West Coast ports are closing out the first half of 2024 with strong trade volumes, boosted by an early peak season, solid consumer spending and threats of strikes at East and Gulf Coast ports.

Imports at the Port of Los Angeles remained above the pre-pandemic peak in the first five months of 2024 despite ticking down in May compared to a year before.

The union representing dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast container ports has suspended labor contract negotiations set for June 11, citing a dispute over automation.

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said April numbers will show trade flows coming to the U.S. West Coast are continuing to strengthen.

A tentative agreement covering longshore workers at the largest U.S. ports is within reach after a year of negotiations between the union and employers, according to Stephen Lyons.

The pandemic’s cargo crush pushed the Los Angeles and Long Beach complex close to the breaking point, allowing ports from New York-New Jersey to Houston to grow their market share.

The labor union representing 22,000 U.S. West Coast dockworkers in contract renewal talks said it has reached a tentative agreement with their employers on “certain key issues.”

The largest container gateway into the U.S. remained closed April 7 as a shortage of dockworker labor that halted operations April 6 goes into a second day.

The White House’s supply chain envoy said the ports and logistics industry must move toward automation, a sticking point in protracted contract talks between U.S. West Coast dockworkers and their employers.

Supply chains across the world are healing up almost as fast as they broke down. That doesn’t mean the pressure they’re exerting on inflation will disappear as quickly.