Square Insights 2026 Summer Typhoon Scenario
— Securing Alternative Routes
for Asian Supply Chains

When Asian Ports Shut Down This Summer, Where Should Your Cargo Go?

Why Prepare Your Typhoon BCP in May?

Finding alternative routes after a typhoon has landed is already too late. When major ports close, every carrier rushes toward the same alternative ports — only shippers who prepared in advance secure the space.

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) isn't just a document. It's the operational system that determines how fast your supply chain can activate alternate routes in a crisis. May is the golden window for three reasons.

• It's the last window before June monsoons and July–August typhoon peaks
• Peak Season (August–October US-bound) space booking deadlines are closing in, triggering competition for alternative routes
• Carriers publish rerouting service policies and port-of-call changes during this window

2026 Summer Typhoon Season — Port-by-Port Risk Map

Below is a summary of Asia-Pacific ports most affected by typhoons and tropical storms, with their peak impact windows.

What One Typhoon Actually Does to Supply Chains — The Real Damage Starts After 72 Hours

Typhoon news coverage ends when ports reopen. But that's exactly when logistics delays begin in earnest.

The point: typhoons don't "end when they pass." For 1–3 weeks afterward, the entire Asian shipping schedule dominoes. Shippers who already secured alternative routes see their lead times diverge from those who didn't — by 2 weeks or more.

The Core of BCP — Alternative Port List by Lane

When a typhoon closes a major port, shippers who've pre-mapped alternatives respond 3–5 days faster than those who haven't. Below are the primary alternative options by lane.

Alternative Ports for Major Intra-Asia Lanes

Five Things to Verify Before Confirming an Alternative Port

• ① Whether the carrier runs service there
  An alternative port is only useful if your carrier operates there with comparable service. Confirm port-of-call lists by carrier in advance.
• ② Space availability
  When typhoons hit, every shipper heads for the same alternative ports — space that seemed plentiful gets absorbed quickly. Prioritize ports with at least 30% baseline space headroom.
• ③ Inland transport connectivity
  Verify inland transport distance and trucker availability from the alternative port to your final destination. Changing ports only matters if you can still hit the delivery deadline.
• ④ Customs environment
  Customs hours, inspection policy, and processing speed at alternative ports may differ from your primary port. Confirm documentation requirements ahead of time.
• ⑤ Additional cost structure
  Diversion charges, additional inland transport, storage fees — identify unexpected cost items in advance to model the financial impact.

BCP Execution Checklist — Complete by End of May

Preparation completeness isn't measured by how many items you've reviewed — it's measured by how quickly you can execute when crisis hits.

Samsung SDS Global Risk Management System

Samsung SDS has established its own risk sensing and impact cargo monitoring system through continuous global news monitoring. Beyond typhoons, the company detects and responds in real time to various supply chain risks including strikes, wars, extreme weather events, and logistics infrastructure disruptions.

• 1. Real-Time Monitoring and Risk Detection
  • Integrated Global Control Center (GCC) Operations: Samsung SDS monitors global logistics flows in real time, including vessel and air cargo locations, transportation routes, and port congestion conditions worldwide.
  • Data-Driven Early Detection: The company collects issues from global news sources and more than 300 logistics sites daily. Based on historical data analysis, approximately 70 logistics risks are identified and assessed every day.
• 2. Systematic Risk Response Process
  • Automated Classification and Real-Time __alert__s: Detected risks are classified into three risk levels. Cargo potentially affected by disruptions is automatically identified, and __alert__s are immediately delivered to logistics operators.
  • Customized Contingency Planning: When operational disruptions occur, emergency response teams and logistics operators jointly analyze the impact and develop alternative solutions to minimize customer disruption.
  • Data Asset Management: After each incident is resolved, the entire response process is archived as operational data to improve response speed and decision-making for future disruptions.
• 3. ③ Major Risk Response Cases
  • Proactive Response to the U.S. East Coast Port Strike (Late 2024): Samsung SDS detected the potential strike in advance and proactively arranged early container pick-up to help customers avoid additional charges. Cargo already in transit was urgently discharged and connected to inland transportation solutions, while pre-shipment cargo was rerouted through alternative West Coast ports.
  • Prevention of Port Skip Risk at Genoa Port, Italy: Samsung SDS identified the possibility of cargo discharge omission at Genoa Port before arrival. The company activated an emergency contingency plan, discharged the cargo at the nearby La Spezia Port in advance, and arranged urgent inland transportation to ensure on-time delivery without disruption.

Post-Crisis Executive Reporting — The Supply Chain Resilience Report

BCP value doesn't end when the typhoon passes. Report which decisions prevented how much loss — in numbers — so that future BCP investments can be justified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When should I start preparing my typhoon-season BCP?

A. By the end of May at the latest. The Asian typhoon season starts with June monsoons and intensifies from July to October — South China peaks Jul–Sep, while Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Eastern China peak Aug–Oct. Once a typhoon lands, every shipper rushes to the same alternative ports and space evaporates. Complete your alternative port list, carrier policy confirmation, and visibility system setup by end of May.

Q. How much delay does a typhoon-induced port closure actually cause?

A. Typhoon-driven port closures typically last 24–72 hours, but backlog clearance takes 3–7 days, and the full shipping schedule takes 1–3 weeks to recover. When typhoons repeat through a summer, cumulative delays can reach 2–3 weeks. Actual delay depends heavily on typhoon strength, how many ports are simultaneously affected, and carrier response speed.

Q. What matters most when picking an alternative port?

A. Five criteria: ① whether your carrier operates service there, ② baseline space headroom, ③ inland transport connectivity to your final destination, ④ customs requirements and processing speed, ⑤ additional cost structure. Criteria ① and ③ matter most. A port that exists but lacks your carrier's service or has weak inland connectivity is not a practical alternative.

Q. What happens to demurrage and detention when ports close for typhoons? How do I reduce them?

A. Port closure periods during typhoons are usually excluded from Free Time calculations — but the post-closure backlog period counts against your Free Time. So the real demurrage and detention risk window is the 3–7 days after reopening, not the typhoon day itself. Three ways to reduce exposure: ① negotiate Free Time extensions with carriers as soon as typhoon warnings are issued, ② reroute through alternative ports to skip the backlog zone entirely, ③ use real-time visibility to schedule inland pickup before Free Time expires. Cello Square's exception __alert__s help you proactively identify cargo approaching Free Time expiration.

Q. What kind of reserve budget should I have for typhoon season?

A. BCP reserve budget typically covers four categories: ① diversion charges (hundreds to thousands of USD per TEU, depending on carrier), ② additional inland transport from alternative ports (scales with distance to destination), ③ demurrage and detention risk buffer (5–10% of normal logistics costs), ④ emergency air conversion reserve (for high-value cargo only). A reasonable target is 3–5% of annual logistics spend set aside as BCP reserve. When reporting actual usage, pair it with 'prevented loss value' to demonstrate investment ROI to executives.

Q. Can small shippers also build a structured BCP?

A. Absolutely. If enterprise-wide BCP is too heavy a lift, focus on your top 3–5 lanes — confirm 1st and 2nd alternative ports for each, and pair it with a visibility platform for real-time monitoring. That alone significantly improves practical response capability. The goal isn't a perfect playbook — it's a simple process you can execute the moment crisis hits.

Q. How can Cello Square be used during typhoon season?

A. Cello Square supports supply chain risk response by leveraging Samsung SDS’s global risk management system, going beyond simple shipment tracking. Through its Integrated Global Control Center (GCC), Samsung SDS monitors global vessel and air cargo movements, transportation routes, and port congestion conditions in real time. The company continuously detects potential risks including typhoons, strikes, wars, port congestion, and other disruptions by analyzing global news and operational data from more than 300 logistics sites worldwide.

Detected risks are automatically classified by severity, and shipments potentially impacted are identified and __alert__ed to logistics operators in real time. Emergency response teams and logistics operators then collaborate to develop practical countermeasures such as alternative ports, rerouting strategies, and urgent inland transportation solutions.

For example, Samsung SDS proactively responded to the potential U.S. East Coast port strike by arranging early container pick-up and alternative West Coast routing options. In another case, the company prevented delivery disruption caused by a potential port skip at Genoa Port in Italy by discharging cargo early at the nearby La Spezia Port and arranging emergency inland transportation.

During typhoon season, this risk sensing and response framework enables companies to quickly identify port congestion, vessel delays, and rerouting requirements, helping minimize supply chain disruptions and operational losses.