Shippers have historically regarded ports as a commodity that came along with their ocean shipping contract. With cargo rates fixed by shipper conventions and port access almost always readily accessible, the only real differentiators for many shippers regarding ports was closeness to markets and land logistics.

That is changing. Ports have become competitive in terms of services, capacity and security. Constraints, particularly on the West Coast, have enhanced the status of what were traditionally secondary U.S. Meanwhile, as the volume of shipping expands worldwide, the choice of international points becomes more strategic for U.S. shippers.

In our latest Reader-to-Reader Report, we asked over 5,000 subscribers-over 90 percent of whom are conducting trade using ocean transport-how ports figure into their supply chain strategies?

Shippers Are Becoming More Selective

Twenty-six percent have changed their North American port of entry over the past 12 months with another 38% considering changing ports over the next 12-18 months.

Security Increasing Costs, But Levels of Comfort Are High

Sixty-four percent report that Homeland Security compliance requirements are increasing shipping costs.

Contracts With Carriers Are Becoming Shorter in Duration

Over half of shippers are comfortable with current levels of port security.

North American Ports Rated by Levels of Satisfaction

Primary Ports Being Used for U.S. Trade.