ARLINGTON, VA – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) called on the Biden Administration to immediately intervene in the port labor strike that began at 12:01 AM EST today at East and Gulf coast ports. The dairy organizations warned that this disruption could have a devastating impact on American dairy farmers and exporters who rely on the smooth functioning of these ports to get their products to international markets.
“The administration must act now to bring both sides back to the table. The stakes are too high,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “This strike puts the livelihoods of American dairy farmers and the strength of our supply chain at risk. The administration needs to step in and end the strike before further damage is done.”
The U.S. dairy industry relies heavily on ports to maintain access to global markets. In 2023, over 530,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of dairy products, valued at $1.7 billion, were shipped through East and Gulf ports, accounting for 21% of total U.S. dairy exports by volume. The ongoing strike directly jeopardizes $32 million in dairy exports per week, with additional indirect consequences looming as exporters are forced to reroute shipments and face rising transportation costs.
“Global customers depend on the reliability of U.S. dairy products,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “Delays caused by this strike not only risk damaging those relationships but also severely impact perishable dairy products that require timely delivery. The negotiating parties need to come together to find a resolution and ensure port operations resume as soon as possible.”
Dairy exporters experiencing challenges with rerouting or stuck shipments should reach out to Tony Rice (trice@nmpf.org) with questions.
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