A rush of copper shipments, including a single half-billion-dollar cargo, has left the Port of New Orleans, a key U.S. metals gateway, largely full, with roughly 100,000 more metric tons due in September and October. Logistics firms report serious terminal congestion delaying loading onto trucks and railcars, prompting some to reroute metal by barge. The buildup stems from traders positioning ahead of a still-undecided White House decision on expanding copper import tariffs. Warehousing operators have added significant storage capacity nationwide to absorb the surge.