maritime routes

Usually, the focus of attention is usually placed on land freight transport, on issues that are up to date such as the lack of carriers, traffic restrictions in cities, the digitization of the sector, among other aspects. However, a crisis is occurring in maritime transport and it is currently in the spotlight because of the great collapse of one of the key pieces of the most important supply chain worldwide, since 80% of international trade depends on this means.

However, how did it come to this point of crisis in the ports? How is it going to affect the supply chain? If you want to learn more about the crisis in shipping, you have to take a look at the following points that make it up:

Shanghai port collapse

One of the world's most important ports, the port of Shanghai, has suffered a considerable hold-up of cargo ships, which is already greatly affecting certain supply chains such as the technological ones that focus on tablets and screens. Its main cause is the resurgence of covid-19 which has led to strict confinements in several residential apartments and limited the work of millions of inhabitants, including factories.

In this situation of the shipping crisis, if raw materials are increasing in price due to inflation because of the pandemic stoppage, the cost of these same materials along with their transportation could increase much more. It should be noted that prices may increase particularly in the technology and appliance sector, in addition to the fact that these products will run out and take longer to be replenished due to delays. 

Sustainability rate

Cargo ships are known to be one of the main culprits of the greenhouse effect that is already threatening climate change. Several entities are already thinking about how to tackle this problem in the face of the decarbonization of maritime transport and one of the solutions proposed is the application of the "emissions market".

Undoubtedly, such a decision may cause a misuse of the same tax because companies would choose to "flee" European ports and resort to other international ports without this type of restrictions. If this is the case, the main objective of reducing emissions would end up being in vain and other ways of applying sustainable taxes should be considered. In addition, the current crisis in maritime transport would delay the implementation of this type of measures.

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