1552 | Part 2 of 5: The Shipping Crisis and Global Coffee Trade Routes (Lee Safar)
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Episode Description
This is Part 2 of a five-part series: War, Trade, and Coffee — What the Middle East Conflict Means for the Global Coffee Industry.
In this episode, Lee Safar explores the shipping system that moves coffee around the world and explains why disruptions in West Asia could have significant implications for the global coffee industry.
Approximately 80–90% of global trade moves by sea, and coffee is deeply dependent on those maritime logistics systems.
Lee explains the importance of several key trade routes that shape global coffee movement, including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal. These waterways connect Africa, Asia, and Europe and carry enormous volumes of global trade.
When shipping routes become unstable due to conflict, ships may be forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of nautical miles and weeks of travel time. This increases fuel costs, freight prices, insurance premiums, and supply chain uncertainty.
The episode also explores why these disruptions affect different coffee supply chains differently. Coffee moving from East Africa and Asia toward Europe relies heavily on the Red Sea corridor, while some Latin American routes may be less directly affected.
Understanding these logistics systems is essential for coffee professionals trying to navigate the uncertainty created by geopolitical conflict.
In the next episode, Lee explores who is likely to be hit first in the coffee value chain as these disruptions unfold.
Connect with Lee Safar and Map It Forward here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesafar/
https://mapitforward.coffee
https://www.instagram.com/leesafar
https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee