Container logistics industry faces another challenging year, finds survey


Global supply chain disruptions will continue well into next year, but improvements may take place earlier than anticipated, according to survey of 800 container logistics companies.

Christian Roeloffs, chief executive of the Container xChange online container trading platform, said he foresees the pandemic and its new variants will continue disrupting port operations and labour capacity into 2022.

“Persistent unpredictability is warranted.”

Of those who took part in the survey, 65% expect the supply chain performance will remain the same over the next 12 months, while 11% expecting it to deteriorate further.

A majority (71%) of respondents said they were rethinking their logistics strategy, ranging from diversifying sourcing, holding more inventory to entering long-term contracts with carriers.

The survey involved responses from shipping lines, container traders, freight forwarding companies, non-vessel owning common carriers and shippers.

Mr Roeloffs noted the “return to normal” seems to be coming earlier than anticipated, and may arrive as early as the second half of next year.

 

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