U.S. container import volumes for November 2023 dropped by 9.0% from October, with East and Gulf Coast ports experiencing significant declines. Imports from China also decreased by 11.7%, contributing to an overall reduction in global supply chain performance. The Panama drought is beginning to negatively impact U.S. container import volumes, particularly on the East and Gulf Coasts. Despite these challenges, the Descartes logistics metrics indicate that the industry is following seasonal import patterns. The report highlights key factors to watch for potential disruptions, including the Panama Canal situation, ongoing pandemic effects, economic indicators, ILA/USMX contract negotiations, and recommendations for mitigating global shipping challenges. The U.S. container import volume decline, while significant, remains higher than 2019 levels, and port transit times have only slightly increased.

SOURCE:GOOGLE