Washington D.C., United States — A strike at ports on the United States East and Gulf coasts could result in auto care industry losses of up to US$340 million per day.
The strike involves 45,000 dockworkers across 36 American ports. The U.S.-based Auto Care Association is advising that the strike will make it difficult for repair shops and distributors to meet demands for certain products and parts.
The Auto Care Association said U.S. automotive parts exports and imports represent US$51.2 billion and US$138.9 billion, respectively.
“While the U.S. now faces the closure of more than a dozen ports along its coastlines, U.S. automotive aftercare businesses are at risk of losing up to nearly US$340 million each day the strike prevents imports from being delivered,” wrote the organization, citing its 2025 Auto Care Factbook.
“Each day this strike continues, not only does our industry lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars in business, but nearly 300 million Americans who drive are more at risk on the road as access to service and repair of their vehicle diminishes,” said Bill Hanvey, president of the U.S. Auto Care Association. “More than four million Americans working in the auto care industry count on the steady flow of automotive parts and products through our ports each day to do their jobs.”
Last year, more than a quarter of all automotive parts were filtered through the affected ports, according to a press release from the Auto Care Association. Many manufacturers have redirected their shipments to West Coast ports in anticipation of the strike, though those ports are now experiencing a “surge in cargo, which could slow down the movement of goods in that region as well,” according to the Auto Care Association.
Ports impacted by the strike include the Ports of Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, New Orleans and Houston.
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, told CBC News that those who have ordered foreign-made cars will feel the impact of the strike first, then car parts will be affected next. He added that the U.S. East Coast ports service all imported auto brands into Canada.
Some companies have implemented surcharges on shipments. Maersk will add a disruption surcharge of up to $3,780 per container, and MSC has said it will introduce a surcharge of US$3,798 per container, according to reports from CBC.
Nearly 100,000 shipping containers remain packed in New York City-area shipyards alone, now frozen by the strike action. A further 35 container ships are due in the port over the coming week.
This is a developing story.
