipment availability as logistics networks absorb the backlog.

The rapid resumption of warehousing and trucking operations demonstrates the resilience of eastern China’s logistics infrastructure. However, restarting operations does not immediately eliminate the effects of several days of disruption.

Delayed vessel arrivals, cancelled flights and interrupted cargo movements can create temporary surges as accumulated shipments enter ports, airports and warehouses simultaneously.

Businesses moving cargo through Shanghai and Ningbo should therefore continue allowing some flexibility in their transportation schedules even as normal operations resume.

The immediate disruption from Typhoon Dolphin is easing, and the focus is now shifting towards operational recovery.

The key issue over the coming days will be how quickly ports, airlines and inland transportation networks can clear accumulated cargo and restore normal schedules.

Unless weather conditions deteriorate again, the impact is likely to transition from widespread operational disruption towards localised delays and schedule adjustments.

What This Means

• Warehousing and trucking operations across Shanghai and Ningbo have largely resumed.
• Continue checking vessel and flight schedules for changes resulting from the earlier disruption.
• Expect some temporary congestion as delayed cargo moves through terminals and warehouses.
• Confirm revised cargo cut-off and departure times before dispatching export shipments.
• Allow additional flexibility for time-sensitive cargo until transportation schedules fully stabilise.

The recovery from Typhoon Dolphin highlights an important aspect of weather-related supply chain disruption: the operational impact can continue after the storm itself has passed.

For shippers, the next phase is about managing the backlog. Vessel bunching, rescheduled flights and accumulated cargo can temporarily place pressure on terminal capacity and inland transportation even after ports, airports and warehouses reopen.

Close coordination between exporters, importers, carriers and logistics providers will therefore remain important over the coming days as eastern China’s major logistics gateways work through delayed cargo and return to normal operating schedules.