US import container volumes are continuing to fall, with West Coast ports being the worst hit compared to this time last year.
According to a report in The Loadstar, import volume through the top 10 US ports dropped to 1.7m teu in April, which represents a 21% fall against the same month in 2022.
The Port of Los Angeles recently advised they were running at just 70% of their regular capacity. They believe around 15% of this is due to the economic downturn and a further 15% is due to the ongoing fears of industrial action at the port.
Post the covid outbreak, West Coast ports are understood to have lost significant volume to East and Gulf Coast ports due to extreme congestion. While some business has since returned, the port believe that the long standing and unresolved labour dispute is a red flag to many importers.
Los Angeles is still the busiest port in the US due to its geographic positioning compared to Asia, but it is only just holding onto the top ranking. The Port of New York/New Jersey was only 3% behind LA’s import volume in April.
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