AMERICAN granite imports are experiencing delays due to container shortages, reports Bloomberg News
AMERICAN granite imports are experiencing delays due to container shortages, reports Bloomberg News. Much attention for container shortages has focused on the trade lanes between China to US west coast ports.
However, supply chain issues extend to the east coast too, primarily involving goods with unique logistical needs like unfinished granite.
In the Port of Virginia, the need for the containers is so critical, the empties are returned immediately to Asia.
The port handled 6,760 imported TEU containers of granite last year, up 10 per cent from 2019, with a quarter of it coming from India.
Demand for the counters spiked along with interest in renovations during the Covid crisis, with many homeowners waiting for granite.
'A lot of people are at home, and they are looking for any way to make the experience more enjoyable. That means a lot of work on kitchens and bathrooms,' said Remodeling Futures programme director Kermit Baker.
Trucker Butch Steffey declared that truckers were accustomed to always having containers ready when they needed to pick one up at the port for their next haul.
'Used to be there were always empty containers on dock. Now if I am able to get a container, there is already someone looking to take it and take it back. It's not balanced, and the way to fix it is to start moving more American goods overseas,' said Mr Steffey.
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