Congestion Eases at West Coast Ports
No Ships Awaiting Berth at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for the First Time Since 2020
Good News for International Exhibitors Attending West Coast Shows
PORT ELIZABETH, NJ (December 9, 2022) - Phoenix International Business Logistics (PIBL), a U.S. Customs broker and freight forwarder with more than 25 years of experience in trade show shipments, is advising its customers that, for the first time since 2020, there is no notable backlog of ships awaiting berth space at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. That’s welcome news for show management companies and international exhibitors who can now more reliably plan shipments destined for shows on the West Coast.
Questions can be directed to
Phil Hobson
Port congestion and supply chain disruption dominated the shipping landscape during the pandemic, particularly at West Coast ports, where ships once encountered delays ranging from 15-45 days to unload containers. These delays created enormous difficulties and additional fees – almost a three-fold increase - for international exhibitors sending shipments to shows in such cities as Las Vegas and Los Angeles. PIBL navigated sea freight shipments for hundreds of exhibitors to meet trade show deadlines in a seemingly never-ending labyrinth of hurdles that included vessel cancellations and a scarcity of long-haul drivers.
Phil Hobson, President of PIBL, comments, “For the first time in more than two years, these West Coast ports are now free of lengthy wait times for ships to dock and clear Customs. There are no ships delayed at the terminals that we work with now in Los Angeles, a stunning reverse of the peak pandemic congestion, when more than 100 ships were sitting in the waters off Los Angeles . Freight rates have dropped significantly for sea shipments from the Far East to California. We also see a reduction in costs from Europe to the West Coast although less considerable.”
“For the first time in more than two years, these West Coast ports are now free of lengthy wait times for ships to dock and clear Customs.”
In the past year, and as recently as this fall, some international exhibitors had to decide whether to cancel participation in shows or scale back exhibits so they could be shipped by air. In Europe, several of the largest ocean carriers pulled vessels out of rotation from Europe to the West Coast, removing a critical trade lane. One Italian exhibitor at the Glass Build Show in Las Vegas this fall, for example, chose not to ship a new machine, and instead used an older model that was already housed in the U.S. Other exhibitors with robust budgets shipped containers to the East Coast which were then transported to the West Coast on specialized equipment.
East Coast ports experienced a surge in shipments due to a shift from the West Coast during the peak of congestion. The Port of New York and New Jersey emerged as the nation’s busiest container port for months , but the backlogs once seen there have also diminished. South Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports, such as Savannah and Houston, remain somewhat congested, while most other U.S. ports are seeing a more normalized cargo flow.
“Our best advice to international exhibitors is to begin planning their early 2023 shipments now”
-Phil Hobson, President of PIBL
According to Phil Hobson, “Our best advice to international exhibitors is to begin planning their early 2023 shipments now, particularly for shows occurring from late January through March. We are delighted to be able to share this news about the West Coast ports with the trade show community, especially because of the busy show calendar in the first quarter of next year. PIBL is the official freight forwarder and U.S. Customs Broker for many trade shows, among them Agenda 2023, Oceanology International Americas, Amusement Expo International, ISC West, International Pizza Expo, Prosper Show, SIAL America, Bar and Restaurant Expo – all occurring in February and March. We anticipate that FCL containers arriving in Los Angeles should be at the port 10-12 days prior to the date of delivery to a West Coast show. For LCL shipments, that timing should be 20-25 days before move-in.”
Along with the sea freight shift this year to ports other than the West Coast, declining imports from Asia have also been a factor in decreasing the volume at Los Angeles/Long Beach and thereby easing the gridlock for waiting vessels as well as container dwell time. While there remains some concern about the labor negotiations presently underway between International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, recently noted, “The disagreement or any distance or remaining issues are so much more minor than past years, where we’ve been able to resolve.”
Questions can be directed to Phil Hobson at 908-355-8900 or at phobson@phoenixlogistics.com.
Phoenix International Business Logistics
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1201 Corbin Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201