Shanghai COVID Lockdown
The Shanghai COVID Lockdown was a citywide lockdown of about 25 million people in Shanghai from early April to June 1, 2022, which kept the port open but crippled trucking and factory output.
What happened and why it matters
The Shanghai lockdown showed that a port can stay open while the supply chain around it stops, because cargo still needs trucks and factories. During roughly two months of strict restrictions, more than 90% of truckers serving the port were reported unable to work, container dwell times rose sharply, and companies such as Tesla and Volkswagen faced parts shortages. Restrictions lifted on June 1, 2022, but quarantines and congestion lingered for weeks. For importers, the event showed why cargo ready dates can slip even when ports and carriers report normal operations, and why safety stock and alternate suppliers matter.