The East & Gulf Coasts port strike lasted only three days, but disrupted supply chains for one month across the United States, including major backlogs. The supply chain mess is believed to have been resolved at the end of October, one month after it began. A rise in port worker wages was agreed to, but port automation remains an unsolved sticking point, with a January 10, 2025 negotiation deadline looming.
Container rates from Southeast Asia are currently about $4,500 per container, and weak demand is expected to reduce that rate to $2,000 – $2,500 by Q2 2025. Those rates are comparable to the pre-COVID period. More information is available here.
David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.
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