On October 1st, a major strike by dock workers on the East Coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico is expected to become one of the most severe labor actions in 47 years. The strike on the first day has already brought the New York port to a standstill, with trade and logistics unable to enter or leave the docks. While Chinese supermarkets with bustling foot traffic show no immediate signs of disruption, amidst concerns over the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East and the upcoming election, some Chinese residents have quietly begun stockpiling food.
Mr. Li, who is in charge of a logistics company engaged in China-US trade, operates in both countries and has discovered that the docks were shut down on October 1st. He used to be able to access the New York port for cargo pickups but is now unable to enter the port.
He predicts that food logistics produced in the U.S. will not be affected, but imports of food will likely decrease. The future development of the situation is difficult to predict at the moment, and all are hoping for a swift resolution to the labor negotiations to resume port operations soon.
At a Chinese supermarket on Northern Boulevard in Flushing, foot traffic remains normal compared to regular days. The staff mentioned that they are not currently worried about food shortages but are concerned that shipments may contain winter clothing and Christmas gifts, leading to potential shortages and price hikes.
In this supermarket, there is an abundance of goods on the shelves, with some items still maintaining weekend discounts even during weekdays. The popular Korean White Bear middle gluten flour, beloved by the Chinese community, is priced at only $3.99 per bag. Instant noodles, a pandemic favorite, are also featured on sale at discounted prices.
Another popular Korean chain supermarket among the Chinese community holds major promotional events on the last day and the first day of each month. Yesterday happened to be the first day of the month, featuring buy one get one free deals. Customers still flock to the fresh food counter in the supermarket, while processed foods are relatively ignored. Fresh apples, Korean pears, and sweet potatoes harvested in autumn are favored by nearby residents.
Mr. Chen, the owner of a Chinese supermarket on Canal St in Chinatown, mentioned that his store still has inventory and recent sales will not be affected. His wholesalers usually keep a certain amount of stock, but if goods happen to arrive at the port now, they will be immediately impacted as the cargo cannot be unloaded from the ships.
Due to the port shutdown, cargo ships are unable to dock at the ports and can only anchor in international waters, reducing the cost of port usage.
At a supermarket on Grand St in Chinatown, the staff mentioned being unaware of the dock worker strike. The store had recently suffered a fire, and on Tuesday, they were rearranging merchandise. Luckily, the electricity and water supply inside were not affected, and the damaged store can reopen this week. The daily necessities section of the supermarket can be accessed as usual from entrance 247 on Grand St.
Ms. Li, the owner of a store selling Chinese clothing on Grand St in Chinatown, mentioned that she started stocking winter clothes a few months ago. Combined with last year’s inventory, she is not facing immediate shortages.
While the impact of the port strike may not be immediately visible, some Chinese residents have quietly begun stockpiling goods. Cashiers at a Korean supermarket in Flushing mentioned that Korean rice is particularly popular among stockpilers, with one customer purchasing 12 bags to store up.
Ms. Lu, a working professional, had already started quietly stockpiling goods a month or two ago in anticipation of a potential resurgence of a severe epidemic during the fall and winter this year. Besides buying plenty of easy-to-store dry goods, she also bought dozens of gas canisters. The port workers’ strike further reinforces her preparedness.
As news of the impending dock worker strike surfaced, some restaurant operators in Chinese WeChat groups began to feel anxious. As some food sources rely on imports, they are concerned that the strike may disrupt the supply chain, causing delayed deliveries and increased shipping costs. Unable to raise prices at a whim, restaurants fear a decrease in profits, leading to a vicious cycle, prompting them to stock up.
“The shrimp used in restaurants will be much more expensive; the premium shrimp has already increased in price.” “We’ve had three air shipments, the shipping cost is really painful.” A group member advised fellow owners to stock up more, “Restaurants should also stock a bit more; store some non-perishables.”