
Global supply chains have proved very fragile during the pandemic. They have collapsed not only because of the uncoordinated nature of the lockdowns around the world, but also due to volatility in demand patterns.
These problems are unlikely to quickly disappear, making it essential to closely monitor developments in all the major end-uses on a segment by segment basis, rather than assuming ‘one size fits all’.
In the food packaging market, for example, anyone selling into the restaurant business during the lockdowns saw volumes collapse, whereas those selling into retail supermarkets were overwhelmed with orders.