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Felixstowe port worker strike could disrupt $800m in goodsFelixstowe port worker strike could disrupt $800m in goods

A planned strike by dockworkers at the UK’s largest container port – Felixstowe – could disrupt $800m in trade.

Marcus Hand, Editor

August 16, 2022

2 Min Read
MSC Amelia berthed at Felixstowe port
Phot: Port of Felixstowe

Some 1,900 members of the Unite Union are set to go strike from 21 – 28 August at the Port of Felixstowe after talks between employers and the union broke down a week ago. In late July 92% of union members voted for strike action over Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company offering a 5% pay increase to its workers.

With workers now set to walk out of the UK’s largest port on 21 August Russell Group has used its ALPS Marine analysis to calculate the value of goods that will be impacted by the strike action.

The total impact was put at $800m in trade, with clothing accounting for some $82.8m of that figure, and electronic components a further $32.3m. The figures are based on analysis of previous August trade flows at the Port of Felixstowe.

Suki Basi, Russell Group MD said:  "The disruption at Felixstowe spells more uncertainty for businesses, consumers and governments alike. Ports across the globe are facing congestion, due to a large backlog caused by the pandemic.
“As our analysis has shown today, these strikes could increase the backlog and in doing so, create even more delays, and the effects of this will only be registered in the coming weeks and months."

Disruption has dogged the global supply chain since the onset of the Covid pandemic over two years ago and this year in Europe has been exacerbated by port worker strikes in major ports such as Hamburg.

Related:Staff strike set to hit Felixstowe in August

Felixstowe not only handles large volumes of UK imports but also exports with $108m moved to Rotterdam and $138m to Hamburg. Smaller ports in the UK are seen as potentially benefitting from the strike with volumes and services diverted to other terminals in the country

Read more about:

Port of Felixstowe

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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