Supply chain tensions

Having piled all their manufacturing into China to reduce their costs, global manufacturers have been diversifying their supply chains beyond China again, but this trend brings its own set of problems.

Red sea blues

The Yemeni Houthi rebels’ continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea serve as a reminder that global supply chains remain highly vulnerable to disruption and that food insecurity can simultaneously be an effect and cause of conflict.

Red for danger

Australia refused to send a warship to help protect commercial shipping from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, but our unwillingness to help the international coalition does not mean we are immune from the effects on our supply chains.

Standing together against economic coercion

Trusted supply-chains offer countries like Australia trade resilience and protection against economic coercion and Australia can trust its allies and partners when it comes to combating Chinese trade sanctions and economic coercion.

Magnesium chains can’t take the strain

Globalisation in one form or another is no doubt here to stay, but the age of predictable, reliable supply chains is over.

Man is born free, but he lives in global supply chains

It’s hard to imagine a more thorough stress test for globalisation than the double whammy of a once-in-a-century global pandemic followed by a land war between two of the world’s major commodity producers.

Redesigning supply chains for greater resilience

For too long, our approach to supply chains has prioritised low cost over other factors, but cheaper is not better if it comes with unacceptable risk.

Supply-chain lessons from the COVID years

The government needs to promote discussions with the private sector about supply-chain resilience, nation-building and sovereignty to ensure the lessons learned over the last two years lead to action in the future.

Five factors driving current stock shortages

The constant stock shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic are due to a wider range of factors than just panic buying by consumers or labour shortages in supply chains.

Supply chains strained in 2022

Supermarket shelves around Australia are running bare again as staff shortages caused by omicron bite, but around the world, more fundamental supply chain problems are set to persist well into the new year.

All I want for Christmas is supply chain resilience

The higher costs and lower reliability of international freight transport have been a problem since the start of COVID-19, and increased demand over Christmas could further strain supply chains.

AdBlue shortage highlights ongoing supply-chain problems

Supply-chain challenges continue to plague Australia despite the significant focus the problem has received in recent years due to the pandemic and issues with China.