Severe congestion has hit roads leading to the southern Chinese container gateway of Yantian, as exporters desperately try to clear a backlog of orders before the new year holiday begins at the end of the week.

Furthermore, it appears shippers trying to get shipments out of the Pearl River Delta could find themselves in a dilemma after the port announced it was bringing forward the cut-off time for gating-in export containers. Yantian now requires a week, instead of just two days, prior to the sailing of the vessel as the port attempts to clear congestion in the yards and entry roads.

Nonetheless, cargo flows continue – such is the pent-up demand for goods from the Pearl River Delta factories that many, particularly in the electronics sector, have opted to continue production through the holiday to clear the backlog of orders. Read the full report here.