There has been much discussion in the global supply chain community since the coronavirus outbreak last month. While it is clear that businesses are affected, the exact way they are affected has been subject to a lot of speculation, and not all of it is true.
China working steadily to get production back online, but expect delays
Production in China is subject to delays as a result of the extension of the Lunar New Year holidays until February 10 in every province except Hubei, which will be extended until February 13. While this affects production output, office staff are working from home during this time to ensure that their businesses are back online with as little disruption as possible. Once everyone is back to work, production should reach full capacity relatively quickly: for instance, Taiwanese manufacturing giant, Foxconn expects to achieve this by the end of February. While delays can and will persist, the situation on the ground in China is not as dire as it is sometimes portrayed in the global media.
Goods from China are safe: WHO
There have been many false rumours circulating online about shipments from China. Most significantly is the rumour that countries are rejecting shipments from the country: this is simply not true. While many countries have barred Chinese nationals from entry, ships are able to continue to dock and conduct their business as usual. While special precautions are being taken for crew members who have recently been to mainland China, there are no restrictions on Chinese goods entering countries at this time. It is important to note that the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that packages from China pose no threat with regard to coronavirus infection.
HQTS
HQTS is a global quality assurance service provider. With 25 years of industry experience and more than 1500 trained professionals, HQTS provides a range of services that include supplier audits, sorting and pre-shipping inspections, and much more for one-stop total quality control. If your business is seeking to source from new markets as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, let HQTS be your eyes on the ground to ensure your quality needs are met every step of the way.
