BSI Group predicts five major supply chain themes for 2019

Today, BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions announced the release of new analysis determining the five major themes most likely to impact the global supply chain over the course of 2019. Alongside some of the top threats to supply chains identified from 2018, such as metal entering the top five commodities to be stolen worldwide, and poor working conditions leading as the top labour violation recorded last year, the top trends for 2019 are:

• Revision of the Minimum Security Criteria under the US Border Protection's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT)

• Supply chain growth in Africa increasing exposure to varying risks

• Ongoing mass migration posing both security and corporate social responsibility risks

• Dramatic shifts in politics including those in Brazil, the US-China trade dispute, and uncertainty over Britain's departure from the European Union

• The continued threat to supply chains posed by cybersecurity issues

"We're seeing key shifts to global supply chains this year, driven by quite dramatic changes in the geopolitical landscape. The concern is that as supply chains change – with Chinese companies moving operations to Africa, for example, or the US sourcing goods from other Southeast Asian nations – major implications will also evolve,” said Jim Yarbrough, Global Intelligence Program Manager at BSI.

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“Increased exposure to labour exploitation, terrorism, corruption and natural disasters must be a consideration for companies making changes to their supply chain, and best practices must be maintained in order to prevent threats to business continuity or corporate social responsibility."

BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions is an industry-leading global provider of supply chain intelligence, auditing services, audit compliance and risk management software solutions, and advisory services.