Blank sailings, demand drop could cost carriers a combined $1.9B

More blank sailings have been announced, but the pace has slowed and experts are optimistic.

By Matt Leonard • March 3, 2020

High fuel costs, overcapacity and contract delays threaten ocean shipping in 2020: report

Shippers have some leverage to push for pricing transparency, but many carriers' ability to survive current fuel prices and freight demand will depend on whether they can successfully implement price increases.

By Morgan Forde • March 2, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Risk Management

Risk takes many forms in the supply chain, including severe weather, geopolitical turmoil and trade uncertainty. Explore the tactics supply chain managers use to navigate disruptions. 

By Supply Chain Dive staff

China manufacturing index dips below recession levels amid coronavirus response

Though demand weakened in February, the Caixin index showed new export orders were nowhere near the lows recorded in 2008 and factories have much to do when they resume function.

By Emma Cosgrove • March 2, 2020

FDA reports first drug shortage due to coronavirus impact

Supplies of the drug, which the FDA did not identify, ran short as a result of issues at a site that produces the active ingredient. Other options are available, the agency said.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 28, 2020

TQL cyber breach is latest example of the industry's vulnerability to hacking

The cyberattack compromised its carrier portal, potentially granting access to, "carrier accounts, including, in many instances, tax ID numbers and bank account numbers," according to the company's website.

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 28, 2020

Coronavirus renders nearly 9% of container shipping fleets inactive

Two million TEUs of capacity is now inactive, surpassing the previous record for blank sailing seen during the great recession.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 28, 2020

Maersk secures $5B in credit tied to emissions progress

The carrier aims to cut carbon emissions by 60% per cargo moved by 2030. ​

By S.L. Fuller • Feb. 27, 2020

Gartner: Circular supply chain investments must focus on reverse logistics

Seventy percent of supply chain leaders plan to invest in new technologies, from manufacturing to delivery, to achieve circularity by mid-2021.

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 27, 2020

China manufacturing hubs face greatest risk from sea-level rise: report

The Pearl River Delta is home to large automotive, petrochemical and electronics manufacturing operations and the region single-handedly generates 3.8% of global wealth.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 26, 2020

Revenue concerns spread outside China with coronavirus cases

The difficulty in predicting the spread of the disease makes it especially challenging for companies to make plans and seek alternative suppliers.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 26, 2020

From legacy systems to connected tech, manufacturers face cyber risks

The potential for damage in an operations environment can dramatically affect revenue, if not shut businesses down completely.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Feb. 25, 2020

Toyota restarts manufacturing at 4 Chinese facilities shuttered by coronavirus

Operations in China are expected to get back to normal next month, but supply chain impacts are difficult to forecast as coronavirus spreads into Iran and Italy.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 25, 2020

Canadian National calls back furloughed staff, normal operations will take weeks

The railroad is still monitoring the network for further disruptions, said CEO JJ Ruest in a statement.

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated March 3, 2020

Rainforest Alliance strengthens its cocoa certification program

The group said the changes will address challenges within the sector, including farmer livelihoods, child labor and deforestation.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 24, 2020

Are US railroads ready for post-coronavirus volume spikes?

Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said shippers need to take some responsibility for the flow of freight if they want speedy service after effects of the COVID-19 outbreak fade and China imports regain full strength. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 21, 2020

Coronavirus: A lesson in supply chain risk management

Companies are finding workarounds as COVID-19 cases and heightened e-commerce demand continue to disrupt supply chains.

By Matt Leonard • Updated June 21, 2022

Coronavirus could reduce electronics and automobiles output by millions of units, research finds

While automotive or computer manufacturers are more likely to have risk management teams in place to pre-identify points of failure in a supply chain, they are still expected to take a hit.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 20, 2020

Carriers report reefer, truck shortages in China's stalled supply chains

One logistics company recommended booking trucking services two days in advance as a result of the driver shortage.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 19, 2020

Coronavirus-related component delays will hold up production for Trimble within weeks

Trimble keeps about two weeks of inventory on hand. A three-week freight delay out of China or continued factory slowdowns would affect sales in the near term.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 18, 2020

A break from trade uncertainty is a good time to future-proof your supply chain

Beijing and Washington have agreed to play nice for a while and the USMCA is almost complete, but firms shouldn’t sit back and relax, writes Lou Longo, an international consulting practice leader at Plante Moran.

By Lou Longo • Feb. 18, 2020

FDA tracking mask, protective gear supply chain disruptions from coronavirus outbreak

Commissioner Stephen Hahn said the shift in ordering patterns is yet to manifest in a shortage but warned Feb. 14 the situation is "evolving and very dynamic."

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 18, 2020

Gucci shuffles inventory to minimize coronavirus impact

It's not the only retailer figuring out what the coronavirus outbreak will mean for its China-based retail operation as companies choose to close storefronts as a precaution.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 14, 2020

A regional approach helps supply chains weather trade disruption: BCG

Supply chain managers might consider a regional approach that places manufacturing capabilities closer to customers to manage the current level of global trade disruption.

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 13, 2020

Searches for suppliers outside China double as coronavirus spreads

Dun & Bradstreet said 92% of the companies with tier one suppliers in the impacted region are based in the U.S.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 13, 2020

Nestlé beverage delivery arm reaches carbon neutrality

A combination of fleet conversion, route optimization, replacement of truck trips with rail, redesigned racks, renewable energy and carbon offset projects helped ReadyRefresh achieve neutrality.

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 12, 2020