Consumers are again seeing grocery store shelves bare of certain items or increased shipping times for online orders as the global supply chain issues continue. Despite this, year-end reports show that ocean carriers recorded record profits in 2021- an estimated $150 billion, or a nine-fold annual increase.
Although fuel, container, labor, and other costs continued to climb throughout the year, it is clear the pace of freight increases far outstripped those expenses. For the average U.S. shopper, inflation and rising prices could lead to increasing food insecurity. Industry sources report a slight easing of transportation rates for certain shipping areas, resulting in expectations that prices will begin to reflect that reduction in cost. Several winter weather events and below normal temperatures impacted multiple regions, which slowed the movement of product into the major metropolitan regions and delayed the maturity of crops in the southern growing regions of the US.
Mexican blueberry crossings through Arizona, California, and Texas movement expected to increase. Trading was active early and moderate later. Market for Mexican berries is declining as competition from Chilean fruit increases gradually.
Movement of Chilean blueberries via boat through the various East Coast and West Coast ports of entry is expected to increase as harvesting increases in Chile. Trading on east coast ports of entry is moderate, and prices there are barely steady. Supplies entering the west coast ports remain fairly light with trading barely steady. Overall movement of Chilean blueberries remains lower than previous seasons, with some Chilean exporters reported to be shipping more product to Europe and Asia to avoid competing with Peruvian berries in the U.S.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov