Negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have stalled, with a strike threatened if a new contract isn’t reached by September 30. In response to the looming strike and rising freight rates, importers are accelerating shipments to mitigate risks. This strategic shift has led to West Coast ports handling over 50% of tracked cargo, pushing inbound volumes at major U.S. ports toward potentially near-record levels this month.
Sea-Intelligence warns that a prolonged strike could result in operational delays extending into 2025.