SIMIC

According to China's ministry of transport, port volumes increased 1.7 per cent year on year during the period, to 91 million TEU, with 23.6 million TEU handled in April alone, according to London's Loadstar.

The Covid-related disruption is continuing at ports across the country, however. In its latest update, Fibs Logistics noted that Tianjin was the latest major port city to go into lockdown.

The forwarder said: "Carriers have cancelled many vessels, causing delays and blank sailings at Tianjin and Xingang. Factories and ports are fully operational, and pushing up freight rates, but this might change with the lockdown this week."

In South China, Fibs said, there was no congestion at Yantian and Shekou, with good spot rates available to the US and EU markets. Meanwhile, Guangzhou was still under lockdown, the forwarder added, with restrictions on trucks and drivers, while shipping lines had been "cancelling some voyages due to congestion and reduced demand".

And in Shanghai, the reality on the ground has failed to live up to the latest reopening hype from local officials.

Fibs head of Greater China Thomas Gronen said: "We're in a period of ambiguity. There's an official ruling by the city government of relaxation, but it's not yet being followed at the neighbourhood committee level.

"To leave your residential neighbourhood and go back to work is still not possible, either. The closed-loop working conditions remain generally in place."

Furthermore, Mr Gronen noted, there was no sign of a post-lockdown cargo surge.

"Based on the largely unchanged conditions, our recommendation remains using Ningbo port."