Global trade has been held back by disruptions at two critical shipping routes: IMF | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
News Today Logo

Global trade has been held back by disruptions at two critical shipping routes: IMF

Posted 09 Mar 2024

Updated 25 Mar 2024

2 min read

  • According to the PortWatch platform (a collaborative initiative of IMF and the University of Oxford): 
    • Due to attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, the volume of trade through the Suez Canal dropped by 50% year-over-year in the first two months of the year 2024.
      • The Suez Canal is the shortest maritime route between Asia and Europe. 
      • It usually accounts for about 15% of global maritime trade. 
  • Instead, several shipping companies diverted their ships around the Cape of Good Hope. 
  • Additionally, due to the severe drought in the Panama Canal, trade volume fell by almost 32% from the previous year
    • Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the narrow Isthmus of Panama. 
    • It usually accounts for about 5% of global maritime trade.

 

  • Impact of trade disruption
    • Supply chain disruption may lead to Inflationary pressure and food and energy security threats.
    • Increased delivery time due to diversions hurts companies with limited inventories.
    • Ship re-routing could affect customs records on imports and exports. 
      • This will make it more difficult to gauge the underlying momentum of global trade and economic activity in the coming months.

 

Initiatives taken for stability in the Red Sea 

  • Operations Prosperity Guardian: Launched by the US, it is a multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces that focuses on security in the Red Sea. Its members are the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
  • Operation Aspides: Launched by the EU, to restore regional stability around the Red sea.
  • Tags :
  • Red Sea
  • Operation Aspides
  • Suez Canal
  • Trade Disruptions
  • Prosperity Guardian
Watch News Today