News / Australian shipping operations – 'they've never been in a worse state'

The ongoing “disarray” in Australia’s container supply chains will mean empty shelves for some retailers at Christmas.

Industrial action by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) against Patrick Terminals was suspended in early October – pending peace talks over a new pay deal – but supply chain delays from  previous MUA work stoppages are still playing out, two months later.

Shipping schedules were put out of whack, creating a backlog of “eight-to-ten” weeks, according to to carriers, but the union denies it’s ...