Overview

U.S. sellers that source products from Chinese factories are now facing freight timelines that are double or triple the pre‑pandemic norm. Since early 2023, containers have been stuck at West Coast terminals, delayed in customs, and held up on the road, pushing arrival dates well into the following month. The prolonged lead times threaten stock availability, increase storage costs, and can cause missed sales opportunities, making it critical for merchants to understand the bottlenecks and adjust their supply‑chain strategies.

Key Points

• Transit time inflation — A route that previously took 15‑20 days from Shanghai to Los Angeles now averages 30‑45 days, meaning a shipment that left China in early March may not reach a fulfillment center until mid‑April.
• Port congestion surge — Major terminals such as Long Beach and Los Angeles report queue lengths that are roughly twice the levels seen before COVID‑19, so containers often wait several days on the dock before being assigned a crane.
• Customs clearance slowdown — Enhanced inspection protocols have extended average clearance from under 24 hours to 48‑72 hours per entry, adding extra days before cargo can leave the port.
• Inland transport constraints — Nationwide truck driver shortages and limited rail slot availability create staging‑yard bottlenecks, adding 2‑5 days of dwell time for shipments heading to inland distribution hubs.
• Rising demurrage fees — The extra days that containers sit at the pier translate into demurrage charges that can eat up 5‑10 % of profit margins on low‑priced items, forcing sellers to reassess pricing or absorb the cost.

How the Delay Chain Works

1. Port arrival overload — When a vessel pulls into a West Coast terminal, the terminal’s near‑full capacity forces the scheduler to push the unloading slot back. For example, a container slated for a Monday unload may be reassigned to the following Thursday, adding three extra days before any further processing.
2. Customs inspection queue — After the container is finally off‑loaded, it moves into the customs inspection area where heightened security checks are applied. A shipment that once cleared customs in 12 hours now typically sits for 48‑72 hours while paperwork is verified and a physical inspection is performed.