US East Coast ports face a 6-day backlog from a 1-day strike
Posted on August 16, 2024 |
The ILA has warned that if no agreement is reached, strikes will begin on October 1, 2024.
In October, the US East Coast is expected to handle 2.3 million TEU, averaging 74,000 TEU daily—36,000 in imports and 38,000 in exports.
A strike could prevent the loading of 20,000 TEU each day, causing major disruptions.
After a strike, ports must manage both the backlog and regular container flow.
Clearing the backlog will depend on the extra handling capacity available at East Coast ports.
The port system is expected to increase its handling capacity by 13% beyond the planned 2.3 million TEU in October.
With this 13% extra capacity, clearing the backlog from just one day of striking would take 6 days to clear.
