The Port of Los Angeles is making 'great progress' in clearing its shipping cargo backlog, director says
Americans are buying more things — retail sales rose a higher-than-expected 1.7 percent in October, with consumers spending more even factoring in inflation, the Commerce Department said Tuesday — and some of America's largest retailers have found ways to work around the supply chain kinks that have gummed up global trade. Walmart and Home Depot, both of which reported higher-than-predicted quarterly earnings on Tuesday, and Target have all chartered their own cargo ships and taken other steps to sidestep the congestion at U.S. ports.
One of the highest-profile congested ports, Los Angeles, has cleared some of its backlog in the past few weeks, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said Tuesday in an online forum with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "There's much more work to be done on this front but great progress by our dock workers, shipping lines, truckers, marine terminal operators, and railroad partners," Seroka said.
The port has reduced all import containers on its docks by 25 percent since Oct. 24, and reduced the amount of cargo sitting at least nine days by 29 percent, Seroka said. The port has also ramped up the removal of empty containers littering the docks, using sweeper ships to remove the empties and help get them back on ships returning to Asia. There are now 84 container ships waiting offshore to unload at the Ports of Los Angeles and its neighboring Port of Long Beach, down from recent 100-plus ships waiting to dock still but much higher than normal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Port of Los Angeles is open about 19 hours a day, still short of President Biden's push for 24/7 operation, Seroka said, and "we've had very few takers to date" for the night shifts. Warehouses "traditionally work during the day and they found it difficult to bring in workers during this time," he said, and an inadequate number of truck drivers can only work 11 hours a day under federal rules.
"It's an effort to try to get this entire orchestra of supply chain players to get on the same calendar," Seroka said. Buttigieg said clearing the backlog is "not flipping the switch," and the ports are struggling with both "unprecedented consumer demand," the global pandemic, and "decades of under-investment in our supply chain infrastructure." The infrastructure bill Biden just signed steers $17 billion to U.S. ports, including Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Gladiator II: Paul Mescal 'mesmerising' in 'relentlessly entertaining' sequel
The Week Recommends Ridley Scott's 'primary aim' is fun, in this 'exhilarating' blockbuster
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Bluesky: the social media platform causing a mass X-odus
The Explainer Social media platform is enjoying a new influx but can it usurp big rivals?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Why Justin Welby has stepped down as Archbishop of Canterbury
In the Spotlight 'Lack of curiosity' over claims of abuse of dozens of boys by Christian camp leader had made Welby's position untenable
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US economy still strong in final preelection report
Speed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strike
Speed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ports reopen after dockworkers halt strike
Speed Read The 36 ports that closed this week, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates half a point, hinting victory on inflation
Speed Read This is the Fed's first cut in two years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US inflation drops below 3%, teeing up rate cuts
Speed Read This solidifies expectations that the Federal Reserve will finally cut interest rates in September
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Would Trump's tariff proposals lift the US economy or break it?
Talking Points Economists say fees would raise prices for American families
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
US inflation cools further in welcome sign for economy
Speed Read Prices fell in June for the first time in four years
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published