Seattle, Tacoma ports expect pandemic shortages to worsen into fall
Sep 1, 2021, 1:05 PM
Aerial view of the Port of Tacoma. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)
The pandemic troubles that have led to toilet paper shortages and higher prices are getting worse at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.
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“I’ve been in the industry over 25 years and have never seen anything like this,” said Steve Balaski with the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
This is even before the winter holiday season.
“We’re coming in to what’s known as the peak season for imports,” Balaski said about the months ahead.
He told KIRO Radio that everyone should expect to have trouble getting toys, clothing, school supplies, and potentially a lot of other things until at least the end of the year.
“It’s not just the ports that are congested, it’s having enough truck drivers, it’s having enough warehouse space, it’s having enough labor to work at the warehouses,” Balaski said.
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Many retailers are trying to buy American-made products, he says, but there simply aren’t enough to meet the current demand for clothing, school supplies, and holiday gifts.
