Logistics companies claim that China has stepped up customs inspections of goods shipped to and from Japan, according to a report by AP. This follows a dispute between the two countries over the detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain near disputed islands in the East China Sea. The captain of the Chinese trawler was released by the Japanese authorities on 24 September.

Customs officers who usually look at between 2 per cent and 10 per cent of goods in shipments began checking up to 95 per cent on the weekend of 25-26 September, according to employees of cargo companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

“Normally it takes one or two days but now it’s going to be about a week,” said Mary Deng, an administrator for Shenzhen Hyun Young International Transportation Co.

A customs agency spokesman denied that goods to and from Japan were targeted for increased inspections.

China imported Japanese goods worth US$130.9bn in 2009, while exports to Japan totalled US$97.9bn.