What are the primary causes of supply disruptions?

Key causes include natural disasters (e.g., floods, earthquakes), geopolitical conflicts, pandemics, cyberattacks, labor shortages, infrastructure failures, and sudden surges in demand.

How do supply disruptions impact consumers?

Consumers typically experience higher prices due to scarcity, product shortages, longer delivery times, and reduced product variety. Essential goods can become particularly difficult to acquire.

What economic consequences stem from supply chain disruptions?

Economic impacts include inflation, reduced manufacturing output, increased operational costs for businesses, decreased GDP growth, and potential job losses in affected sectors.

How can businesses mitigate risks from supply disruptions?

Businesses can diversify their supplier base, increase inventory buffers, invest in resilient logistics, improve data analytics for early warning, and onshore/nearshore critical production.

Are supply chain disruptions a new global challenge?

While always present, the interconnectedness of modern global supply chains and recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic have amplified their frequency, scale, and impact, making them a more prominent challenge.