West Coast Port Disruptions Strain Ecommerce Supply Chains

Cross-border logistics faces challenges like warehouse congestion, booking cancellations, and suspended sailings. FBA appointment slots in the US West are tight, while UK last-mile delivery is impacted by strikes and traffic restrictions. Japanese holidays cause customs clearance delays. Shipping companies reducing capacity further destabilize schedules. Sellers should closely monitor logistics, communicate with freight forwarders, plan inventory in advance, choose flexible logistics channels, optimize inventory management, and enhance supply chain resilience.

As the peak season approaches, cross-border e-commerce sellers find themselves grappling with tightening logistics timelines. Issues like flight cancellations, rolled cargo, port skipping, container pickup difficulties, booking cancellations, and warehouse congestion loom like ticking time bombs that could explode into profit losses at any moment.

Amazon FBA Warehouses: Booking Appointments Becomes Increasingly Difficult

Amazon's FBA warehouses, a critical component for sellers, are experiencing significant challenges with recent policy changes and surging inventory volumes leading to widespread congestion.

Latest Warehouse Status Updates:

West Coast (Zip codes starting with 8-9):

LAX9: Severe congestion with floor appointments booked through May 20
SBD1: Serious congestion with existing appointments being deleted
GYR2, GYR3, LAS1, SCK4, SCK3, SMF3, SMF6, SMF7, OAK3: All facing congestion with concerning appointment availability
ONT8, LGB8: Relatively better conditions with no congestion reported
XLX7 (Oversize warehouse): Requires special appointment process with 10-day estimated review time

Midwest (Zip codes starting with 4-7):

FTW1, IND9, MDW2: Appointments returned to normal this week

East Coast (Zip codes starting with 0-3):

CLT2: Severe congestion with 10+ hour wait times and mandatory drop-off requirements
Walmart PHL and NJ warehouses: Failing to respond to appointment requests

UK Logistics: Strikes and Capacity Restrictions

BHX4 warehouse faces worker strikes from April 21-23, significantly impacting efficiency. DPD courier services have implemented capacity restrictions, leading to delays in pickup and delivery.

Japan Logistics: Golden Week Holiday Impact

Japan's "Golden Week" holidays from April 29 and May 3-5 will suspend customs clearance and container unpacking operations, causing expected delays.

Shipping Lines and Ports: Capacity Cuts and Labor Negotiations

Despite weak U.S. demand and falling freight rates, shipping lines are implementing strict capacity controls to support upcoming contract negotiations and rate increases. Drewry reports 57 canceled sailings (8% cancellation rate) across major trade routes from April 24-May 30, with 29 cancellations on Asia-North America routes.

West Coast port negotiations show some progress with a preliminary agreement on automation between ILWU and PMA, though container pickup delays of 1-2 weeks persist at APM and other terminals.

Seller Strategies: Navigating the Challenges

With logistics delays becoming the norm, sellers should consider these approaches:

Monitor logistics updates closely
Maintain close communication with freight forwarders
Plan inventory well in advance
Diversify logistics channels
Optimize inventory management
Strengthen supply chain resilience

The cross-border e-commerce landscape remains challenging, requiring constant vigilance and adaptability to succeed in this competitive market.