Tell the Senate Chemicals Can't Wait

Last updated 5:00 p.m. (ET), November 3, 2022

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an immense strain on the chemical distribution supply chain. Ports across the U.S. continue to suffer from severe congestion causing cargo ships to experience significant delays in unloading cargo and, ultimately, delivering product in a reasonable time.

While the supply chain snapped, ocean carriers had their best year yet. How are ocean carriers achieving record-breaking profits? By taking advantage of small businesses amid a global pandemic.

When NACD surveyed our members to understand the severity of this crisis better, we were shocked to uncover the anti-competitive practices and skyrocketing prices for shipping chemicals. In addition to soaring costs, NACD members and Affiliates are experiencing more difficulty while negotiating contracts and shipping hazardous materials than ever before. All these delays have compounded into a life-or-death situation. Critical chemicals are experiencing shortages—meaning clean water, ventilators, & vaccines are at risk of running out.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) was signed into law on June 16^th, 2022, giving the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) additional authority and requiring several rulemakings to be promulgated by the agency. However, as OSRA is implemented we must continue to advocate for our industry to make sure the regulations that are enacted not only fix the shipping issues we are experiencing but prevent them from happening again in the future.

We need to establish a multi-faceted solution to the shipping crisis. Since discovering how these shady business practices impact our membership, NACD has called on the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to hold ocean carriers accountable for their unethical action. Additionally, NACD wrote to the World Shipping Council asking them to urge their members to cease these abusive actions immediately. 

Here are action items you can complete to take back control of the supply chain: