Just like fuel, fertiliser supply chains are a hidden vulnerability

(Raelene Lockhorst – ASPI The Strategist) While fuel shortages attract attention, disruptions to shipments in fertilisers or chemicals are just as damaging to our national economy. Australia needs a broader resilience strategy that minimises the vulnerabilities of complex supply chains. Global supply chains of fertilisers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing inputs depend on maritime flows through a small number of chokepoints which, if disrupted, can rapidly cause shortages. These can occur far from the origin of the disruption, and Australia’s distance from much of the world offers little protection. Australia has limited domestic production capacity in many sectors and relies heavily on imports through global supply chains. – Just like fuel, fertiliser supply chains are a hidden vulnerability | The Strategist