Hurricane Debby halts traffic at southeast US ports

Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm, has caused significant disruption along the southeastern coast of the United States, leading to the closure of major ports and halting vessel traffic. The storm made landfall earlier today in northern Florida, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the region.

In Florida, Seaport Manatee and Port Tampa Bay were the first to suspend operations. On August 3, Seaport Manatee issued a port condition Zulu, a severe alert indicating that gale-force winds are expected within 12 hours, leading to the suspension of all port activities. Port Tampa Bay also closed its shipping lanes on the same day, effectively halting maritime operations in the area.

The closures at these ports are significant given their role in the export of key agricultural products. From January to May of this year, combined exports of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) from Port Tampa Bay reached 245,000 metric tonnes, representing nearly 91% of the year-to-date offshore export volumes, according to data from the US Census Bureau. These ports are critical hubs for the fertilizer industry, with central Florida housing nearly two-thirds of the United States' ammonium phosphate production capacity, primarily operated by Mosaic, as reported by The Fertilizer Institute (TFI).

Further north, the Port of Savannah in Georgia has also closed in anticipation of the storm. According to the Georgia Ports Authority, the port shut down at 3:00 PM ET today and will remain closed through Tuesday, with plans to reopen on Wednesday. During this time, no vessel activity will be permitted, adding to the disruption of maritime operations along the southeastern seaboard.

As Hurricane Debby continues its path, the economic impact of these closures is expected to be significant, particularly for industries reliant on these ports for the export and import of goods.