World Shipping Council says import volumes must “normalise somewhat”
Executive director of the Port of Los Angeles says importers need to pick up their containers faster.
The World Shipping Council has said that the backlog affecting US ports will only resolve itself once import volumes return to normal.
The comments were made following an appeal by the Port of Los Angeles to the US government for help in easing port congestion.
“Returning our overloaded system to a normal, fluid condition will require import volumes to normalize somewhat, which they will, but it will take time,” chief executive John Butler told TradeWinds.
“Anyone who pretends otherwise – whether that’s a private party or a government regulator – is setting themselves up for a disappointment at the hands of reality.”
Executive director of the Port of Los Angeles Gene Seroka said port congestion was a result of a number of factors, but the crux of the problem was that importers need to pick up their containers faster.
“It has to be a transit facility. We cannot be a storage location here at the port because you’ve only got so much land space.”
