U.S. Port Strike: Top Importers Brace for Impact

The ongoing port strike on the East Coast and Gulf ports is set to disrupt cargo movement, impacting leading importers such as Walmart, Target, and Home Depot. This article explores the potential consequences of the strike and the measures these companies are taking to mitigate its effects.

The port strike, which began on October 11, involves dockworkers demanding better pay and working conditions. If no agreement is reached, several terminals at these ports could cease operations, affecting products shipped in containers and threatening the global supply chain. This could eventually increase the prices of commodities across almost all industries.

Walmart, Ikea, General Motors, and First Solar are among the leading importers at 14 major ports that could be impacted by the strike, according to data provided by Import Genius. First Solar topped the list with imports of nearly 70,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), followed by General Motors with at least 62,500.

Other top importers across the selected ports include Walmart, LG Electronics, Bob’s Furniture, Samsung, Home Depot, and Hyundai. The top importers at New York and New Jersey, the largest port on the East Coast, included General Motors and Glovis America LG. At Baltimore, Ikea and Bob’s Furniture were the top two importers, while the largest port in the South, Savannah, has Hanwha Q Cells as its largest importer. Port of Virginia has Walmart and Ikea as leading importers.

The data provided by Import Genius, however, does not include any shipments handled by third-party logistics companies nor does it include shipments where the consignee has filed a request for anonymity with U.S. customs.

Ocean carriers such as Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and other carriers have already announced surcharges for port strike disruptions. Effective October 21, Denmark-based carrier Maersk is implementing a surcharge on the impacted ports, ranging from $1,500 for a 20-foot container to $3,780 for a 45-foot container.