Building Resilient Supply Chains in a Changing Environment
Businesses need to enhance supply chain resilience by leveraging smart technologies and risk management to tackle economic uncertainties and challenges.
Businesses need to enhance supply chain resilience by leveraging smart technologies and risk management to tackle economic uncertainties and challenges.
The global shipping industry is undergoing significant mergers and restructuring. Following the merger of China Ocean Shipping and China Shipping, it has become the world's fourth-largest container shipping company. Meanwhile, the CMA CGM Group is also seeking to acquire Neptune Orient Lines in Singapore. The mergers of several shipping companies will reshape the current alliances and impact market competitiveness. Despite the challenging market conditions, shipping companies face pressures from overcapacity and declining demand, necessitating proactive measures to address future challenges.
South Korea has established a $1.2 billion shipping fund to support the recovery of its shipping companies, emphasizing the need to control debt ratios. The relevant legislation must be approved by the National Assembly.
COSCO Shipping and China Shipping are expected to receive merger approval by January, officially forming "China Ocean Shipping Group Co., Ltd." This merger will create the world's fourth-largest container shipping company. The complexity of the merger involves integrating overlapping departments and maintaining employee stability, with a total deal value potentially exceeding $20 billion. This merger will reshape the shipping markets of China and the world.
Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has commenced the construction of six 21,000 TEU container ships, setting a new record for China's shipbuilding industry and showcasing its competitive strength in the market.
This article analyzes the threats of terrorism faced by the shipping industry, emphasizing the importance of self-assessment for security within the sector. Although there have been few cases of terrorist attacks in shipping, the continuous pursuit of new targets by terrorist organizations underscores the need for proactive prevention. Experts warn that shipping companies should evaluate their security status and enhance protective measures to address potential threats.
On November 19, the Erenhot Port launched the first phase of the "three mutuals" cross-border reform pilot, marking the success of Inner Mongolia's first pilot project. This reform aims to simplify customs procedures, enhance efficiency, and achieve one-stop operations through customs and inspection cooperation. The establishment of a joint inspection center will significantly reduce customs clearance times, providing new opportunities for regional economic development and China-Mongolia trade.
In recent years, state-owned shipping enterprises have faced poor performance, and mergers and restructuring may not necessarily improve the situation. The industry's environment has shifted from a planned economy to a market economy, but these enterprises struggle to respond flexibly to market changes. Institutional constraints hinder their ability to quickly adjust strategies, making them ill-suited for market competition. State-owned enterprises should redefine their roles to ensure they serve national strategic material transport while exploring market-oriented operational methods to survive and thrive in intense competition.
In recent years, state-owned shipping enterprises have faced multiple challenges such as delisting and restructuring, making their transformation a focal point of industry concern. During the planned economy era, these enterprises served national transportation tasks, but in the face of intense market competition, their systems and strategies require urgent reform. By clarifying their mission and reducing operational costs, state-owned shipping enterprises can redefine their positioning and focus on the transportation of strategic materials needed by the country, thus finding a new path for survival amid fierce international shipping competition.
In the context of the new economic normal, the shipping industry faces uncertainties in recovery. This paper explores the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on the shipping market, emphasizing that shipping companies must shift their growth models to focus on endogenous drivers. Companies should enhance their management capabilities and resource allocation abilities to adapt to the complex global economic situation. Additionally, the emergence of new forces, such as the internet, offers new opportunities for business development.