By now, everyone in the world has heard about the coronavirus. Starting in late 2019, the coronavirus has specifically impacted cities and regional areas throughout China. Entire areas of the country have been locked down to prevent further spread of the disease. Even in America, there have been a few cases of the virus spreading. Because of this international pandemic, supply chains have been slowed down causing a variety of changes to shipping strategies.
The Coronavirus has quickly changed international freight, especially with ocean freight. Ocean carriers have continued to cancel sailings from China to destinations worldwide. Even companies that do not directly ship with China have been indirectly affected by these changes. As many companies know, China is vital to manufacturing and shipping throughout the world. The increased issues with ocean freight have even caused a strain on the air freight carriers. Even as the situation becomes more contained and understood, it will take months to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic. Coronavirus outbreaks have effected international shipping in the following ways:
At Bruning International, we believe and are hopeful that the medical community will continue to find solutions for this international epidemic. In the meantime, our team is working to find alternative routes, alternative carriers, and other solutions so that our clients’ shipments are not overly disrupted. If you have questions about how these shipping changes will directly affect your company, your shipping schedule, or your budget, we can help. Contact us online to discuss your shipping strategy. We will continue to keep our hand on the pulse of all freight forwarding news so that we can make adjustments quickly and efficiently.