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Docker slowdown at Tacoma threatens Christmas trees for Hong Kong
THE US west coast port slowdown now threatens Christmas tree exports from Washington State to Asia, especially to Hong Kong and Japan, reports Reuters.
"We have 2,200 total trees that should have left for Hong Kong two weeks ago," said Washington state farmer John Tillman, adding that he feared the trees, which take seven to nine years to grow, would be discarded.
"It's really disappointing. A lot of people, small farmers and businesses, their livelihood depends on being able to export overseas," he said.
The Port of Tacoma said it had seen a 60 per cent slowdown since the end of October during contract talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the employers of the Pacific Maritime Association.
Eight to 10 million trees grown in Washington state and Oregon are destined for export in Asia, said Bryan Ostlund, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.
A slowdown at a busy Washington state ports prompted by a roiling labour dispute could mean that thousands of Christmas trees grown in the Pacific Northwest will not be shipped in time for the holiday season, say industry officials.
Trees that should have already left the Port of Tacoma for Hong Kong and Tokyo have been languishing in shipping containers for two weeks, he said. The ocean voyage from Washington state to Asia takes about 23 days.
"Trees are a perishable commodity, so the clock is ticking," Mr Ostlund said, adding Tacoma was the primary port for tree shipments. "If they get there too late for the selling season, now what do you do with them?" he said.
Asian orders for more than 12,000 trees, already cut and ready for shipment, have been cancelled so far because of the delays, and just as many trees are estimated to be backlogged at the terminal, according to the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.
Docker productivity was not affected for four months, but at the end of October, it plummeted in Seattle and Tacoma. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) began filling half the orders for crane operators in Los Angeles and Long Beach and began work slowdowns in Oakland, the employers reported
West coast ports are falling further behind with longer truck turns, especially in LA-Long Beach, with Digital Geographic Research saying they hit a new low in October, with 36 per cent of truck taking two hours or longer.
"We have 2,200 total trees that should have left for Hong Kong two weeks ago," said Washington state farmer John Tillman, adding that he feared the trees, which take seven to nine years to grow, would be discarded.
"It's really disappointing. A lot of people, small farmers and businesses, their livelihood depends on being able to export overseas," he said.
The Port of Tacoma said it had seen a 60 per cent slowdown since the end of October during contract talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the employers of the Pacific Maritime Association.
Eight to 10 million trees grown in Washington state and Oregon are destined for export in Asia, said Bryan Ostlund, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.
A slowdown at a busy Washington state ports prompted by a roiling labour dispute could mean that thousands of Christmas trees grown in the Pacific Northwest will not be shipped in time for the holiday season, say industry officials.
Trees that should have already left the Port of Tacoma for Hong Kong and Tokyo have been languishing in shipping containers for two weeks, he said. The ocean voyage from Washington state to Asia takes about 23 days.
"Trees are a perishable commodity, so the clock is ticking," Mr Ostlund said, adding Tacoma was the primary port for tree shipments. "If they get there too late for the selling season, now what do you do with them?" he said.
Asian orders for more than 12,000 trees, already cut and ready for shipment, have been cancelled so far because of the delays, and just as many trees are estimated to be backlogged at the terminal, according to the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.
Docker productivity was not affected for four months, but at the end of October, it plummeted in Seattle and Tacoma. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) began filling half the orders for crane operators in Los Angeles and Long Beach and began work slowdowns in Oakland, the employers reported
West coast ports are falling further behind with longer truck turns, especially in LA-Long Beach, with Digital Geographic Research saying they hit a new low in October, with 36 per cent of truck taking two hours or longer.
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