Global Scans · Logistics · Weekly Summary

• [New] The World Bank Group will work to connect 250 million people to electricity through distributed renewable energy systems or the distribution grid while the African Development Bank Group will support an additional 50 million people. World Bank
• [New] Supply chain disruptions: Disruptions in the global supply chain, such as trade disputes, transportation issues, or natural disasters, can affect the availability and cost of raw materials and finished furniture products. MarkWide Research
• [New] Food prices are seen rising by an estimated $33,000 over the lifetime of a 2024 baby, due to disruptions to agriculture and supply chains. CNN
• [New] Critical minerals are defined as metallic or non-metallic elements found in the earth that are both crucial for modern technologies or national security and face the risk of supply chain disruption. The Conversation
• [New] Breaks in the cold chain of the distribution of mRNA vaccines can mean the loss of thousands of vaccines and can hurt global vaccination efforts; the final mile of vaccine distribution will be a huge hurdle to overcome in scale-up efforts. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Supply chain issues still carry the biggest risk premium as Iran maintains its threat to shut the Suez Canal. brecorder
• [New] External risks include increased trade tensions with the United States and European Union weakening the PRC's exports; escalated geopolitical tensions that may disrupt supply chains; renewed energy challenges triggered by geopolitical conflict; and fragmentation of the global economy. Asian Development Bank
• [New] Economic security issues, such as the diversification of supply chains or the risks of economic coercion, clearly bring Europe and India closer. The Diplomat
• [New] The revenue raised from increased tariffs could be spent on offsetting the costs that U.S. exporters will incur as a result of China's inevitable retaliatory measures and on bolstering U.S. supply chains for strategically important products. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] Ongoing global disruption has added another layer of complexity to already fragile supply chains, including the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as ongoing attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. Haines Watts Group
• [New] Freight traffic across the European airport network declined by 2.1% in 2023 compared to the previous year, as a direct result of geopolitical and trade tensions and supply chain disruptions. Logistics Management
• [New] For years, the United States has grappled with its reliance on overseas semiconductor manufacturers, leaving it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions. The Geopolitical Observer
• [New] Geopolitical factors have posed risks to the logistics sector, leading to disruptions in distribution, transportation, and capacity. New SCMR
• [New] The new free trade agreement between Ukraine and Canada is expected to expand the involvement of domestic businesses in international supply chains. Ukrainska Pravda
• [New] Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are making significant investments in their respective submarine industrial bases, which will ensure the supply chains of all three nations are more resilient, integrated and productive. GOV.UK
• [New] Inflation may be stickier, and interest rates higher, than markets expect, citing the costs of building a greener economy, restructuring global supply chains, boosting military expenditure and battling rising healthcare costs. The Guardian
• [New] 2024 is poised to be a watershed year for climate change in a country which now risks suffering the economic chaos of a 3% climate-driven GDP loss as heatwaves bite into its powerful supply chains. Salon
• [New] The Role of Data Analytics in Supply Chain Resilience: In an era of global disruptions, supply chain resilience has become a top priority for organizations. Analytics Insight
• [New] With global disruptions, procurement's focus is expanding across emerging markets in countries such as China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, and beyond. Logistics Management
• [New] Australia's pivotal role as a supplier of rare earth minerals, crucial for modern technologies, has come under threat from cyberattacks aimed at disrupting supply chains. Insurance Business
• [New] The United States and the European Union reaffirm that secure and sustainable transatlantic supply chains are key for a solid and steadfast transition towards a net zero economy and will help reduce excessive dependencies in strategic economic activities. The White House
• [New] Climate change poses a similar threat to supply chains around the world, bringing economic losses that will increase exponentially relative to the rise in global temperatures. Carbon Brief
• [New] A new study by a group of Chinese scientists, published in Nature, finds that China could significantly constrain future economic growth, due to the impact of climate change on global supply chains. Carbon Brief

Last updated: 20 April 2024