California Port Pileup

California Ports Congestion Crisis: 2015 versus Now

The labor unrest at West Coast ports caused massive congestions back in 2015. This pales in comparison to the current state of events unfolding at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, as stated by the American Shipper. 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the major shift in consumer spending is causing a rise in the number of ships at anchor in the fourth quarter of 2020. At the time of this writing, the number of ships at anchor is consistently around 30 but reached a high of 40 on February 1, 2021. 

With the number of ships at anchor, they’re not looking to leave anytime soon. The current ships at anchor have capacities ranging over 10,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) to as much as 16,000 TEU. Comparing both 2015 and 2020-2021 port congestion events in terms of TEU, there is a wide disparity between 2015 and today as the ships now have bigger TEUs compared to then. 

There are at least some signs that the container-shipping capacity crunch may be easing, at least temporarily. But these positive developments do not necessarily equate to falling cargo demand and lower port congestion. 

Here at JORI Logistics, we are constantly seeking information on what’s happening globally that we think could affect our client’s businesses. If you want to speak to someone directly, contact your JORI Representative or call 403-571-3200.

Learn more here: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/california-port-pileup-leaves-old-records-in-the-dust

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