1. Logistics disruption The ongoing global logistics disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact businesses and consumers as the flow of consumer goods into key markets, such as North America and Europe, Southeast Asia and India, is restricted by the continued shutdowns of major global ports and airports, largely in China, South Korea, and the US. The major logistics disruptions create a ripple effect across global supply chains that ultimately cause goods to pile up in storage, impacting ships on their way to ports - in the form of diversions or delays as they arrive at major transit hubs, restricting global trade flows and limiting access for businesses to import products and refill their inventory stocks. Many reports highlight a high likelihood that the December 2021 and January 2022 festive seasons across the region will likely be severely impacted by restricted access to imported products. However, the challenge for many businesses within some of these markets is that it may go well beyond the next three to four months, as these disruptions look set to continue into 2022 and beyond. Assuming that these disruptions recede, and access to sea and airfreight reverts to pre-pandemic levels, it will likely take some time before things return to normal. In the interim, consumers should expect to see higher prices (as excessive freight costs are passed down), and longer waits for retail shelves to be replenished (especially imported products). Consumers should reset their expectations, as items requiring repairs and maintenance could also be delayed in lengthy service queues. Government and industry leaders are seeking to define strategies that build resilience and boost our domestic capabilities, to become less reliant on regional and global supply chains. Companies should look to redesign alternative supply chain flows, build inventory storage capabilities closer to their customers, and determine how to best enhance last-mile deliveries and returned goods.