As wildfires continue to spread across Los Angeles, experts warn of potential disruptions to global supply chains, particularly affecting the Port of Los Angeles—a key entry point for goods coming from Asia.
Dr. Samuel Roscoe, a supply chain management expert at UBC, predicts that some shipping companies may reroute their cargo, potentially increasing traffic at the Port of Vancouver as early as next week.
“If the fires continue for several more days, you might see the ship operators looking to move to different ports, such as the Port of Vancouver,” Roscoe explained.
Agricultural shipments, including fresh fruits and vegetables from California, could be among the most affected goods. Roscoe highlighted the potential impact on produce such as grapes, avocados, tomatoes, and berries, which are commonly shipped to B.C. during the winter months.
“There might be an impact on those if the fires continue and there’s continued congestion on the roads or evacuations,” he noted.
The Port of Vancouver stated that it has not experienced disruptions so far but is closely monitoring the situation.
