JPMorgan says port closure has ‘minimal implications’ for vehicle inflation

After this morning’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland closed the Port of Baltimore, JPMorgan economist Michael Feroli noted that the port ranks 17th among U.S. ports in tonnage handled, but ranks first for light vehicle imports and is also an important coal export terminal. However, the firm’s initial assessment is that this development will “likely only have minimal implications for vehicle inflation” given that many more vehicles are imported over land from Canada and Mexico and that vessels are already being diverted to other East Coast ports. Publicly traded automakers include Ford (F), General Motors (GM), Honda (HMC), Mercedes-Benz Group (DDAIF), Nissan (NSANY), Stellantis (STLA), Tesla (TSLA), Toyota (TM) and Volkswagen (VWAGY).