Supply Chain Resilience

Shipping Arabia, September 22, 2026 – Global trade is moving toward a more regional and resilient structure as geopolitical risks, sanctions and changing shipping patterns increasingly influence maritime investment and operations, according to Folk Maritime CEO Poul Hestbaek.

Hestbaek discussed the changing trade environment during a panel at the 18th Annual Capital Link Shipping & Marine Services Forum in London, addressing the theme of global trade in a changing world, including sanctions, risks, maritime corridors and the reshaping of trade routes.

He highlighted what Folk Maritime described as a strategic transition away from unrestricted globalisation toward a more sustainable and regional trading environment, with geopolitical considerations playing a growing role in shipping routes and investment decisions.

The discussion also addressed the pricing of risk. Hestbaek highlighted the importance of clearly incorporating risks associated with international sanctions into freight rates and chartering terms as shipping companies navigate an increasingly complex regulatory and geopolitical environment.

Another area of focus was supply chain security. The sector is moving beyond a traditional emphasis on just-in-time delivery toward greater operational flexibility and an increased ability to respond to disruptions, according to the discussion.

Hestbaek also pointed to the emergence of new regional maritime alliances as a development that will require shipping companies to take a more proactive approach to risk management and prepare for further changes across the industry.

The discussion reflects the broader challenges facing maritime transport as shipping companies adapt their networks, commercial strategies and operational models to changing trade patterns and increasingly complex global risks.

Saudi Arabia-based Folk Maritime operates regional liner services and is backed by the Public Investment Fund.

Source: Folk Maritime

Shipping Arabia, September 20, 2026 – Jordan is moving to strengthen supply chain resilience, strategic inventories and alternative logistics routes, with industry representatives calling for faster customs clearance and continued coordination with global shipping lines to safeguard cargo flows through Aqaba.

The discussions follow directives by Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, while chairing part of a Cabinet session on September 16, to treat supply chains as a national priority and take measures to maintain strategic stocks of essential goods amid regional economic and logistics pressures.

Nabil Al-Khatib, First Vice Chairman of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, said Jordan should move beyond the traditional concept of strategic stockpiles toward a broader national logistics security framework. He proposed establishing a national council bringing together the public and private sectors to oversee supply chain continuity, strategic inventories and measurable implementation plans.

Al-Khatib said priorities should include diversifying supply sources and transport routes, accelerating cargo clearance and release, improving logistics efficiency and developing an integrated national database covering inventories and supply chains.

Dr. Deifallah Abu Aqoula, President of the Clearance Companies and Cargo Transporters Syndicate, called for greater use of pre-arrival clearance and green-lane procedures for essential goods, alongside incentives to expand private-sector storage capacity. He also stressed the need to diversify import origins and transport corridors rather than relying on a single route.

Abu Aqoula said rising freight and insurance costs and disruption to international logistics corridors have increased the importance of coordinated contingency planning, data sharing and faster decision-making between government agencies and the private sector.

Hamza Al-Halaika, Board Member of the General Syndicate of Foodstuff Traders, highlighted the maritime dimension of the strategy, calling for closer coordination with global shipping lines to maintain the priority and continuity of cargo arrivals at Aqaba Port, alongside faster movement through customs and other regulatory procedures.

The proposals place Aqaba, Jordan’s principal maritime gateway, at the center of efforts to build a more resilient national logistics system, supported by diversified transport routes, faster cargo flows, strategic storage and closer public-private coordination.

Source: Jordan News Agency – Petra