Which items will be most affected?

Buyers may soon find it more difficult locate everyday objects such as bananas, salmon and wine now that a massive strike in US port it started. The strike involves thousands of dock workers who advocate for better wages and working conditions.

If the port strike is resolved quickly, “Consumers most likely won’t feel a major impact,” Jeremy Tancredi, a supply chain and operations partner at West Monroe Partners, told Quartz. However, he ADVISED“If not resolved in a timely manner, consumers can certainly expect higher prices and face emptier shelves.”

The strike is ready to disturb supply chains significantly and is likely to affect product availability and prices for consumers, Christopher S. Tang, a distinguished professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management who specializes in supply chain management, said in a statement to Quartz.

As Tang noted, it’s over 70% of bananas consumed in the US are imported from Guatemala and Mexico, as are tomatoes and lettuce from Mexico to the East Coast. These low-value items are not usually shipped by air due to cost constraints, making them particularly vulnerable to delays. As a result, consumers may experience reduced availability and higher prices for these staples.

Instead, high-value produce such as blueberries and asparagus from Peru can be shipped by air, but this method increases costs significantly, raising concerns about inflated food prices. The strike also threatens the market for seafood, shrimp from Thailand and Ecuador, as well as tuna and salmon, which are expected to face substantial shipping challenges. Port delays may result in these popular items being unavailable.

That the holiday season is approachingthe impact of the strike could extend to toys and clothing manufactured in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia. If the strike continues for a month, shoppers may find themselves unable to buy popular gifts, leading to increased competition, Erik Rosica, sales supervisor at OEC Group, told Quartz.

“For shoppers, this means longer wait times for gifts,” Route CEO Michael Yamartino told Quartz. “For retailers, this is more than a logistical nightmare; it’s a customer experience issue.”

John Lash, vice president of product strategy at E2open, noted that a substantial amount of goods arrive at eastern ports, including auto parts, appliances and vehicles. The automotive sector, in particular, will be particularly affected, as “reliance on certain parts is crucial”.

He said other staples such as drinks, wine, kitchenware and flooring would also feel the ripple effects of the supply disruption. Meanwhile, RADD Companies CEO Dutch Mendenhall said electronics could see price increases and delays.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the items most likely to be affected as the warning continues.