Rates have come down slightly in the last few weeks,
More than 15,000 people work directly at the port, and more than 140,000 additional jobs are connected to it.
Baltimore’s port could be closed for months, keeping people out of work and leaving freighters looking for places to route their loads.
Many fewer vessels now traverse the canal daily. The water deficit is a global phenomenon that has been linked to climate change.
Firms that import goods are returning to pandemic-era strategies to brace their businesses against delays and higher shipping costs.
The attacks on ships by Houthi rebels are forcing expensive detours and more costly insurance for ships.
Softening demand and high inventories are to blame.
Shipping costs, wait times and sourcing materials are still a big problem for business owners in South Carolina and Calif.
“It’s the kind of stuff that keeps you awake at night,” said Teresa Asbury, a senior executive at the Legacy Cos.
