In response to Hong Kong’s new quarantine requirements on locally based cargo crew, on December 30, 2021, Cathay Pacific airlines announced the suspension of all long-haul cargo and cargo-only passenger flights until January 6, 2022. It is estimated that the impact of the seven-day flight suspension on U.S. agricultural and food exports is $2.6 million.
According to a logistics trade entity, this new quarantine measure could raise air shipping costs and further disrupt future supplies of fresh produce, seafood, and premium meats. In addition, the government’s January 5 announcement suspending in-bound passenger flights from various countries, including the United States, will extend the impact on U.S. agricultural trade as passenger flights also carry cargo.
Between January – November 2021, the United States exported $410 million worth of agricultural and food products to Hong Kong via air. Almost all the top U.S. food products air shipped to Hong Kong rose remarkably.
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Source: apps.fas.usda.gov