US carmakers are bracing for potential supply chain disruptions after the tragic collapse of a Baltimore bridge spanning the Patapsco River, which leads to the US top auto port, Kallanish reports.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge snapped and collapsed into the river early on Tuesday morning, after a container ship crashed into it. In addition to casualties, the incident has also shut the vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore “until further notice.”

Although the Maryland Port Administration notes the port isn’t closed, as trucks are being processed within marine terminals, it does not know how long vessel traffic will be suspended.

“It’s too early to say what impact this incident will have on the auto business – but there will certainly be a disruption,” comments John Bozzella, ceo of Alliance for Automotive Innovation. “Baltimore is the No. 1 automobile port in the US, and we’re in touch with federal officials to help them understand the scale of automotive operations there.”

According to the Maryland Port Administration, the Port of Baltimore delivers top-rate automobile service and handling capabilities since becoming the port of entry for the first Volkswagen Beetle in 1963. It handled around 800,000 cars last year through two vehicle terminals. Official data shows motor vehicles and parts accounted for 42% of all Baltimore port imports, 27% of all port exports and 38% of total port trade in 2023.

“Baltimore’s strategic Mid-Atlantic inland location 150 miles further inland than any other Mid-Atlantic port means shorter distances between manufacturer, port and market, making exports a day closer,” according to the Maryland Port Administration.

Later on Tuesday, Detroit’s Big Three – GM, Ford and Stellantis – said they would be re-routing and working on shipping alternatives. GM expects the impact on its operations to be “minimal,” and Ford signalled supply chains will be “lengthened a bit.”

For now, the impact does not seem to be expected to be significant for BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen of America. Mercedes-Benz, which uses Baltimore as well as ports in Georgia and South Carolina, to import vehicles, said it is monitoring the situation. The company did not anticipate an impact on its vehicle exports or its plant’s part supply in Alabama.

Reroute is likely to put additional demand on other East Coast ports, potentially holding up ships at a time of short vessel supply and other recent issues affecting the shipping industry. The latter includes the military conflict on the Red Sea and low water levels at the Panama Canal.