HOUSTON—Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, US seaports experienced a robust year in 2019 with increased 20-foot equivalent unit/TEU counts for both inbound and outbound traffic, along with minimal labor disputes, according to a recent Industrial US Seaport Outlook by Colliers International. In January 2020, the US signed a trade deal with China that imposed increased tariffs of as much as 25% on Chinese-made goods, prompting US importers to increase sourcing in locations such as Southeast Asia.

Despite this, overall trade volume increased. But then, COVID-19 posed unprecedented challenges. Most notably was an economic stir that reduced consumer demand on certain items, causing TEU volumes to naturally dropped.

During these unprecedented times, as consumer behaviors and lifestyles were altered and companies adjusted supply chain strategies, US seaports also had to adapt to the changing landscape. The need to accommodate larger cargo vessels has forced ports across the board to adapt, with capital improvement projects underway or recently completed at nearly all locations to better service larger vessels.