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By APF
The financial impact of a strike may reach as high as $5 billion daily, as estimated by JPMorgan Chase, potentially disrupting the supply chain for a wide range of products, including automobiles and cardboard. Consider a large cargo vessel laden with automotive components such as alternators, radiators, and batteries.
The East Coast of the United States is home to some of the busiest and most vital ports in the country. Major ports like those in New York, New Jersey, and Savannah play critical roles in international trade, acting as gateways for goods, including auto parts, flowing between the U.S. and global markets. In the event of a strike at these ports, the entire supply chain for industries dependent on imports and exports—especially the automotive industry—can be severely disrupted.
1. Disruption of Supply Chains
The auto industry is highly dependent on just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. Auto parts are often sourced from multiple countries, and timely delivery is crucial to ensure assembly lines are running smoothly. A strike at East Coast ports can cause significant delays in the importation of essential components, such as engines, transmissions, and electronic parts.
Many car manufacturers and suppliers utilize East Coast ports to transport components from Europe, Asia, and Latin America. A strike could create bottlenecks, leading to a backlog of containers waiting to be unloaded, processed, or shipped to distribution centers. The longer the strike, the more the backlog grows, making it even more challenging for manufacturers to receive the necessary parts on time.
2. Increased Costs for Manufacturers
When auto parts can't be delivered due to port strikes, manufacturers may need to resort to costly alternatives to meet their needs. These alternatives might include:
Air Freight: Transporting parts by air is much faster than shipping via sea, but it's also significantly more expensive. For parts that are urgently needed to avoid assembly line shutdowns, manufacturers may opt to pay the premium, which can erode profit margins.
Diversion to Other Ports: During a strike, companies might attempt to reroute shipments to alternative ports, such as those on the Gulf Coast or the West Coast. However, this introduces additional transportation costs, delays, and logistical challenges.
These increased costs ultimately get passed down the supply chain, affecting everyone from manufacturers to end consumers.
3. Production Delays and Shutdowns
A prolonged port strike could cause automakers to slow or halt production entirely if they can’t source the necessary parts. For an industry reliant on smooth operations and just-in-time inventory, even a short-term disruption can have ripple effects across the entire production line. Automakers are often forced to make difficult decisions about which vehicles to prioritize for production and may shift their focus to models that require fewer or more readily available components.
For suppliers, the strike could also result in inventory shortages, creating a domino effect in which downstream production is halted or delayed. This can lead to shortages of vehicles available for sale, which could push up prices for both new and used vehicles.
4. Impact on Retailers and Consumers
Retailers and consumers will also feel the effects of a port strike. As auto parts become scarcer and production slows, dealers may have less inventory to offer customers. Consumers looking for specific car models or parts for repairs and maintenance could face long wait times.
Furthermore, the increased transportation costs, higher prices of parts, and potential tariffs (if auto parts need to be sourced from more expensive regions due to the strike) may lead to price hikes for both new vehicles and aftermarket parts. Repair shops could pass these higher costs on to customers, increasing the overall cost of vehicle ownership.
5. Broader Economic Impacts
The automotive industry is a significant driver of the U.S. economy, contributing billions in revenue and employing millions of people. A port strike on the East Coast could lead to layoffs or reduced hours for workers in manufacturing plants, transportation, and logistics. This ripple effect can harm local economies, especially in areas dependent on the auto industry.
Moreover, as car production and sales slow down, other industries linked to the automotive sector, such as steel, electronics, and chemicals, may also experience reduced demand, leading to further economic strain.
6. Mitigation Strategies for the Future
To mitigate the effects of potential port strikes, many companies in the auto industry have begun to explore alternative solutions. These strategies include:
Diversifying Ports: Relying on a single port or region for auto parts can leave manufacturers vulnerable to strikes or other disruptions. By diversifying their port usage—utilizing West Coast or Gulf Coast ports—manufacturers can reduce the risk of total supply chain stoppages.
Strategic Stockpiling: Some manufacturers are considering stockpiling critical parts to ensure they have a buffer during times of disruption. While this is counter to the just-in-time philosophy, it can provide some security against short-term disruptions like strikes.
Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains: The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with other global trade disruptions, has led many manufacturers to rethink their dependence on global supply chains. Investing in domestic production of key auto parts could reduce reliance on international shipments and lessen the impact of future port strikes.
Conclusion
An East Coast port strike can have a far-reaching impact on the auto parts industry, causing supply chain disruptions, increased costs, production delays, and higher prices for consumers. The extent of the damage depends on the duration of the strike and the preparedness of manufacturers and suppliers. However, by implementing diversification strategies and strengthening supply chains, the auto industry can mitigate some of the risks associated with such events in the future.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view & link hidden, please login to view jointly announced a nationwide expansion of their partnership. As a result of this new affiliation, all Idemitsu IFG series engine oils, transmission fluids, and power steering fluids are now available through XL Parts and The Parts House direct-to-the-professional locations. “We are very excited to expand our distribution network through our partnership with XL Parts and The Parts House to service automotive aftermarket professionals located across the Gulf Coast to the Southeast US Region,” says Frank Lam, Idemitsu senior division manager for the aftermarket. “This partnership will make our engine oils and transmission fluids more accessible to customers who are looking for premium OE-quality lubricants that meet the stringent standards of Japanese Automotive OEMs.”
link hidden, please login to view supplies OE-specific automatic (ATF) and continuously variable (CVTF) transmission fluids to Japanese automakers, such as Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Mazda. The post
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the launch of 22 new products in North America. The new part numbers include complete strut assemblies and shock absorbers, representing over 5 million vehicles in new coverage. The launches include coverage for important models in the national vehicle car parc, such as Jeep Compass, Toyota Highlander and BMW X-3, in addition to brand new applications including the Chrysler Pacifica 2023, and the Kia Forte GT 2023, among others,
link hidden, please login to view said. “By prioritizing innovation and cutting-edge solutions at our factories, we consistently develop new products for the aftermarket, utilizing the same quality components as we provide to the OE market. These recent additions not only expand our product range but also reinforce our presence in North America. The new items are in stock and ready to ship!” said Bruno Bello, director of global marketing at PRT.
For more information, call 1-770-238-1611 or visit www.prtautoparts.com, or follow @prtautoparts.
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By Counterman
Every year the Counterman PARTS
link hidden, please login to view tells us important information about which brands you, the counter professional, recommend and why. We will use the data from this survey to develop content for Counterman that will help you do your job. The survey should take about 10 minutes. If you can’t finish it at once, your work is saved, and if you follow the link back to the survey, you will be taken to where you left off. Your answers will be completely anonymous, and responses will only be reported in the aggregate.
At the end of the survey, you can enter for a chance to win a $150 gift card, or one of twenty $25 gift cards, which you can choose from a variety of retailers. Any questions? Contact Babcox Media’s Audience Insights Analyst David Ramos at [email protected]
Click
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By Counterman
New research by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is shedding light on the latest trends and developments in vehicle lifecycles and providing new insights for those who provide parts for accessorizing and modifying the more than 289 million vehicles in the US.
Findings in the new
link hidden, please login to view include: Vehicles are staying on the road longer, a continuing trend. The average U.S. vehicle age is now at 12.6 years, its highest number in over a decade. Passenger cars are now an average of 14 years old (up from 13.6), while light trucks rose slightly to 11.9, from 11.8. Used-car market ticks downward but remains historically high. The average listing price of a used vehicle in the U.S. is $25,251, as of July 2024. Car values have fallen faster than that of light trucks, with the sharpest decrease in overall vehicle value found in EVs (-11%). Stabilization of new vehicle prices offset by continued climb of interest rates. The average new vehicle price sits at $48,644, down slightly from the year prior, and halting a dramatic climb that began in the beginning of 2021. However, interest rates for new and used vehicles continue to hound buyers, remaining significantly higher than those offered in 2021-2022, regardless of loan-term length. Automakers are producing fewer entry-level vehicles. While new vehicle inventory in 2024 has reached a three-and-a-half-year high, small cars and other entry-level vehicles (those priced below $20,000) make up just 0.7% of the market, compared with 7% five years ago. This lack of affordability has a profound impact on younger people, who are historically more price-sensitive than older drivers. Two decades of increasingly dependable vehicles. Since 2003, vehicles have exhibited fewer problems, highlighting a growing reliability that is a boon to consumers. However, recent years have yielded an increase in vehicle issues tied to new technology-based automotive features, including driving assistance and infotainment systems — a trend that could impact future dependability. The nation’s fleet of vehicles is growing. The past year saw the net addition of 3 million more vehicles to the roads, with crossovers (72.7 million) closing the gap with passenger cars (89.2 million) as the dominant segment of the entire fleet. However, compared to 10 years ago, vehicle registrations skew more heavily toward light trucks than cars. The specialty-equipment aftermarket continues to grow — and is expected to keep growing. Specialty equipment retail sales in 2023 surpassed $52.3 billion and are forecasted to grow to more than $57 billion by 2026. The research also reveals trends across four categories of vehicles (Classic, Aged, Core and Modern), highlighting age, popularity, usage and consumer spending habits. For accessorizing, pickups and muscle cars are the top choice for enthusiasts. Meanwhile, vehicles in the Aged category are driving spending for performance products, as a way to refresh their older vehicle. Aftermarket product spending for Modern and Core vehicles was primarily (59% and 54%) on accessory and appearance products, while 43% of spending on Classic vehicles was for performance products.
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