Bob Biesterfeld knows the depths of the global supply chain crisis first hand — he has hauliers still unloading Halloween costumes from containers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach port complex.
For the boss of CH Robinson, North America’s largest freight broker, the delayed shipments of vampire, ghost and witch outfits provides the perfect illustration of the turmoil in ocean shipping for the past 18 months. About 90 per cent of world trade moves by sea, and these logistical woes have tormented businesses across the globe from Argentine winemakers to Sri Lankan clothing producers.
Record vessel delays have clogged ports and crammed warehouses, adding to the supply ruptures caused by the semiconductor crunch and petrochemical shortages. Smaller companies have had to fight tooth and nail to secure space on container ships to keep production and sales moving while facing cash flow pressure as they soak up rocketing freight rates — up seven times on average pre-pandemic levels — and mounting stockpiles. Consumers have experienced it via empty shelves, limited product availability and rising prices.