Beyond the Mekong | Economy | Southeast Asia

The Iran War, ASEAN and Global Supply Chains

A logistics specialist discusses the nuts and bolts of getting goods to market as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran continues into its second month.

Cargo ships approach Singapore, one of the world’s busiest shipping hubs, after passing through the Malacca Strait.

Chris Catto-Smith is a logistics specialist, a career that began with the Royal Australian Air Force in the 1970s. He then moved into the private sector and used his experiences in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, helping farmers and small businesses in getting their goods to market.

It’s a difficult job made harder by the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran that has upended oil deliveries through the Straits of Hormuz, which Catto-Smith says has led to “vessel bunching” out of ports like Singapore resulting in supply chain disruptions and lengthy delays.

As a result, perishable........

© The Diplomat