The current situation in the transport industry largely depends on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Downtime related to the production of goods, closed borders or limited transport possibilities turned the world market upside down. By analyzing the latest statistics and reports, you can easily see that the situation has affected every source of transport - from sea freight to rail and truck transport. The extending delivery times and the increase in prices for transport services also apply to the eastern market - including Asia. So what can you expect in the coming months?
Transport of goods from Asia - reasons for extending the terms
The first factor is blockades and restrictions related to the direct production of goods in China. Factory downtime and a smaller amount of manufactured goods translate into a long waiting time for the final product. The same problem also applies to European and American companies involved in the production of goods. The situation is extremely dynamic and complicated, as the development of the pandemic affects the work of all entities participating in the supply chain.
The current delays and price increases in transport between Asia and Europe are the result of a several-month lockdown. After the first restrictions were lifted - including the opening of transport infrastructure in China, it was noticed that the excessive demand for basic necessities - including personal care products and masks - affect the delivery time of other products. Problems related to transport and the supply chain meant that the current regular transports began to pile up in the queue waiting for their turn to be carried out. Due to the limited capacity and the demand for basic necessities, the effects of the pandemic will be felt over the next few months. According to experts, however, the forecasts are quite optimistic and the situation is improving significantly every week.
Transport of goods and soaring prices
Limited bandwidth and high demand for Asian products caused the prices of transport services to skyrocket significantly. The remaining factors influencing the price level should also be found among other entities involved in transport. A limited number of containers, overcrowded ports on both the Asian and European sides began to negatively affect the cost of the service. Another difficulty is the shortage of staff directly related to the operation of ports and transhipment terminals.
Delays also affected express intermodal trains serving the New Silk Road
The dynamic situation required immediate adaptation to the conditions in transport. It soon turned out that the existing transport route ensuring connectivity between Europe and Asia began to enjoy even greater demand. In recent months, the increase in services provided by intermodal express trains has nearly doubled, which significantly limited the capacity. Currently, the waiting period for cargo from China provided by rail begins to be comparable to the period of waiting for cargo transported by sea. An additional factor that hinders the efficient transfer of goods is the political situation in Belarus, which generates additional delays related to customs clearance.
According to analyzes, the current situation may persist until the end of the year - the main factor determining the delivery times will be the circumstances related to the development of the COVID-19 pandemic. The coming months are a testing time for the transport market that requires patience and understanding. The upcoming Christmas season, which requires another effort, is also an additional challenge. Despite the significant improvement, however, you should follow the latest news and reports from the world on an ongoing basis.