The Deep Dive Podcast: Why US West Coast dockworker negotiations could rock container shipping

In this inaugural episode of The Deep Dive Podcast, editor Mike King explains why war in Ukraine is not the only global trade disruptor in March 2022.

Negotiations over a new labour contract with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) poses a threat to port productivity on the US West Coast where terminals, including those located at Long Beach and Los Angeles, are already bedevilled by port congestion and long vessel delays.

Already, shippers are sourcing products in Asia earlier than normal and directing more cargo to US East Coast and Gulf terminals. But do these facilities have the capacity available to receive more ships?

And what does all this mean for global inflation, container rates and the US economy?

Guests:

Brian Whitlock, senior director and research analyst at Gartner

Jon Gold, vice president, supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation

Lee Klaskow, senior analyst for transportation and logistics at Bloomberg Intelligence

Peter Tirschwell, vice president, maritime & trade, IHS Markit

Peter Sand, chief shipping analyst, Xeneta

This podcast is sponsored by: project44 – the world’s most trusted end to end visibility platform

Credits: created, produced and hosted by Mike King