METRANS Industry Outlook Event: “Port Congestion: Supply Chains, Stakeholders, and Shipping Industry Trends”
A Lecture by Patrick Burgoyne, President and CEO of NYK Ports LLC, the holding company of Yusen Terminals (YTI) and Ceres Terminals (CERES).
Abstract: Congestion is occurring at ports around the US, with some of the worst problems in Southern California. Some causes seem clear - the continuing economic recovery that has generated more trade demand, a late holiday traffic surge, and the challenges of processing ever larger ships - but is there more to the story? What about recent shifts in chassis ownership, labor shortages, or rail capacity? Do longer term changes in trade patterns or the shipping industry play a role? Will this year’s congestion affect competitiveness among North American ports? This presentation examines all the factors associated with congestion at the ports, discusses possible strategies for addressing them, and concludes with a forecast of what we can expect in the future, both locally and across the continent.