Rumors of labor disruptions took a toll on Los Angeles and Long Beach container volumes in July 2014. Imports through both ports were negligible, an anomaly in the lead-up to peak season. Sluggish growth is partly attributed to the fact that many retailers jumped the gun on potential labor shutdowns by shipping product earlier in the year, reports the Long Beach Press Telegram. Ongoing contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have cast doubts over port reliability during the busiest time of the year. That shippers are pre-emptively moving product and/or re-routing freight suggests industry is adapting to a new normal dictated by contingencies.
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