Xeneta: US East Coast port strikes to cause major supply disruption into 2025

Strike action at ports on the US East Coast has been predicted to cause severe supply chain disruption in 2025 and government intervention may be required to avoid major economic fallout, according to Xeneta. 

A total of 36 ports are preparing for a complete stoppage if a new deal cannot be agreed with the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), which represents 85,000 port workers, before the deadline on September 30. 

Peter Sand, Xeneta chief analyst, said: “There are ships on the ocean right now carrying billions of dollars of cargo heading to ports on the US East and Gulf coast. These ships cannot turn back and they cannot realistically re-route to the US West Coast. Some may divert to ports in Canada or even Mexico East Coast, but the vast majority will simply wait outside affected ports until the workers return.