The threat of a strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association had a widely divergent impact on cargo volumes at the five major East Coast container ports as two separate contract deadlines loomed in the last half of 2012, first on Sept. 30 and then by extension to Dec. 29.
The Port of Savannah, which is a major gateway for retail imports throughout the Southeast, saw its volumes hit in the fourth quarter as importers diverted cargo to West Coast ports to ensure their supply chains before the contract extension ran out in December. That diversion is continuing this month in advance of the second contract extension deadline of Feb. 6.
