supply chain disruptions News

Europe Faces Sweltering Summer with Below-Average Rainfall: Scientists

Europe is set for a sweltering and tinder dry summer this year, posing trouble for farmers, utilities and transportation on inland waterways. That’s the conclusion of scientists at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, who published the seasonal outlook this week. …

UK Government to Create Temporary Reinsurance Backstop for Trade Credit Insurance

The UK Treasury announced it is creating a government-backed temporary reinsurance scheme so businesses can continue to access trade credit insurance during the COVID-19 crisis. The scheme will be delivered through a reinsurance agreement with trade credit insurers currently operating …

German Economy Relies on Rhine River – But Levels Are Low Without April Rainfall

Germany’s spring showers haven’t materialized this year, and that’s drying out the country’s most important river, prompting concerns that key industrial goods might have trouble making it to their destination. Typically one of the wettest months, Europe’s biggest economy has …

UK Insurers in Talks with Government About Creating Trade Credit Backstop

British insurers are talking to the government about a backstop for trade credit insurance to support business supply chains hit by the coronavirus pandemic, an industry trade body said. States such as France, Germany and the Netherlands are giving guarantees …

Global Supply Chains Strained as Ship Crews Are Stuck in Lockdown

Port restrictions and canceled flights are straining the ability to replace seafarers on board ships, further weakening global supply chains already snarled by the coronavirus pandemic. Hubs like Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai have halted most crew transfers, while global …

China’s Factories Hit with 2nd Blow from Coronavirus as External Demand Drops

Since last week, emails from foreign clients have been flooding into export manager Grace Gao’s in-box, asking to delay orders already made, putting goods ready to be shipped on hold until further notice, or asking for payment grace periods of …

Western Supply Chains Begin to Buckle on Expanding Coronavirus Lockdowns

Freight carriers are struggling to deliver goods by land, sea or air as the coronavirus pandemic forces Western governments to impose lockdowns, threatening supplies of vital products including medicines into the most affected areas, such as Italy. While China’s draconian …

Coronavirus’ Hits to Supply Chains Could Surpass Natural Disasters: Opinion

Everyone is wondering when China will return to work. While it may be tempting to consider past epidemics or labor strikes to gauge how quickly that could happen, the industrial shutdown from the coronavirus is looking more like a natural …

Coronavirus Leads Companies with Supply Chain Disruptions to Invoke ‘Force Majeure’

With the coronavirus outbreak that originated in Hubei province, China, showing no signs of abating any time soon, some companies that buy and sell goods in the Chinese market are taking interest in the legal defense of “force majeure.” The …

Rhine River Shipping Faces Another Historic Shutdown as Drought Hits Water Levels

The bustling boat traffic on Europe’s Rhine river ground to a halt for the first time in living memory last year, as shrinking alpine glaciers and severe drought made the key transport artery impassable. Those historic conditions could be repeated …