A new report outlines how climate volatility is disrupting global perishable supply chains and increasing losses in fruit and vegetable logistics. The analysis finds that instability linked to extreme weather is compounding existing pressures in cold-chain operations and increasing waste across the value chain.
According to the report, 93% of companies handling perishable products experienced climate-related disruption in the past three years, with almost half reporting six or more events during that period. These disruptions come on top of ongoing issues such as port congestion, customs delays, and technology failures, all of which reduce shelf life and raise waste levels. Waterway restrictions caused by drought and flooding continue to affect transport routes and temperature-controlled distribution networks.
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The research notes that roughly one-third of all food produced globally does not reach consumers, an amount equal to about 1 billion meals per day. More than half of the surveyed companies lose up to a month of productivity when disruptions occur. About one-third require more than a month to recover from major events, which reduces margins and increases waste throughout fruit and vegetable supply chains.
The report states that traditional logistics structures were not designed to manage current levels of climate variability. Many businesses are adjusting supply models in real time as established trade routes face interruptions. "Climate volatility is reshaping how food moves across borders. The sector is feeling the pressure more often and with less warning," said Alfred Whitman. He added that earlier insight into risks, more predictable regional movement, and stronger cold-chain systems will be required.
Survey responses indicate that companies report high exposure to port congestion at 93%, customs delays at 88% and technology failures at 88%. While 79% of companies believe they respond quickly to disruption, 94% report that they lack full end-to-end visibility, creating a gap between perceived and actual resilience. A typical logistics incident now costs around US$400,000, contributing to more than US$7 billion in annual losses across perishable categories.
"Closing that gap will define how well global food supply chains function in the decade ahead," said Beat Simon. He noted that resilience will depend on earlier risk assessment, more predictable cross-border operations, and reinforced cold-chain capacity.
The report concludes that the perishables sector, including fruit and vegetable supply chains, will require expanded investment in cold-storage networks, digital visibility systems, and integrated logistics solutions to stabilise operations as climate variability continues to intensify.
Source: FPC
