The coronavirus pandemic has left some of the world’s biggest shipping lines facing mounting backlogs and delays, straining international supply chains and disrupting global trade. Operators say the container shipping industry — the backbone of global trade — is under severe pressure due to the combined impact of staff illness, quarantining and social distancing, along with soaring consumer demand and disruption to factory output caused by lockdowns. Lars Jensen, chief planner of services for Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container ship operator, said there was a “perfect storm” created by a mix of rising demand and reduced capacity in logistics systems.
These issues have caused many shippers to reevaluate their supply chain risks and begin a shift toward more localized models, where production is located closer to customers.
https://www.ft.com/content/eb21056b-5773-422a-ab78-92e59cddc1b5