More than a year after the Covid-19 pandemic threw a wrench into the global supply chain, all stakeholders still feel the impacts. As brands and retailers generate record e-commerce sales, shipping container demand further escalates, leading to less capacity and higher prices.

But across the industry, apparel has to contend with plenty of other concerns, including the continued U.S-China trade tensions, growing forced labor concerns in China’s Xinjiang region, rising raw material costs, low warehouse vacancy rates and most recently, Covid outbreaks at numerous factories and the Port of Yantian. With such issues taking place largely within sourcing nations, neither capacity nor pricing is expected to decelerate in 2021.

During a Sourcing Journal webinar on July 8, speakers from freight forwarder Alba Wheels Up International and The Port of Long Beach discussed the current state of the demand-heavy supply chain and how today’s stakeholders can navigate the challenges. The speakers shed light on buying inventory earlier in 2021 and addressed the growing need for a “24/7 supply chain.” Additionally, they shared why ports and carriers need a common data-sharing platform to get real-time inbound and outbound delivery information.

Watch the webinar to learn more about:

• The rising costs to ship ocean freight
• Why supply chain delays and capacity constraints may not let up until 2022
• How brands must approach holiday demand and product availability as elevated costs and capacity constraints linger
• Four strategies to mitigate last-minute supply chain concerns
• How the Port of Long Beach is maximizing its footprint via extending operating hours and loosening rail requirements

Speakers:

• Vincent Iacopella, Executive Vice President, Growth and Strategy at Alba Wheels Up International
• Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach
• Edward Hertzman, President of Sourcing Journal (moderator)