Why Port Congestion Is Shifting to Smaller US Ports

Port congestion has mostly moved out of headlines, but it hasn't disappeared — it's shifted. In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine how congestion that once clogged Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Savannah is now migrating to smaller ports like Charleston, Norfolk, and Houston. They break down the numbers: capacity utilisation at the top ten US ports hit 85% in April 2026, up from 78% a year ago, while dwell times for containers at secondary ports have stretched from three to five days. The hosts look at why this is happening — the reshoring of manufacturing, the shift to all-water routes through the Panama Canal, and the permanent changes in shipping patterns since the Iran war rerouted global trade. They also touch on the human impact: truckers waiting longer at smaller gates, and warehouse operators scrambling to find space inland. Specific, data-driven, and grounded in the real-world logistics shuffle of 2026. #PortCongestion #SmallPorts #SupplyChain #Logistics #Shipping #TradeRoutes #Reshoring #PortCharleston #PortNorfolk #PortHouston #ContainerShipping #DwellTimes #CapacityUtilization #PanamaCanal #Trucking #Warehousing #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo