Baltimore port closure has minimal impact on Singapore’s car industry

SINGAPORE: There is no delay in the import of American cars or its parts to Singapore, automobile service providers said.

This is even as the Port of Baltimore, the busiest US port for car shipments, remains closed following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The Baltimore port handled at least 750,000 vehicles in 2023, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration.

Shipping companies will reroute their cargo to other nearby ports, but overall, the closure will have minimal impact on US imports to Singapore and its prices, market watchers said. 

The Baltimore port is one of two ports on the Eastern Seaboard that is deep enough for very large container ships that carry goods like vehicles and farming and construction equipment, international growth practice partner at consulting firm PwC Singapore David Wijeratne told CNA.

However, based on automotive ownership in Singapore, and the proportion of vehicles arriving from the US as opposed to countries like Japan and China, “that’s a percentage that can probably be managed, especially in the medium to longer term”, he said. 

The real impact will be felt by consumers in the US expecting vehicles ordered from Europe, as those could be delayed by months, he added.