The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) is issuing an update on the potential impact of the ongoing dockworker strike affecting 36 East and Gulf Coast ports. The strike, which involves up to 45,000 dockworkers after contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) stalled, could lead to significant delays for key commodities imported directly into Utah.

“We’re hearing people compare this to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s not comparable,” said Ben Hart, executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority. “This situation is isolated and under control. While we may see some delays in items like furniture or automobiles, if the strike lasts another two to three weeks, there’s no need for panic buying. Often, it’s the consumer response that creates shortages. Let’s take a measured approach, be good to our neighbors, and wait and see. We expect a resolution, hopefully sooner rather than later.”

The strike affects the movement of shipping containers (measured in TEUs, or Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) arriving in Utah from various East and Gulf Coast ports. One TEU is roughly the size of a standard 20-foot shipping container.

Between January 1, 2024, and October 1, 2024, the following major ports have contributed to Utah’s imports:

  • Houston, TX: The largest share of containers, with about 3,989 TEUs (31.69%).
  • New York/Newark, NJ: Handling 2,648 TEUs (21.04%).
  • Norfolk, VA: Handling 1,689 TEUs (13.42%).
  • Savannah, GA: Handling 1,634 TEUs (12.98%).
  • Charleston, SC: Handling 961 TEUs (7.63%).

Other ports like Miami, FL, Port Everglades, FL, and smaller East and Gulf Coast ports also contribute to Utah’s imports, but to a lesser extent.

The following commodities, imported over the past 365 days to Utah, are expected to be impacted by the strike:

  • Furniture: 2,430 TEU
  • Gym Equipment: 1,257 TEU
  • Screws or Bolts: 919 TEU
  • Chair Lifts, Draglines, Funicular: 835 TEU
  • Medical Devices: 764 TEU
  • Cooking Appliances & Parts: 422 TEU
  • Articles of Plastic: 262 TEU
  • Building Stone: 241 TEU
  • Articles of Iron or Steel: 221 TEU
  • Motor Vehicle Parts: 195 TEU

“In cases like this, it's often not the supply disruption itself that causes issues but the consumer response,” Hart said. “We encourage Utahns to avoid panic buying. Our state is in a strong position to weather this situation, particularly because many goods are sourced through other channels, such as West Coast ports or domestic distribution networks. We are closely monitoring the situation and working with partners to mitigate any disruptions.

All data is sourced from Descartes Datamyne, a global trade database that tracks imports and exports across U.S. ports.