From the Journal of Commerce:

U.S. East Coast ports experienced widely varying impacts from the months-long threat of labor strife that began last year with the breakdown of talks for a new International Longshoremen’s Association contract.

Because the ILA contract was not settled until early this year, cargo diversions continued into the first quarter of 2013 for some ports. “We still had the hangover effect from all the diversions to the West Coast,” said Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority. “Once our customers were confident that the ILA contract issues were resolved, they started routing cargo back to the East Coast, so I anticipate growth in the 5 to 7 percent range for the balance of the year.”

More at the Journal of Commerce