As the summer ticks along in the USA the ports are in their typical “slow summer months”. While some of the ports around the country have very few, if any, container vessels waiting; other ports are still seeing tremendous congestion. Container vessels waiting is just one piece of the congestion puzzle, congestion in the terminals, lack of chassis, and lack of local drivers all actively contribute to the congestion.
General Notes
The number of vessels awaiting berths at the ports around the country continues to fluctuate. With some ports lowering their backlog and others losing ground.
On average the ports have fewer vessels awaiting a berth compared to the peak we say from November to February.
However, the number of vessels awaiting a berth is still far higher than 2019.
China COVID Lockdowns July 2022 Update
Restrictions are continuing to drop away, following their 2 month lockdown in the Shanghai and surrounding areas.
China did reinforce that they are sticking with their “zero-COVID” policy until at least spring 2023
The Ukraine / Russia War
Prior to the invasion ocean fuel was tracking 20%+ higher than the average cost throughout 2021. Post invasion we are seeing an additional 17%+ increase from late February 2022.
While fuel is still fluctuating, depending on the port of fueling, as of July 5th ocean fuel is 90% higher than this time last year.
Diesel in the USA was $5.18 a gallon in April, which is 62% higher than this time last year.
Diesel in the USA at the start of May is at $5.50 a gallon, roughly 75% higher than this time last year.
Diesel in the USA at the start of June is at $5.53 a gallon, roughly 70% higher than this time last year. (Averaged across all US regions)
Diesel in the USA as the start of July is at $5.72 a gallon, roughly 70% higher than this time last year. (Averaged across all US regions)
Los Angeles / Long Beach
Los Angeles / Long Beach – the number of vessels waiting has been stable over the last month averaging 18 per day.
13 vessels docked; June (24) May (26), April (23), March (32) January (36) December (42) November (39) October (41) September (35)
20 vessels awaiting a dock; June (17) May (43) April (39) March (54) February (84) January (78) December (96) November (91) October (77) September (48)
LA has mandated that many vessels wait further off the coast in an effort to control pollution. As a result many vessels are now waiting 400+ miles off the coast.
Oakland
While the number of vessels waiting is fairly low, the terminals are experiencing severe congestion. The port has taken a step to cut free days at the port from 7 to 4 to encourage importers to pickup containers faster.
2 vessels docked; June (4) May (7) April (7) March (7) January (10) December (6) November (6) October (8) September (8)
8 waiting (the map for waiting vessels has been zoomed out as there are several vessels waiting for Oakland down by LA) June (4) May (6) April (9) March (19) January (13) December (10) November (8) October (7) September (7)
Seattle / Tacoma
Currently the number of vessels waiting is minimal.
1 vessels docked; June (5) May (4) April (7) March (6) January (11) December (12) November (9) October (9) September (9)
6 vessels awaiting a berth (including those just outside the US Coast; June (0) May (3) April (2) March (1) January (12) December (7) November (4) October (5) September (5)
Houston / Galveston
Houston has a tremendous backlog of vessels as of July 5th, there are 22 container vessels waiting for a berth.
4 vessels docked; June (3) May (5) April (4) March (4) January (6) December (4) November (2) October (5) September (12)
22 vessels awaiting a berth; June (8) May (10) April (12) March (12) January (9) December (5) November (7) October (9) September (12)
Miami / Ft Lauderdale
8 vessels docked; June (7) May (3) April (7) March (1) January (8) December (5) November (7) September (9) October (12)
0 vessels awaiting a berth; June (3) May (0) April (0) March (1) January (3) December (1) November (0) October (1) September (5)
Savannah
Savannah has fallen further behind through June, with 35 container vessels waiting for a berth.
5 vessels docked; June (5) May (6) April (5) March (4) January (5) December (6) November (7) October (13) September (9)
35 vessels awaiting a berth; June (24) May (6) April (7) March (1) January (4) December (17) November (22) October (23) September (20)
Charleston
2 vessels docked; June (4) May (4) April (5) March (4) January (4)
1 vessels awaiting a berth; June (0) May (6) April (16) March (25) January (13)
Norfolk
Norfolk – Is looking pretty normal currently, just 3 vessels pending a berth.
5 vessels docked; June (4) May (4) April (5) March (4) January (12) December (16) November (14) October (10) September (7)
3 vessels awaiting a berth; June (3) May (17) April (10) March (13) January (16) December (19) November (8) October (9) September (9)
New York / New Jersey
The ports of NY and NJ continue to see severe congestion, brought on both by the lack of ground drivers to pick up containers and overall congestion at the port.
One factor to consider is the that terminals in the NY area do NOT operate 24/7 – their gates typically operate only from 6a – 4p. This combined with driver and equipment shortages limits the amount of cargo the port can process.
NY/NJ have a large amount of vessels awaiting a berth, at 19. This is higher than their peak amount in January of 13. This is up from 18 waiting last month.
8 vessels docked; June (12) May (13) April (9) March (10) January (14) December (14) November (14) October (19) September (14)
19 vessels awaiting a berth; June (18) May (13) April (7) March (11) January (13) December (5) November (5) October (4) September (1)