Storms and Extreme Weather

Nature Challenges in Global Trade

Storms and extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones, pose a serious threat to goods transport. These events can lead to severe damage to ships, cargo, and port infrastructure. For example, Hurricane Ida in 2021 caused extensive disruptions at U.S. Gulf Coast ports, resulting in shipping delays and billions of dollars in losses. Another notable incident occurred in 2020 when Typhoon Maysak struck South Korea, causing the sinking of a livestock vessel, Gulf Livestock 1, with all cargo and crew lost.

 Storms disrupt entire supply chains, causing delays in shipments and forcing rerouting, which increases fuel and operational costs.