Experts say there's no need for panic buying as port strike raises supply chain concerns – NBC 6 South Florida

All eyes are on negotiations between East Coast longshoremen and port operators as consumers and business owners fear for their bottom line.

“It's definitely going to cause chaos the longer it goes on,” said Steven Carnovale, a professor of supply chain management at Florida Atlantic University.

Outside Port Miami on Wednesday, dock workers held signs demanding higher wages and a ban on automation.

“If this continues and we enter the weeks-long timeline, you will likely see either increased costs from transportation costs or potential shortages of inbound product,” Carnavale said.

Fresh produce is an important import in East Coast ports. International lawyer Tiffany Comprés represents commercial clients in the agricultural sector and says she has received several calls and emails from concerned clients.

“They fear that the product will rot or at least that the quality of the product will decrease if the strike only lasts a day or two,” Comprés said.

Many companies are currently considering rerouting their shipments through West Coast ports.

“It’s just going to take longer to get where it’s needed,” Carnavale said.

NBC6 viewers sent photos from stores in Broward County showing empty shelves and a shortage of some items, but experts say many people are panic buying right now.

“For the first few days, I think it's like scraping your knee. A little hiccup shouldn't be that bad. As the first and second weeks begin, things could certainly become more and more problematic,” Carnavale said. “If you go beyond that, there will most likely be bottlenecks, but you have to remember that we can still reroute freight. This just increases the time it takes from landing to arriving at stores.”

On Tuesday, the longshoremen's union rejected a 50% wage increase. Dockers demand 77%. Currently, their average base salary is around $81,000 per year.