Increased supply chain uncertainty and delays are creating major challenges for the maritime industry and intermodal networks, significantly impacting the ability to serve customers. At the same time, expanding trade, coupled with the demands of larger vessels, constraints on road and rail capacity and connectivity, and aggravated by labor unpredictability are straining traditional gateways. Shippers are demanding new solutions to mitigate these risks and ensure on-time delivery to their customers.
Manufacturers and import distribution centers are moving closer to major consumer markets in an effort to lower transportation costs and shorten time to market. Near-shoring and re-shoring strategies are shifting production facilities and supply chains back to Latin America and the U.S. The United States will see strong population and economic growth compared to other countries, with a continued demographic shift toward the south and, especially, the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
The coming year will see ocean carriers respond to these challenges by re-examining their traditional routes and moving to develop new options to serve the nation’s larger, faster growing markets. Those ports, terminal operators, and carriers that can provide more innovative ways to serve their customers through partnerships that can offer new cost-effective, speed to market solutions will be the success stories in 2015.
Paul Anderson, President and CEO, Port Tampa Bay