After another tumultuous year, global supply chains face one of three challenging scenarios in 2022. A continued economic boom and COVID challenges mean continued logistics disruptions. A reversal in consumer demand would help clear the ports but is unattractive economically. More-of-the-same looks unlikely given the conditions necessary.

This report looks in depth at the development of global trade in 2021—particularly with regards to logistics operations—before looking ahead to three potential scenarios for 2022. In each case we enumerate the key assumptions for the development of health, consumer spending plans and the state of global logistics networks.

The scenarios are based on Flexport’s State of Trade webinar held on Dec. 1. We also provide scenario-agnostic suggestions for firms looking to deal with uncertainty in their supply chains.

2021 in Review

The defining characteristic of global trade in 2021 has been a long surge in demand for consumer goods. That’s been driven in part by accomodative monetary and fiscal policy as well as continued consumer preferences for goods, as discussed in Flexport’s research from Nov. 5.

As shown in Figure 1 there was a marked shift in spending from services towards goods after the pandemic-inspired recession. Consumer durable goods grew fastest and as of October 2021 spending was 24% higher than the same period of 2019 while services spending is still 2% lower.

The surge in demand for goods has resulted in an elevated level of merchandise imports, which as of October 2021 were 19% higher than 2019 levels. That in turn has generated additional demand for logistics services and put a strain on both supply chains and logistics networks.

A variety of other circumstances have put stress on supply chains and logistics networks, which cannot readily add capacity within a 12-month period.

The continued presence of COVID-19 takes a toll on workforces while “zero-COVID” policies can lead to rapid and harsh port and factory closures. Exogenous factors such as the Suez Canal blockage, storms, floods, vessel fires and labor action are ever-present too.

It’s not a surprise that bottlenecks have emerged throughout supply chains.

Despite attempts in October by the Biden administration to unclog U.S. West Coast ports there is still evidence that logistics networks remain congested. Figure 2 shows the Flexport Ocean Timeliness Indicator.

In the 12 months leading up to Feb. 28, 2020 shipments on Far East Westbound routes took an average of 56 days from cargo departure in Asia to port-gate exit in Europe, while those on Transpacific Eastbound routes took 48 days.

A mix of port congestion and onward logistics issues across Asia, the Americas and the U.S. resulting from elevated demand and network stressor events have meant Far East Westbound routes took 108 days and Transpacific Westbound routes took 105 days for trips concluding in early December 2021.

Looking ahead to 2022, three potential scenarios present themselves:

2022 Scenario 1: Steady as She Goes

This scenario assumes:
Health: New SARS-CoV-2 variants keep pressure on health systems but are not transformative.
Policy Actions: No new major fiscal stimulus, slow tapering of monetary stimulus, no significant change to public health policies.
Demand: Small reduction in consumer demand for durable goods following satiated demand.
Other Factors: No significant shipping or air freight challenges such as the Suez Canal blockage experienced in 2021.

While “more of the same” is a common expectation for year-ahead predictions, supply chains are already in an equilibrium state of turbulent flow. That means demand needs to remain stable, if slightly below current levels, while no new shocks in terms of network operations, government policy or health conditions occur.

Flexport’s Post-Covid Indicator suggests that the balance of spending on goods versus services will remain tilted toward goods, at least through year end. That will likely support continued elevated levels of imports, although not at higher levels than they currently are.

The application of normal seasonality suggests U.S. imports in Q1’22 will decline by 12% versus Q4’21 while still being at similar levels to Q1’21, according to Flexport’s Trade Activity Forecast shown in Figure 3.

On the supply side, a wave of recently ordered shipping vessels and port expansion plans are unlikely to make a difference within a 12-month timeframe. Instead there’s a need for further adjustments to working practices—requiring higher market prices or public policy—to clear the existing backlog of vessels and containers at ports.

There is a risk that slower logistics operations become a new-equilibrium until either a marked reduction in demand, a significant boost in efficiency or the delivery of new assets occurs.

2022 Scenario 2: It Can Get Worse

This scenario assumes:
Health: Significantly worse SARS-CoV-2 variants lead to return of lock-down culture globally, resulting in significant manufacturing and port/airport interruptions.
Policy Actions: Significant fiscal stimulus, continued monetary stimulus, stricter public health policies also known as zero-COVID.
Demand: Consumer durables demand remains robust, consumer non-durables demand surges as a result of return to hoarding, spending on services collapses.
Other Factors: Interruptions pop up in global shipping and airfreight lanes, either through accidents or geopolitical tensions. Union disputes at major U.S. West Coast seaports.

Worsening COVID-19 conditions, combined with zero-COVID policies in Asia could lead to a continuation of frequent port and factory closures. Goods demand will likely remain high as services spending remains unavailable and hoarding of consumer non-durables returns.

If demand remains elevated or climbs even further, then the logistics industry’s susceptibility to cascading problems caused by exogenous events increases. Indeed, if demand remains at elevated levels the level of congestion measured by the OTI may climb further.

Aside from the evergreen risks from geopolitical tensions which could have a global impact, there are union negotiations on the U.S. West Coast due later in the year.

Figure 4 shows the impact on seasonal imports to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach during the strike of early 2015. Clearing the backlog created in January and February pushed imports in March up by 48% year over year, or around 240,000 TEUs.

Similar disruptions in 2022 may take longer to clear given the ports have been operating at around 850,000 to 900,000 TEUs per month, potentially close to capacity, on the back of existing demand.

Continued West Coast disruptions may lead companies to start to consider permanent strategies such as using the Panama Canal or shipping via Mexico, raising both costs and delivery times.

2022 Scenario 3: A Supply Chain Reprieve

This scenario assumes:
Health: SARS-CoV-2 evolves to become flu-like, widespread vaccination programs are successfully delivered.
Policy Actions: Elevated demand drives inflation higher, resulting in a rapid shift to monetary tightening. Fiscal stimulus continues via limited “build back better” schemes, which only result in modest increased spending next year.
Demand: Rapid shift in consumer spending back to services. Increased interest rates discourage spending, thereby cutting demand for consumer durables and nondurables significantly well ahead of the next peak shipping season.
Other Factors: Union negotiations in the U.S. West Coast proceed smoothly. Heavy weather seasons remain calmer than normal. No major geopolitical shocks.

There are effectively two flavors of this scenario. On the one hand, if the economy remains healthy then a shift back to services spending cuts demand for goods, allowing networks to recover within a few months.

On the other, business failures and a recession slash spending on both. While logistics systems can recover, they may face greatly depressed demand heading into 2023.

What Can Companies Do?

The conditions for any of the three scenarios are difficult to determine currently. Around two-thirds of respondents to a recent poll said the difficulty and cost of moving goods is the main concern for their business. It’s therefore worth asking what scenario-agnostic actions firms can take.

The options range from the tactical to the strategic. A few congestion-related examples include:

Ensuring suppliers’ factories are ready to deliver their product on time. Around 30% of bookings pre-pandemic had been cancelled due to late availability of cargo. That in turn led carriers to overbook their vessels, leading more latterly to challenges with space availability.

Similarly, be prepared for new types of contracts that include mechanisms that reward customers that are reliable—in terms of not cancelling, fulfilling contract terms etc.—with better rates or improved access to expedited services.

Ensure that containers are fully loaded to capacity. Failing to do so is both a waste of money for the shipper and a waste of capacity for the industry at large.

Consider flexibility on routings. For example, less-than-container load contracts typically specify a destination point but not a specific routing. A similar approach for full-container load bookings provides more flexibility in delivery, e.g. avoiding heavily congested ports.

Access and understand your data. Be attuned to where the bottlenecks are, whether that be at ports, on shipping vessels or other modes of transportation including ports or trucks.

Whether logistics network congestion clears in 2022 or later, these measures and others can help you make your supply chain as efficient as possible.__ As always, Flexport is here to help.__

Disclaimer: The contents of this report are made available for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for any legal, business, or financial decisions. Flexport does not guarantee, represent, or warrant any of the contents of this report because they are based on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions, about which there can be no assurance due to various anticipated and unanticipated events that may occur. This report has been prepared to the best of our knowledge and research; however, the information presented herein may not reflect the most current regulatory or industry developments. Neither Flexport nor its advisors or affiliates shall be liable for any losses that arise in any way due to the reliance on the contents contained in this report.