Amazon Walmart Face Yearend Customs Warehouse Delays

This article provides the latest updates on US customs inspections, port dynamics, and Amazon/Walmart delivery information. It focuses on analyzing inspection trends at various ports, container pick-up and return conditions, warehouse appointment difficulty, and waiting times. This aims to offer practical guidance to sellers, helping them avoid potential pitfalls and ensure smooth delivery of goods to warehouses. The information aims to improve efficiency and reduce delays associated with customs and warehouse processes.

As the holiday season approaches, U.S. supply chains face unprecedented pressures with increased customs inspections, port congestion, and warehouse capacity issues. Here's a comprehensive overview of current challenges and strategic recommendations for businesses navigating year-end logistics.

I. Customs Inspection Trends: Key Port Updates

Recent data shows heightened customs scrutiny across major U.S. ports:

Primary Inspection Focus Areas

Baltimore: E-commerce shipments face 90% inspection rates, with emphasis on declared value and importer qualifications.
Jacksonville/Savannah: Random inspections targeting shipment valuation and importer documentation.
New York: Increased focus on CPS/FDA compliance alongside standard value verification.
Miami: Rigorous checks for intellectual property violations, EPA/DOT compliance.
Chicago: Canada-transited shipments face elevated inspection risks.
Seattle: Inspection delays of 2-3 weeks due to facility overcrowding.

Compliance Advisory: Ensure accurate valuation declarations, verify all safety certifications, and confirm importer credentials to minimize inspection delays.

II. Port Operations: Container Handling Challenges

While most ports maintain 4-day turnaround averages, significant congestion persists at:

Seattle: Frequent terminal closures (Mondays/Fridays), severe equipment shortages.
Tampa: 5+ hour wait times due to chassis shortages.
New York: APM terminal experiencing empty container return delays.
Houston: Erratic empty container acceptance, 8-hour average wait times.
Chicago: Railcar congestion causing container seal tampering incidents.

III. Amazon Fulfillment Center Status

Critical Warehouse Bottlenecks

Multiple facilities report severe capacity constraints:

Immediate Closure: PSC2, SMF3, ABE8, FTW1, IND9, 1FAT2, BNA6, MDW2
Extended Wait Times: JAX3 (2-3 weeks), MCE1 (4 weeks), IAH3 (January 2024)
High Rejection Rates: MCO2, SNA4 (90% refusal), LFT1, FTW5 (rising rejections)

Average Unloading Times (Hours)

ABQ2: 12 | LFT1: 18 | CLT2: 15 | GYR3: 14 | STL3: 20
PSC2: 18+ (with DROP storage exceeding 1 week)

IV. Walmart Distribution Center Updates

DROP shipments have become standard practice with extended processing times:

LAX1/2: 20+ day DROP processing
MCI1n/IND2n/PHL4n: 7-day averages
ATL Facilities: 5-day processing minimum

Operational Recommendation: Palletized shipments demonstrate significantly higher acceptance rates versus floor-loaded containers at Walmart facilities.

V. Nationwide Port Congestion Metrics

Current transit delay estimates:

West Coast: Los Angeles/Oakland (2-3 days)
East Coast: New York (2 days), Norfolk (3 days)
Rail Transits: Canada routing (12 days), Chicago (2 days)
Interior Hubs: Indianapolis (5 days), Memphis (2 days)

Logistics professionals should anticipate extended lead times through Q1 2024 as holiday volumes intersect with existing infrastructure constraints. Proactive shipment planning and contingency budgeting remain essential for maintaining supply chain continuity.