Despite a brief three-day strike at East and Gulf Coast ports, U.S. container imports are expected to remain strong, supporting the upcoming holiday shopping season. The strike, initiated on October 1 by the International Longshoremen’s Association after their Master Contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance expired, ended quickly with a temporary contract extension until mid-January.

Read also: A Prolonged Port Strike Narrowly Averted, for now 

Retailers and consumers alike were relieved by the swift resolution. Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation (NRF), emphasized that while ports will need a few weeks to recover, no significant impact on holiday shipments is expected.

In fact, U.S. ports have been handling robust cargo volumes. August saw a 19.3% year-over-year increase, reaching 2.34 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) – the highest since May 2022. September’s numbers are projected to have risen by 12.9%, with October forecasted to see a more moderate 3.1% increase. The overall trend suggests that 2024 could close with a 12.1% rise in total imports compared to 2023, aligning with retail sales growth forecasts.

Ben Hackett, Founder of Hackett Associates, attributed the recent surge in imports to strategic contingency planning by wholesalers and retailers ahead of the strike, rather than an unexpected spike in demand. However, industry experts warn that a long-term labor agreement needs to be in place by mid-January to prevent future disruptions.

For now, the retail sector appears poised for a strong holiday season, buoyed by stable import levels and continued economic resilience.