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A container truck from Shanghai is disinfected at the premises of SNF (Rudong) Chemical Co Ltd. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

A container truck carrying 30 metric tons of polyacrylamide on April 12 departed from SNF (Rudong) Chemical Co Ltd – located in the Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone in Rudong county, Nantong, in East China's Jiangsu province – and headed for Shanghai Port.

Polyacrylamide is a polymer that increases the viscosity of water and is widely used in petroleum applications across the world to enhance oil recovery.

One of the drivers said that since Rudong had opened a private channel to guarantee cargo transport, things had got much better and faster.

"We only need to take a nucleic acid test and an antigen test at the exit of expressway, wait for 20 minutes, then the special working team from Yangkou Port will guide us to SNF Chemical's plant for loading," said Cui Guowei.

"When returning to Shanghai, the special team will also guide us to the entry of the expressway, without any procedure, it's so convenient," he added.

A manager at SNF Chemical said all of its products go overseas through Shanghai Port.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the existing transport channel has been interrupted for a month, resulting in us keeping 3,000 tons of products in stock for a long time," said Dong Chenguang.

"The opening of the private channel is an immediate relief to us," he added.

SNF Chemical is a large exporter in Rudong, with an annual volume of 22,000 tons. The day the private transport channel opened, the company had 180 tons of products shipped to Shanghai Port by seven container trucks.

To ensure the security of staff and cargo, a disinfection area was set up in SNF Chemical.

On the first day the private channel opened for trial, a dozen trucks carried raw materials from Shanghai – which five Rudong-based firms were in urgent need of – and they brought Rudong products to Shanghai on the return trip.

Moving forward, more vehicles will be pressed into service to guarantee the production and operations of resident enterprises, according to an official from the Rudong county development and reform commission.