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How the Port of Baltimore’s closure may impact shipping and supply chains

By WHIO Staff and Kirstin Garriss, CMG Washington News Bureau
Cargo ship Dali under collapsed bridge.

Bridge collapse FILE PHOTO: The cargo ship Dali sits in the water as it is shrouded in rain after running into and collapsing Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this week on March 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. Of the road repair crew who were working on the bridge when the ship hit it at 1:30AM Tuesday, two survivors were pulled from the Patapsco River immediately after the collision, while two bodies were pulled from the water on Wednesday and four people remain missing and are presumed dead after the Coast Guard called off rescue efforts. The accident has temporarily closed the Port of Baltimore, one of the largest and busiest on the East Coast of the U.S. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

By WHIO Staff and Kirstin Garriss, CMG Washington News Bureau

BALTIMORE — Before a car ends up at your local dealership, it most likely passed through the Port of Baltimore first.

“The port is like our original economic driver,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee.

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It’s the top domestic port for vehicles and a major hub for materials like wood, steel and aluminum along with home appliances, furniture and farm equipment.

Right now, the Port of Baltimore remains at a standstill after the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse last week. Thomas said it’s critical for the port to reopen as quickly as it can.

“When you automatically have like an instance shut off, not only does it disrupt the entire supply chain network for the east coast, but then it creates a ripple effect and just our ability to receive goods,” said Thomas.

Maryland officials say the power of the Port of Baltimore is in the numbers. Last year, it handled more than 52 million tons of foreign cargo which adds up to more than $80 billion.

“There’s obviously huge relevance, economic importance of Baltimore to this national freight network, and then most importantly, to the regional network too,” said Joe Kane, Brookings Institute Fellow.

Supply chain experts say the port’s proximity to the Midwest is also valuable.

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“Baltimore is the furthest inland port of all the East Coast ports,” said Mason Houston, Adjunct professor at Georgetown University. “Once the ships get to Baltimore, they’re much closer to many population areas in the Midwest and beyond via rail or truck.”

In addition to the port, experts say there are also several major companies like Under Armour, Home Depot and Amazon have distribution centers in the area too.

“Will they have to rely on maybe some other ports? You know, will this result in maybe additional travel times? Potentially,” said Kane. “But I think the hope is, of course, like by accelerating, federal funding around this…I think the hope is to accelerate these improvements.”

Now Baltimore officials say it’s all hands on deck from state and federal levels to get ships moving again.

“They understand the broad economic impact of what the [port] staying close for too long means. But it is going to require a safe strategy to make sure things are open and rebuilt correctly,” said Thomas.

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