Seafood companies shipping product to China for reprocessing face uncertainty in the coming months as the country faces a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases.

The recent easing of restrictions on public movement and negative test requirements last month followed a wave of protests that resulted from boiling frustration over China's almost three-year "zero tolerance" policy.

A bulletin by Freightos, an online booking platform for international shipping, noted that the recent easing of COVID-19 restrictions in China has led to a reduction in available labor and growing delays at some key hubs, in part sparked by inclement weather.