A great surprise was generated by the congestion of ships -which transport containers- that was observed in front of the main ports in California (United States). “It’s an unprecedented load increase,” the Long Beach mayor said in surprise.
The sharp increase in online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of carriers and trucks have caused chaos in US port terminals.
In addition, the proximity of the Christmas dates has put the problems of the United States supply chain in the crosshairs of millions of people, who cannot explain how a power of such caliber has paralyzed their routes of entry of products, mostly from Asia.
The Port of Los Angeles, the largest container terminal in North America, began working 24 hours a day after the White House intervened to address bottlenecks that complicate trade and increase prices.
Even so, a dozen ships with thousands of containers remain anchored in the bay, waiting for a space in the crowded docks. Some wait more than 10 days.
“This is not like turning a light switch on and off: individual problems have to be solved for 24/7 operation to run smoothly”The executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, Gene Seroka, said at a press conference, who chose not to give an estimated date for the start of this new schedule.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that disruptions in supply chains are making products more expensive. In the United States, consumer prices rose more than 5% in the 12 months to September.
There are many factors behind the lack of raw materials and finished goods that affects retailers.
Also playing a role are forced factory closures due to coronavirus restrictions, an unexpected increase in demand for some goods, changes in consumer behavior and a lack of work.
Every year a quarter of a billion dollars in goods pass through the Port of Los Angeles.
“What happens in Los Angeles and other ports on the west coast reverberates across the country”explained Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.
The World Bank estimates that 8.5% of the world’s containers are detained in or near those ports.
With information from AFP and EFE
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