Super Typhoon Ragasa Causes Widespread Disruptions to Logistics Across Hong Kong and Southern China

September 23, 2025

Super Typhoon Ragasa Causes Widespread Disruptions to Logistics Across Hong Kong and Southern China

Super Typhoon Ragasa is now bringing severe weather conditions to Hong Kong and large parts of southern China, causing widespread disruption to transport, logistics, and daily life. With the typhoon continuing to intensify, significant delays across air, sea, and land freight are now unavoidable.

Typhoon Intensifies as Hong Kong Enters Emergency Mode

As of this afternoon, Hong Kong is under Typhoon Signal No. 8, with authorities warning that Signal No. 9 may be issued overnight. This elevated warning level reflects the storm’s increasing severity and proximity to the city.

Earlier in the day, Hong Kong was operating under Signal No. 3, during which most businesses and public services remained open. The shift to Signal No. 8, however, has prompted city-wide shutdowns, including suspension of public transportation, school closures, and widespread activation of emergency precautions.

Guangdong Braces for Direct Landfall

Super Typhoon Ragasa is currently sustaining wind speeds of over 220 km/h and is expected to make landfall along the Guangdong coastline on Wednesday. In preparation, cities throughout the province have closed schools and offices, halted transit, and evacuated residents from at-risk areas.

More than 770,000 people have already been evacuated, and further evacuations are likely as the storm approaches. Authorities are actively reinforcing flood defenses, distributing sandbags, and preparing storm shelters to minimize risk.

Flooding and Storm Surge Risks Remain High

Low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable. Meteorological forecasts indicate storm surges of up to five meters, which could lead to serious flooding across urban and rural zones. High tides combined with heavy rainfall are expected to exacerbate the situation in flood-prone districts.

Significant Impact on Logistics Operations

The storm is already having a major effect on freight and transport operations:

• Air cargo: Most passenger and cargo flights into and out of Hong Kong are suspended, severely limiting airfreight capacity.
• Sea freight: Ports across Hong Kong and Guangdong are shut down, delaying vessel schedules and halting import/export operations.
• Ground transport: High winds, flooding, and road closures are disrupting trucking routes and last-mile delivery, especially in southern China’s coastal cities.
• Warehousing: Some warehouses are operating at reduced capacity or have temporarily closed due to storm risks and staff safety measures.

As a result, delays are expected across all modes of transportation. Businesses that rely on timely shipping through this region should anticipate disruptions and plan accordingly.

While many operations remain paused during the storm’s peak, recovery plans are in motion for a rapid response once conditions begin to improve.

What Businesses Should Do Now

For companies with goods moving through affected areas, the best course of action includes:

• Monitoring shipment status closely through tracking portals
• Building buffer time into supply chain schedules
• Reinforcing packaging for goods vulnerable to water or wind damage
• Staying in contact with logistics partners to receive timely updates

Flexibility and proactive communication will help minimize downstream impacts once services resume.

Looking Ahead

Super Typhoon Ragasa is expected to continue affecting the region through midweek. While the worst conditions are likely between now and Wednesday evening, logistics recovery may take several days, depending on infrastructure conditions, flooding, and safety clearance from local authorities.

This is one of the most powerful typhoons to impact the region in recent years. As communities across Hong Kong and southern China focus on safety and storm preparedness, the logistics sector remains committed to protecting goods, maintaining service continuity where possible, and ensuring a smooth recovery.

Further updates will be shared here as new information becomes available, including timelines for the reopening of ports, resumption of flights, and restoration of ground transport. Crane teams are actively monitoring developments and coordinating with regional partners to stay aligned with the evolving situation. We encourage all businesses to stay informed, remain flexible, and continue to plan ahead as conditions change.