For the second consecutive month, the East Coast’s Port of New York and New Jersey has become the nation’s business seaport. In September of this year, the port moved 35% more cargo than in September 2019.
Rick Cotton, executive director for the Port of New York and New Jersey, said, “There are no indications that this level of cargo, compared to what it has been in the past, is going to be reduced… The big picture is we expect the record levels of cargo to continue.”
One of the primary reasons behind the shift is fear of a strike among West Coast workers. According to Josh Brazil, VP of supply chain insights at Project44, “The fact that the Port of New York and New Jersey has outpaced Los Angeles for not one, but two consecutive months is big news. It demonstrates the degree to which we see a serious longer-term shift among shippers to diversify their supply chain routes to mitigate risk.”