Supply Chains in Crisis

Truck Blockade at U.S.-Mexico Border Imperils $440 Billion Trade

April 12, 2022

A Mexican truck blockade at a key Texas bridge is diverting U.S.-bound cargoes to far-flung crossings, worsening shipping snarls and raising the specter of delivery disruptions for everything from avocados to auto parts.

Seeking a Short-Term Solution to the Container Backup

April 11, 2022

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Logistics experts are busy considering ways in which their supply chains can be redesigned so as to avoid the kind of congestion that has brought international goods movement to a virtual halt at major ports. But in the meantime, the system is crying out for some form of immediate relief.

THE SCB PODCAST

Podcast | Solving the Warehouse Labor Shortage: Part 1

April 8, 2022

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Warehousing and transportation providers need solutions for coping with what looks to be a long-term shortage of labor.

Soaring Prices Are Changing the Way People Eat

April 8, 2022

Bloomberg

With the world economy already shackled by Covid-related shortages and now reeling from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prices of such basics as bread, meat and cooking oils have jumped across the world, sending shock waves through the commodity markets and damaging the global food system.

Tesla Halted, Chips Pile Up as Shanghai Lockdown Upends Business

April 7, 2022

Bloomberg

Cases are at a record in Shanghai, now the epicenter of China’s worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic, and the lockdown has been extended indefinitely.

East Coast Container Ship Queue Overshadows West Coast Logjam

April 6, 2022

Bloomberg

Ocean carriers looking to avoid logjams at the U.S.’s busiest container gateways on the West Coast are now facing even longer queues out east.

U.S. Supply Chain Pressures Soar to a Record, Index Shows

April 6, 2022

Bloomberg

A measure of U.S. supply chain pressures rose to a record, adding to already stiff inflationary headwinds from logistics amid dwindling warehouse space and unprecedented inventory costs.

Metals Industry Agonizes Over War But Keeps Buying From Russia

April 5, 2022

Bloomberg

Behind-closed-doors discussions reflect a wide angst over whether to keep buying from Russia, as the industry weighs the stigma from the war against its own commercial interests — and the fact that vital metals like aluminum and copper were in short supply even before the invasion of Ukraine.

VIDEO

Watch: Innovation in Supply Chain Services: An Outlook

April 5, 2022

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Robert Sutton, executive vice president of innovation with BNSF Logistics, discusses how supply chain service providers have pivoted to meet the needs of customers during the pandemic.

Ukraine Sunflower Oil Crisis Hits Food From Chips to Cookies

April 4, 2022

Bloomberg

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted the supply of almost half of the world’s sunflower oil exports, forcing companies to turn to less desirable alternatives such as palm oil in products ranging from potato chips to cookies.