Beyond the Box

Global commodity prices - from energy and metals to agriculture - shape everything from shipping demand to supply chain costs. For logistics and trade professionals, understanding these trends is critical to building resilience and staying competitive. In this season's final episode of Beyond The Box, we dive into the World Bank Group’s Commodity Markets Outlook and explore what falling pricesmean for global trade and supply chains in 2026. Our guests: 🎙️John Baffes, Senior Agriculture Economist, World Bank🎙️Farzin Mirmotahari, Senior Operations Officer, International Finance Corporation  You’ll learn: 📦 Why energy, metals, and agriculture drive global trade and logistics 📦 How price swings impact exporters, manufacturers, and shipping costs 📦 Key differences between mature and emerging commodity markets 📦 Financing strategies to manage margin pressure and interest rate risks 📦 How trade finance supports sustainability goals like decarbonisation  External links: 🔗 Commodity Markets Outlook Report (October 2025), World Bank Group: https://www.worldbank.org/en/research/commodity-markets If you’re a supply chain leader, logistics strategist, or global trade professional, this episode offers actionable insights to help you navigate uncertainty and prepare for the year ahead.

ESG is becoming a strategic imperative for global supply chains. In this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives are reshaping logistics and supply chain strategies in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, rising costs, and regulatory complexity.We're joined by two leading experts:🎙️ Christopher S. Tang, Distinguished Research Professor, UCLA🎙️ Nada R. Sanders, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management, Northeastern UniversityTogether, we unpack:📦 Why ESG is now embedded in boardroom decisions and linked to financial performance📦 How companies can integrate decarbonization with resilience strategies like friend-shoring and multi-sourcing📦 The role of AI, blockchain, and digital twins in reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions📦 Global regulations like CBAM and CSDDD — and what they mean for compliance and competitiveness📦 Practical steps for future-proofing supply chains while creating win-win scenarios for business and the planet

Can artificial intelligence make landside logistics safer, smarter, and more resilient? In this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how AI, data integration, and digital platforms are reshaping the future of landside logistics - from smarter routing and real-time visibility to enhanced safety and workforce empowerment.  🎙️ Scott Horn, Platforms Portfolio Technology Leader, Fulfilled by Maersk 🎙️ Simone Bonanni, Head of Functional Platform, Landside and Depots Execution, Transported by Maersk  Together, we unpack: 📦 The role of AI in optimizing landside operations 📦 How data standardization and APIs are improving transparency 📦 The future of automation, control towers, and digital twins 📦 Why human-machine collaboration is key to resilient supply chains 📦 What the next generation of logistics technology could look like.  Whether you're a logistics leader, supply chain strategist, or tech innovator, this episode offers actionable insights on navigating disruption and building smarter, safer, and more efficient operations.

Landside logistics is one of the most complex and fragmented parts of the supply chain — filled with manual handoffs, multiple players, and limited visibility. How can technology unlock efficiency, safety, and resilience in this space?In this episode of Beyond The Box, experts Sal Arora, Global Co-leader of the Travel, Logistics & Infrastructure Practice at McKinsey & Company and Ali Kamil, Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, share insights on the innovations shaping the future of landside logistics.Together, they discuss:📦 The rise of telematics, route optimization, and warehouse automation📦 Why “blind handoffs” remain a barrier to end-to-end visibility📦 How AI, digital twins, and agentic AI are changing operations📦 The importance of physical and digital infrastructure📦 Why the human element is essential to scaling innovationThis episode offers practical insights into how people and technology together will transform the next decade of landside logistics.

Global supply chains are being tested like never before. In this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how logistics leaders are adapting to disruptions - from the closure of the Suez Canal to shifting geopolitical tensions - and what it really takes to build resilience into global networks.Podcast Guests:🎙️ Sebastian Von Hayn – Head of Trans Suez Network, Maersk🎙️ Henjo Grisnigt – Global Head, Network Planning & Capacity Management, MaerskTogether, we unpack:📦 The ripple effects of rerouting global trade📦 How air freight and multimodal solutions offer agility📦 Why fewer port calls and smarter hubs matter📦 The role of AI, infrastructure, and investment in future-proofing supply chains📦 What resilience really looks like in today’s volatile landscapeWhether you're a supply chain strategist, logistics professional, or business leader, this episode offers actionable insights to help you stay ahead in a world of constant change.

n this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how global supply chains are being reshaped in real time. With traditional trade routes under pressure from geopolitical tensions, sanctions, and shifting market dynamics, businesses are rethinking how and where they move goods.We are joined by:🎙️ Margaret A. Kidd, Lecturer at the University of Houston and President of the Houston Maritime Center & Museum🎙️ Erika Trujillo, Co-Founder and Managing Director of SEIA Compliance TechnologiesTogether, they unpack:📦 The long-term rewiring of global trade lanes📦 The rise of nearshoring and regionalization📦 How compliance, export controls, and sanctions are reshaping logistics📦 Opportunities and risks in emerging markets like India, the Middle East, and Latin America📦 Why data transparency and digital tools are essential for supply chain resilienceWhether you're a logistics leader, supply chain strategist, or compliance professional, this episode offers critical insights to help you navigate today’s complex trade environment.

🌪️ As climate change accelerates, severe weather is no longer a rare disruption - it's a constant challenge. In this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how logistics providers are adapting to increasingly volatile conditions to keep global supply chains resilient and responsive.Featuring:🎙️ Andrew Forsyth, Head of Climate Resilience and Sustainability at Zurich Resilience Solutions🎙️ Peter Gede, Loss Prevention Manager at Maersk Insurance A/STogether, we unpack:📦 The rising impact of extreme weather events - from hurricanes and floods to heatwaves📦 How businesses can evolve from reactive responses to proactive strategies📦 How data, AI, and cross-sector collaboration are driving resilience deep into supply chain operations📦 Why agility, visibility, and integrated planning are essential to future-proofing logisticsWhether you're a supply chain leader, logistics professional, or simply curious about the future of global commerce, this episode delivers practical insights and a forward-looking perspective on navigating uncertainty with confidence.Interview recorded on 7 July 2025.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on the forces shaping global logistics — and how to stay ahead in an unpredictable world.

In today’s fast-changing world, disruption is no longer the exception - it’s the environment we operate in. But with the right strategies, tools, and mindset, supply chains can do more than survive - they can operate, grow, and thrive.In this episode of Beyond The Box, we’re joined by:🎙️James Hookham, Director, Global Shippers Forum🎙️ Zera Zheng, Global Head of Business Resilience Consulting, Maersk…to explore how businesses can build resilient, future-ready supply chains in the face of ongoing geopolitical shifts, regulatory changes, and climate-related risks. We unbox the following topics:📦 Why “compound disruption” is the new normal - and how to prepare for it📦 How trade policy, tariffs, and weather events are reshaping global logistics📦 The power of scenario planning and early risk visibility📦 How data and digitalisation are unlocking smarter, faster decision-making📦 Why resilience is becoming a key competitive advantage in global tradeWhether you're a supply chain leader, logistics professional, or just curious about the future of global commerce, this episode offers practical insights and a hopeful outlook on how to navigate uncertainty with confidence.Interview recorded on 30 May 2025.

Warehousing is no longer just about storage - it's about speed, sustainability, and smart technology. In this episode, we explore how AI, automation, and agility are reshaping modern warehousing and what businesses need to know to stay ahead in 2025 and beyond.Join Simon Oxley, Global Head of Business Development at Maersk Contract Logistics, and Amita Maheshwari, Global Head of Supply Chain Development at Maersk, as they share insights on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations transforming the warehousing landscape.Topics covered:🔹How AI and automation are revolutionising warehouse operations🔹The rise of flexible, on-demand warehousing models🔹Strategies for building resilience in a volatile global supply chain🔹Why sustainability and scale are central to future-ready facilities🔹Real-world examples of innovation from Maersk’s global networkWhether you're a supply chain professional, logistics enthusiast, or just curious about the future of global trade, this episode offers valuable insights into the next generation of warehousing.

🌍 How is urbanisation reshaping the future of logistics? In this episode we explore the powerful two-way relationship between growing cities and the supply chains that support them. As urban populations surge and mid-sized cities emerge as new economic hubs, the logistics landscape is being redefined.We invited two leading academic voices to share their insights:🎙️ Anna Fredriksson, Professor of Construction Logistics, Communication and Transport System Division, Linköping University 🎙️ Mark Lorenzen, Associate Professor of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Dynamics and Director of DRUID, Copenhagen Business School Together, they unpack:🔹The rise of micro-hubs and the shift of megacity dominance🔹Why internal city logistics are just as critical as global connectivity🔹How circularity, shared warehousing, and energy access are shaping urban supply chains🔹The shift from global-for-global to regional-for-local logistics models🔹The growing role of logistics companies in urban planning and policyWhether you're in logistics, urban development, or just curious about how cities and supply chains evolve together—this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.