Impact of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake on Global Supply Chains: Challenges and Implications

The recent earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria has had a devastating impact on the global supply chains. The quake, with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale, has caused massive destruction in the affected areas and resulted in significant loss of life and property. 

The Turkey-Syria earthquake impact has far-reaching implications for global supply chains, and businesses are gearing up to face the challenges that come with it.

Damages at the Iskenderun port

The earthquake caused large-scale damage to Turkey’s major harbor, the Iskenderun port. One of the major implications of the earthquake is the disruption of trade and transportation around this port area. As containers are caught up in the fire and the flames still out, more container damages are expected in the port. 

According to the Turkish Maritime Authority, the docks at Iskenderun Port have collapsed. Not just the docks but several container storage yards were damaged with disruptions to the telecom lines. 

Other neighboring ports, airports, and highways that are critical for the movement of goods have been affected. Roads have become unusable, bringing truck transportation to a halt. In addition, power outages have disrupted the flow of trade and transportation. This has resulted in significant delays in the delivery of goods and has caused major bottlenecks in the supply chain.

Maersk said in a customer advisory that the Iskenderun port has unfortunately been subject to severe structural damage, leading to a complete stop of all operations until further notice.

Shortage of raw materials

Another major challenge for global supply chains due to the earthquake is the shortage of raw materials. The earthquake has damaged many factories and warehouses, and has resulted in the loss of inventory and raw materials. This has led to a shortage of raw materials in the affected areas and has disrupted the production of goods in these areas. The shortage of raw materials has also resulted in increased prices, which can impact businesses.

Impact on the workforce

The Turkey-Syria earthquake has also had a major impact on the workforce in the affected areas. Many workers have lost their lives, and many others who have lost their homes and livelihoods are unable to work. This has resulted in reduced labor availability in the affected areas, which has impacted the production of goods and the delivery of services. 

Businesses are looking for ways to support the workforce in the affected areas and to find ways to continue to operate in these areas despite the challenges.

The road to recovery is going to be slow

In addition to the immediate impact of the Turkey-Syria earthquake, there are also longer-term implications for global supply chains. The damaged infrastructure and facilities in the affected areas will take time to repair, and the recovery process will be slow and expensive. This will result in a prolonged period of disruption for businesses operating in these areas and will impact their ability to meet demand and maintain competitiveness.

What next?

The earthquake in Turkey and Syria highlights the importance of having contingency plans in place to deal with unexpected events that can impact global supply chains. Businesses need to be prepared to face the challenges of such events and take steps to minimize their impact. This includes having alternative sources of raw materials and transportation and having plans to support the workforce in affected areas.

If you are looking to overcome your supply chain challenges during such unfortunate crises and be fully prepared to respond to disruptions swiftly, feel free to connect with us.

Our heart goes out to those affected by this earthquake, and our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased’s family and those affected by this painful incident.