Automakers divert away from blocked Baltimore port

Automakers are adjusting their supply routes following yesterday's collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the Port of Baltimore, the busiest US port for auto shipments.

The Port of Baltimore handled 847,158 autos and light trucks last year, more than any other US port, according to the Maryland state data, with imports accounting for about 75pc of the volume, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation said.

With vessel traffic in and out of the port suspended indefinitely automakers said they will reroute deliveries though other east coast ports. This includes General Motors, which said it still expects minimal impact on its operations. Ford said it has already secured shipping alternatives where workarounds are necessary, but did not share details.

For Mercedes-Benz, Baltimore is among its busiest ports for imports. The company said it has flexibility to adjust its supply routes and noted ports in Charleston, South Carolina, and Brunswick, Georgia, as other top import locations. The port closure has no effect on Mercedes vehicle exports or parts supply at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant, the company said.

Volkswagen Group, which includes the Audi and Porsche brands, said it received about 100,000 vehicles last year through Baltimore to ship to US dealers in the Mid-Atlantic and northeast, but its operations will not be limited since its facility is located on the seaboard side of the bridge, at Sparrows Point. Volkswagen said it may see some trucking delays from highway rerouting, however.

Toyota relies on the Port of Baltimore primarily for vehicle exports, but said it is not the company's main North American port.

Stellantis, maker of numerous brands including Chrysler and Jeep, said it has begun discussions with transportation providers to ensure an uninterrupted flow of vehicles.

The US imported 723,435 cars and light trucks in January, up from 634,228 a year earlier, according to customs data. Mexico supplied just over one-third or 2.97mn of the total number of US vehicle imports in 2023, followed by Japan and Canada, with 17.3pc and 16.3pc, respectively.

By James Marshall