Middle East/Africa

Vaccine Disparities Raise Alarm as COVID-19 Variants Multiply

January 19, 2021

Global gaps in access to COVID-19 vaccines are raising concerns that the continued spread of the coronavirus will breed more dangerous versions of the pathogen, weakening medical weapons and further crippling economies.

Piracy Surge Off West Africa Draws Maersk Call for Action

January 18, 2021

Bloomberg

Pirate attacks have pushed up insurance and other costs for shippers operating off West Africa, with some resorting to hiring escort vessels manned by armed navy personnel.

Beirut Explosion Destroys Tonnes of Lebanon’s Food Stocks

What Happens When Tycoons Abandon Their Giant Cargo Ships

December 18, 2020

Bloomberg

COVID-19 has wrought havoc everywhere, but in the nominally regulated shipping industry it’s fueling a worrying practice: the abandonment of ships, cargo and seafarers with no way to get home.

Boatloads of Cargo Off Los Angeles Grind Gears of World Economy

November 23, 2020

Bloomberg

The perfect storm is swamping the busiest gateway to the U.S. economy heading into the holiday season.

‘Hydrogen Wars’ Pit Europe v. China for $700 Billion Business

November 1, 2020

Bloomberg

Governments, energy giants, automobile companies and lobbying groups say hydrogen use is pivotal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions quickly enough to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

The U.S.-China Conflict Over Chips Is About to Get Uglier

October 23, 2020

Bloomberg

Politics is roiling the semiconductor industry, sparking a drive for more autonomy from the U.S. to China, Europe and Japan.

$100-Billion Chocolate Industry Still Plagued by Child Labor

October 21, 2020

Bloomberg

A decade after the $100 billion chocolate industry pledged to cut child labor in the world’s top cocoa producers, a report sponsored by the U.S. government shows the problem has actually gotten worse.

Countries Rush to Hoard Food as Prices Rise, Covid Worsens

October 15, 2020

Bloomberg

Agricultural commodity buyers from Cairo to Islamabad have been on a shopping spree since the COVID-19 pandemic upended supply chains.

U.S. Funds a Supply-Chain Center in Ghana: A Challenge to China and Russia?

September 14, 2020

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

The United States Agency for International Development recently awarded $15 million for creation of a research and training center for supply-chain management in Ghana. But the move might signal a broader effort by the U.S. to counter the growing economic influence of China, and to a lesser extent Russia, throughout the African continent.

Amazon Makes Sweeping Changes for First Prime Day of Pandemic

August 6, 2020

Bloomberg

Amazon.com will kick off its first Prime Day since the coronavirus outbreak later this week in India — modifying almost everything about the retail bonanza to navigate the realities of a new era.

Middle East/Africa

The latest supply chain news, analysis, trends and best practices for companies operating in the Middle East and Africa. The Middle Eastern region consists of 18 countries that stretch from the western borders of Turkey and Egypt to the eastern edges of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Learn how businesses are optimizing supply chain and logistics performance in these regions, addressing a range of challenges such as poor infrastructure, complex customs and tax laws, unstable political climates and government controlled exchange rates - as well as capitalizing on new land and labor opportunities, particularly across Africa.