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I know, I know. It feels like Ground Hog’s Day with all of these ILA strike updates. But, of all the international issues our industry faces, this one is by far the most important in 2025.
In this previous post I discussed the political climate surrounding the ILA strike. I also provided tips and strategies for dealing with the strike head-on, before it deals with you.
So what do you, as a monument person, need to know? Well…a lot! And today we are going to focus on surcharges.
Surcharges
This strike will not be cheap. Several ocean carriers have already announced port disruption surcharges. I am sharing those charges with you below. It would be wise to understand how this will impact your importing situation now so you can adjust prices accordingly.
The big three carriers, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and CMA, have all announced emergency surcharges for all containers entering East Coast ports in response to the looming strike. The industry does expect surcharges for entries on the West Coast as well.
As of January 20, 2025, the average surcharge for a 20′ container entering the East Coast will be approximately $0.03 per pound. So, if you are importing a 2x1x4 granite marker weighing 127lbs, you can expect an additional surcharge cost of $3.81.
Of course, that is just the surcharge for the port disruption. That is not including any additional freight charges, which are to be expected.
But the East Coast ports are not the only ports projected to be impacted. You will recall from this post, that a strike on the East Coast will greatly impact the West Coast. In fact, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index was showing a 9% increase in ocean rates entering West Coast ports, as well as an 8% increase going into East Coast ports last week. Add in the increased China tariffs and, well, there is a recipe for unprecedented increases on Chinese imports.
Bottom line, expect increases.
Planning Ahead
As with all businesses, your goal is to make a profit. As you begin selling items for spring, it is important to take into consideration the impact that price increases will have on your business. Supplies, raw materials, everything will likely be impacted if the strike occurs.
So, plan ahead, plan appropriately, and take it one day at a time!
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