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Container volumes in May were down at most of the nation’s major seaports as the facilities struggled with the deepening U.S. recession and the slowdown of Asian and European economies at the start of the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year.

Port leaders are raising caution the decline in business at their facilities could affect those whose employment relies on the flow of goods.

The slump at the nation’s ports continued in April as 20-foot-equivalent container (TEU) volumes were down, in some cases by double digits when compared with 2019.

China Merchants Group Ltd. is exploring taking China Merchants Port Holdings Co. private after shares of the state-owned conglomerate’s unit slid in Hong Kong this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Twenty port authorities in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America signed a declaration committing to stay open amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The nation’s major ports suffered the full economic impact of the coronavirus in March as global trade practically came to a halt.

Additional funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to pursue port maintenance projects was approved in the $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package that recently was signed into law.

The transportation policy leadership at the U.S. House of Representatives recently expressed opposition to waiving the Jones Act amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Activity at ports tracked by the Global Port Tracker fell in February to the lowest level in five years.

Port restrictions and canceled flights are straining the ability to replace seafarers on board ships, further weakening global supply chains already snarled by the coronavirus pandemic.