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Trade data provider Descartes Systems Group reported on Tuesday that a summer surge in freight volumes has led to delays in cargo movement at major U.S. ports. Combined with growing concerns about potential strikes by East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers on October 1st, U.S. container imports in August increased by 12.9% compared to the same period last year.
According to the data, U.S. ports handled nearly 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August. This was a 3% decline from July, which had seen the highest monthly import volume in 26 months.
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The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) announced last week that its members are prepared to strike if a new agreement is not reached with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), a group of employers, by the expiration of the current six-year contract on September 30th. The two sides remain deadlocked over issues such as wages, benefits, and automation.
Maersk has warned that the likelihood of strikes at key ports such as New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Savannah is increasing daily, as no final contract has been reached. Should a complete shutdown occur at the Gulf and East Coast ports, even a one-week stoppage could take four to six weeks to clear, leading to massive backlogs and delays that would worsen over time.
U.S. retailers, anticipating the risk of cargo being stuck during strikes, have been aggressively stocking up on seasonal goods as part of their holiday promotions. This move is aimed at minimizing potential disruptions to their supply chains during the critical holiday season.
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(Share the latest international logistics information)
