Supply Chain Research

One year after most economies closed due to the pandemic the defining feature of our readers interest was the blockage of the Suez Canal. Aside from holding up consumer goods shipments to Europe from Asia, the stranding of the Ever Given raised questions about operating strategies for large container vessels and the appropriate structure of lengthy supply chains. The demand pressure that has caused congestion at ports and increased loads on the biggest vessels continued while both freight forwarders and container lines reaped in significantly higher profits. Supply chain operators have a...