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RPT-Bananas, vehicles, and clothing: United States port labor conflict threatens series of items

Some 45,000 union employees could stroll off the job at seaports on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts on Oct. 1, cutting off crucial trade arteries simply weeks ahead of the country's governmental election.

A JPMorgan analysis projected that a strike could cost the U.S. economy $5 billion daily.

The strike could strike 36 ports that deal with about half of U.S. ocean imports. That could impact availability of a series of goods from bananas to clothing to vehicles shipped through container, while producing weeks-long stockpiles at ports. It might also stoke shipping cost increases that might be passed on to citizens already annoyed with housing and food inflation, according to logistics experts.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) union representing workers at ports from Maine to Texas and the United States Maritime Alliance company group appear to have struck an deadlock over pay. The present six-year contract expires at midnight on Sept. 30.

A strike at all East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports would be the first for the ILA because 1977. The White Home said it is not trying to assist broker an offer, as it did last year during West Coast talks, and a Biden administration official has stated the president would not use his federal powers to block a strike.

A widespread and prolonged strike could cause scarcities and boost throughout a broad series of markets.

WHAT DO LONGSHOREMEN DO?

Longshoremen, likewise referred to as stevedores, handle freight from incoming ships. They mainly work on container ships, but also do some work with vehicle providers and cruise ships.

They run cranes that pluck containers from ships to lashing, securing freight containers to prevent them from falling off during transit, and procedure paperwork.

CARS, MACHINERY AND PARTS Ports covered by the agreement dealt with $37.8 billion worth of car imports throughout the 12 months ended June 30, 2024, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The Port of Baltimore, Maryland, leads the country in vehicle shipments.

Vehicle parts are likewise a key import on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, with deliveries from Europe more difficult to reroute than those from China, logistics professionals stated.

The ports likewise lead the U.S. in shipments of machinery, made steel and accuracy instruments, coming in at $97.4. billion, $16.2 billion and $15.7 billion, respectively, S&P. Global Market Intelligence data showed.

AGRICULTURE AND PHARMACEUTICALS

About 14% of all U.S. waterborne agricultural exports, by. volume, would be at danger from a strike. Over a one-week period,. the possible value of those exports is estimated at $318. million, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

In addition, 53% of U.S. waterborne farming imports by. volume are vulnerable to a strike, resulting in a potential. economic effect of over $1.1 billion each week, the Farm Bureau. stated.

Three-quarters of the nation's banana imports from nations. like Guatemala and Ecuador land at ports on the East and Gulf. Coasts, stated Jason Miller, interim chair of Michigan State. University's department of supply chain management.

Separately, the U.S. imports coffee and cocoa in large. volumes and exports cotton.

A strike likewise would affect container exports of soybeans,. soybean meal and other items and would have a significant. influence on cooled or frozen meat and eggs, said Mike Steenhoek,. executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.

The $18-billion-a-year U.S. beef and pork export market and. the $5.8 billion poultry and egg export sector relies on. cooled containers that can not sit idle for long.

About 45% of all waterborne U.S. pork exports and 30% of. beef exports were shipped via East Coast and Gulf Coast ports in. the first seven months of this year, stated U.S. Meat Export. Federation spokesperson Joe Schuele.

More than a quarter of all U.S. egg and egg item exports. and around 70% of all poultry meat exports are shipped from. ports along the East and Gulf Coasts, according to Customs data. and the U.S.A. Poultry & & Egg Export Council.

The impacted ports also manage more than 91% of. containerized imports and 69% of containerized exports of U.S. pharmaceutical items, according to Everstream Analytics. More than one-third of containers departing the U.S. with. lifesaving medications leaves from the port in Norfolk,. Virginia, while almost one-third of containerized pharmaceutical. imports enter the country through the port in Charleston, South. Carolina.

DURABLE GOODS, ENERGY, ARMED FORCE AND CRUISES

Retailers account for roughly half of all container volumes. Numerous U.S. merchants already have rushed in deliveries of year-end. vacation items.

The ports that would be impacted by a prospective strike bring. over half of the country's knitted and non-knitted apparel,. valued at $32.8 billion integrated, too furnishings valued at. $ 23.4 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Though the Gulf Coast ports of Houston and New Orleans are. major oil and gas delivery hubs, those products would remain. mostly untouched by a strike involving more labor-intensive. container cargo. The same uses to coal exports from Norfolk,. Virginia, experts stated.

The ILA, however, has pledged to deal with military freight and. to work traveler cruise ships during a strike.

HIGHER COSTS, BIG DELAYS

In broad terms, a strike would raise costs for shipping. while also imposing prolonged hold-ups.

The top 5 ports in the negotiating group - New York and. New Jersey; Savannah, Georgia; Houston; Norfolk; and Charleston. - dealt with more than 1.5 million 20-foot equivalent systems

(source: Reuters)