HELI offers a helping hand to disaster victims

Officials estimate that it will take some time before operations at the key Chinese port of Tianjin return to normal after last month’s devastating explosions and fire.

Insurers are still adding up the cost, but losses could reach USD3.3 billion.

The August 13, 2015 explosion at the Tianjin warehouse killed 114 individuals and has left people in fear of the toxins that have been released into the environment.

Experts are warning that the accident is destined to have a long-lasting impact on the economy of the nation, as well as global supply chains. A large portion of the port that serves as a significant player in the world of cargo has been destroyed.

It appears from early indications that the Chinese forklift industry has largely escaped damage in the disaster.

Jungheinrich spokesman Jan Kaulfuhs-Berger tells Forkliftaction.com News the explosion did not have an impact on the Jungheinrich business. "Our company is shipping products only through Shanghai International Port and storing it in the Waigaoqiao Bond Area. Jungheinrich trucks running at customers in the area of the Tianjin port are not affected by the explosion, either," he says.

Lonking spokeswoman Annie Li says her company was also not affected as operations are far from Tianjin.

Meanwhile, another major manufacturer, HELI, also escaped damage because it doesn’t use the port, but some of its customers were not so lucky and have suffered losses. A spokesperson tells that a nearby branch is providing "supplies and donations for the disaster area in order to help them overcome difficulties".

A large number of Fortune 500 companies have operations in Tianjin which is among the 10 busiest ports in the world. Its economy matches that of the Czech Republic in terms of its size, and its population is double the population of London.

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