• A record number of freighters are waiting to dock at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California.

• The ships have been waiting for more than 8 days and causing further disruption in US supply chains.

• Import volumes in California ports are only expected to increase in the coming weeks.

• See more stories on the Insider business page.

A record number of freighters are off the coast of California, waiting to enter the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

More than 60 ships are waiting to dock and unload, further contributing to supply chain issues and delays in the United States. There are 146 ships in total in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, according to the Southern California Sea Exchange. Of the 146 ships, 92 are container ships.

“The normal number of container ships at anchor is between zero and one,” Kip Louttit, executive director of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, told Insider in July.

Last month, port congestion hit an all-time high as disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic continued to impact the industry, Insider reported. Changes in consumer buying habits during the ongoing pandemic, labor shortages at the docks, limited warehouse space, and trucking issues once goods are ready to reach their destination. final destination contribute to industry-wide shortages in the United States.

Import volumes at California ports are only expected to increase in the coming weeks, according to data from the Port of Los Angeles. The waiting time in ports is currently estimated at 8.7 days and is likely to increase.

West Coast ports are the primary receiving point for imported goods from China, with containers carrying everything from furniture to auto parts, clothing, electronics and plastics. Shipping rates between the United States and China are at an all time high, and prices between the two regions have jumped 500% from the same period last year, Insider reported.

As a result, holiday shopping this year is expected to experience major disruption related to issues within supply chains. Experts recommend that shoppers get a head start by shopping before Black Friday, buying locally, and buying only domestic products.

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