There are growing concerns that congestion at global shipping ports is about to get worse, and will continue all year.
The Maritime Commission reports that more than 60 container ships are stuck offshore of Los Angeles and Long Beach. However, three-time that many are waiting to load in China.
It all stems from a combination of problems, including heavy demand following last year’s lockdowns, a typhoon in China, and COVID cases at global ports.
Another factor is smaller ships being used on the trans-pacific route, meaning it takes more vessels to carry the goods.
California ports are wrangling over how to ease the logjam with the Long Beach Port moving to 24-hour service.
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The shipping container shortage has cost ag more than a billion dollars