As August starts we are seeing a continuing trend at many of the ports – while LA is not massively backed up, several small ports are backed up. Container vessels waiting for a berth 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. As we continue through the year volumes should continue to increase, and with that congestion.
General Notes
The number of vessels awaiting berths at the ports around the country continues to fluctuate.
The number of vessels awaiting a berth is still far higher than 2019.
Oakland, Houston, Savannah, and NY/NJ are all continuing to see large backlogs of vessels awaiting a berth.
China COVID Lockdowns June 2022 Update
Covid lockdowns are not a red flag at the moment and are mostly not prominent in the news.
Impacts from past lockdowns and supply chain issues are sure to persist for months to come.
Fuel Cost
Fuel continues to fluctuate, it has decreased in cost by about 18% from its peak earlier this year.
Fuel continues to be roughly 60% 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 at the start of July is at $5.72 a gallon, roughly 70% higher than this time last year. (Averaged across all US regions)
Diesel in the USA at the start of August is at $5.27 a gallon, roughly 58% higher than this time last year. (Averaged across all US regions)
Los Angeles / Long Beach
The number of vessels awaiting a berth continues to stay around 20.
18 vessels docked; July (13) June (24) May (26), April (23), March (32) January (36) December (42) November (39) October (41) September (35)
22 vessels awaiting a dock; July (20) June (17) May (43) April (39) March (54) February (84) January (78) December (96) November (91) October (77) September (48)
Oakland
Oakland continues to see a vessel backlog and notably over the last month has seen protests around California’s AB 5 law. These protests turned blockades did cause further congestion and issues with both pickup and return of containers. This port is congested and will likely be for weeks/months to come. https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/07/25/trucker-blockade-ends-at-oakland-port-protesters-see-no-movement-on-labor-law/
5 vessels docked; July (2) June (4) May (7) April (7) March (7) January (10) December (6) November (6) October (8) September (8)
14 waiting (the map for waiting vessels has been zoomed out as there are several vessels waiting for Oakland down by LA) July (8) 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; July (1) June (5) May (4) April (7) March (6) January (11) December (12) November (9) October (9) September (9)
2 vessels awaiting a berth (including those just outside the US Coast; July (6) June (0) May (3) April (2) March (1) January (12) December (7) November (4) October (5) September (5)
Houston / Galveston
Houston has the same number of vessels waiting as it did at the beginning of July – 22 container vessels.
4 vessels docked; July (4) June (3) May (5) April (4) March (4) January (6) December (4) November (2) October (5) September (12)
22 vessels awaiting a berth; July (22) June (8) May (10) April (12) March (12) January (9) December (5) November (7) October (9) September (12)
Miami / Ft Lauderdale
Currently, the number of vessels waiting is minimal.
2 vessels docked; July (8) June (7) May (3) April (7) March (1) January (8) December (5) November (7) September (9) October (12)
3 vessels awaiting a berth; July (0) June (3) May (0) April (0) March (1) January (3) December (1) November (0) October (1) September (5)
Savannah
Savannah continues to see severe congestion, 33 container vessels waiting.
5 vessels docked; July (5) June (5) May (6) April (5) March (4) January (5) December (6) November (7) October (13) September (9)
33 vessels awaiting a berth; July (35) June (24) May (6) April (7) March (1) January (4) December (17) November (22) October (23) September (20)
Charleston
Currently, the number of vessels waiting is minimal.
2 vessels docked; July (2) June (4) May (4) April (5) March (4) January (4)
Zero vessels awaiting a berth; May (6) April (16) March (25) January (13)
Norfolk
Is looking pretty normal currently, with just 4 vessels pending a berth.
3 vessels docked; July (5) June (4) May (4) April (5) March (4) January (12) December (16) November (14) October (10) September (7)
4 vessels awaiting a berth; July (3) 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 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 has a large number of vessels awaiting a berth, at 24. This is higher than their peak amount in January of 13. This is up from 19 waiting last month.
8 vessels docked; July (8) June (12) May (13) April (9) March (10) January (14) December (14) November (14) October (19) September (14)
24 vessels awaiting a berth; July (19) June (18) May (13) April (7) March (11) January (13) December (5) November (5) October (4) September (1)