Container Shortages Preventing US Ag Exporters from Meeting Soaring Demand

Agricultural exporters at this year's Agricultural Transportation Coalition (AgTC) Annual Transportation Conference in June reported that in a year of soaring demand for their products, ocean transportation constraints and container shortage are preventing exporters from selling as much as they could.

Exporters emphasized their expectation that strong demand for U.S. agricultural exports is likely to continue.

U.S. exports grew 21 percent in the first 4 months of the year compared to the same period last year, while imports declined by 10 percent in the first quarter.

When imports slowed significantly due to the U.S. economic slowdown, carriers began to reallocate equipment to more profitable trade lanes. They were not expecting the surge in exports and therefore did not prepare sufficient equipment or service for these shippers.