As Covid Cases Continue Both the US and China Feel the Effects on Container Freight
Ships Wait to Unload, a Shortage of Chassis Transport and Higher Box Rates
US – CHINA – This week reports continue to come in outlining the parlous state of ports across America which are struggling to manage container traffic during the pandemic.
According to the Essex headquartered freight forwarder the Woodland Group, the increase in active Covid-19 cases amongst port workers is creating bottlenecks due to a lack of available workforce, while truckers report on difficulties in returning empty containers to terminals and surging Asian import volumes are squeezing chassis supply.
The Port of Los Angeles excels in 2020 despite disruption
The Port of Los Angeles, the USA’s busiest container port moved 9.2 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka announced at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association’s sixth annual State of the Port of Los Angeles – a virtual event this year.
A late-year surge of pandemic-induced consumer spending helped boost volumes to near 2019 levels, making 2020 the fourth highest-volume year in the Port’s history.
“Our container business in 2020 was the most erratic we have ever seen, with volumes plunging nearly 19% in the first five months of the year, followed by an unprecedented second-half surge,” Seroka said. “Our ILWU longshore workforce did a great job adapting to the huge swings in volume, as did port truckers and everyone else involved in moving cargo through our Port. In a year of great difficulty, we are extremely grateful for the tenacity a