Shenzhen's Yantian Port Faces Congestion Amid Lunar New Year Rush and U.S. Tariff Threats

Exporters are scrambling to ship goods from Shenzhen’s Yantian Port, one of the largest container ports globally, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and possible U.S. tariffs on Chinese products. Yantian, handling a third of Guangdong’s international trade and a quarter of China’s exports to the U.S., increased its daily container quota by 15% to 15,000 units during January 20-28.

The surge in shipments has led to severe congestion. Truck drivers reported delays of up to 24 hours in the port area, with transit times quadrupling for some. Li Guoliang, a driver, attributed the delays to pre-holiday shipping rush and limited container capacity at the port.

Adding to the urgency, U.S. President Donald Trump recently proposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, with a February 1 decision looming. Chinese factories and U.S. buyers preemptively boosted shipments, driving up Shenzhen’s exports by 14.6% to 2.81 trillion yuan in 2024. Yantian Port saw a nearly 7% increase in container throughput, reaching a record 17.365 million units.

The congestion has driven trucking costs higher. Fees from Shenzhen’s Fuyong logistics hub to Yantian Port soared from 1,000 yuan to over 2,500 yuan ($345), with additional container drop-off charges exceeding 1,000 yuan. Exporters are feeling the squeeze as rising costs dent profit margins.

Li believes Trump’s tariff threats fueled the shipping rush, suggesting factories could have delayed shipments until after the holiday if not for the potential duties. Meanwhile, China’s commerce ministry expressed willingness to work with the U.S. to foster stable trade relations amid escalating tensions.