U.S. ports on the West and East coasts and the Gulf are currently functioning without congestion.  As of the end of the first week of January, only thirty container vessels in total were laying off ports with queues down to negligible levels.  Many ports are operating below capacity including Savannah at 60 percent, Norfolk at 56 percent and Houston at 41 percent. 

In comparison with 2021 the Port of Long Beach recorded that waiting times for berths in excess of nine days, have declined by half from the peak during the last months of 2021.  The number of loaded containers awaiting transport from the port attaining 65,000 during late November 2021 can be compared to 15,000 during the first week of January 2023.  Similar declines have occurred at the port of Los Angeles.

This would be an excellent time to renegotiate contracts with Unions representing longshoremen given the lack of pressure on port operators who are in a favorable bargaining position.