Chinese seafood processing hub shutdown to last into mid-January, creating fears of severe 'supply crunch'

Seafood plants in Zhuanghe, the main processing district in the northeast Chinese port city of Dalian, are now not expected to resume operations before Jan. 15, leaving the industry facing a worsening supply crunch and extended delays for pending shipments.

An announcement by Dalian City authorities seen by IntraFish says officials will maintain measures to "block the risk of epidemic spread of imported cold chain food in the production and processing chain" from now until mid-January.

The Jan. 15 date falls shortly before Chinese New Year holidays, which means the closure will more than likely extend into February.