Strike in Belgium – Another factor that may affect the supply chain

On Thursday, we received information regarding a nationwide strike in Belgium, scheduled to begin on 31^st of March. The reason behind the strike is said to be protests against the new federal government’s budget cuts, affecting both the private and public sectors. Some unions aim to protect automatic wage indexing, pensions, and improve working conditions. Based on the information we have; it could impact several areas of work and thus the industry we operate in. We do not yet know the exact extent of the impact, but we want to make you aware of the situation given the recent conditions in our European transshipment ports.

As previously informed, we continue to face a strained situation for handling incoming and outgoing goods to/from Europe. The ports are under significant pressure, and shipping companies are struggling to maintain their intended schedules. This leads to delays of up to 10-14 days, with planned arrival dates being postponed at short notice. One of the largest transshipment ports is located in Belgium, Antwerp, which means that a strike in the country could further burden the handling at the port. From experience, we know that this can quickly affect other nearby ports if/when shipping companies need to change their planned routes.

Earlier this week, Brussels Airport also announced that all passenger planes scheduled to depart on Monday, 31^st of March, are cancelled, which will also impact the global air freight market.

We will continue to monitor developments, and you are welcome to contact us with any questions.

With kind regards,

FMS Sweden.