
Search
or Search by TOPIC



Search Supply Chain Videocasts

Sign-Up Free Newsletter

Supply Chain by the Numbers

Oct. 29, 2026

Supply Chain by the Numbers for Oct. 29, 2026

Small Union may Shut Down Ports of LA-Long Beach. Struggles Deploying AI. New Port Infrastructure Funding. Data Centers Drive Demand for Outdoor Storage Space


h
250
That’s about how many “Watchmen” at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could go on strike as early as this Sunday. That would bring operations at the nation’s largest port complex to a halt, as other much larger unions refuse to cross the Watchmen’s picket lines. The Pacific Maritime Association said Tuesday that a union local that represents 250 watchmen across the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach voted to authorize The walkout could begin at 5 p.m. PT Sunday if a deal isn’t reached. The potential walk out comes as retailers rush in final imports ahead of holiday goods.

110%

That is the average increase in rents the since 2020 across the top eight markets, including Houston; Savannah, Ga.; and Norfolk, Va., for outdoor industrial storage space. Driving the demand: what else, the rapid build-out of data centers. Such space - usually a parcel of fewer than 10 acres that can hold construction equipment and materials - has the most in-demand markets near ports on the East Coast and in the South. Also, in much of the country, getting new land permitted for outdoor storage is nearly impossible, largely because the sites are overwhelmingly associated with noise and ugliness, making them unpopular with local governments and residents, according to the Wall Street Jounal.



$498 Million
That’s the level of total funding for 35 US port infrastructure improvements projects, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this week. The $498 million in total will be spread across 19 states. The grant money was awarded through the Maritime Administration (MARAD)’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants. In a statement, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) praised the move, calling it vital to our economic and national security.

17%
That is the percent of companies that have successfully deployed AI at scale, according to a Gartner announced this week. In the release, Gartner said human adoption remains the primary limiting factor for AI success. “Regardless of the quality of training programs or the sophistication of AI tools, human adoption remains the primary limiting factor for AI success,” said Corwin Hee, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. The researchers further say that many companies have difficulty integrating AI into existing operations because they are attempting to layer AI onto workflows and technologies that were never designed for it.

Feedback

No Feedback on this article yet.