Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. is preparing for potential labor disruptions at U.S. East Coast ports by announcing new congestion surcharges that would take effect if dock workers strike in January.
The Taiwanese container shipping company plans to impose fees of $800 per 20-foot container and $1,000 per 40-foot container on all import and export cargo through U.S. and Canadian ports if labor actions begin on January 16, 2025.
The carrier cited ongoing automation disputes as the main sticking point in negotiations between port operators and workers. According to Yang Ming executives, the disagreements that emerged in late September have shown little sign of resolution during the holiday season.
The company said previous work stoppages in early October already forced carriers to pass higher operational costs to customers. With talks unlikely to resume until early January, Yang Ming and its alliance partners are developing contingency plans to minimize supply chain disruptions.
The potential strike comes at a challenging time for global shipping, which is already dealing with reduced Red Sea transit options due to attacks on vessels. Shipping executives expressed concern about the high uncertainty with just two weeks remaining before the potential walkout date.
