Buying and supplying items including food and drink could cost businesses as much as a fifth more this year, which they will pass on to consumers, according to the international trade association, which represents 64,000 member organisations in procurement and supply chains across 150 countries.
International shipping costs have been rising in recent months as global freight companies faced a string of challenges in moving goods around the world.
Tensions in the Middle East and attacks on vessels travelling through the Red Sea by Houthi rebels prompted many major shipping firms to re-route their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding cost and time to journeys.
The prospect of Trump following through on his threats to impose tariffs of 10% on global imports into the US, along with a higher 60% tariff on Chinese goods has already prompted some companies to bring forward container shipments of goods to avoid such changes.
However, pre-emptive measures such as stockpiling would only temporarily delay the impact of price rises, trade experts said, warning that any new levies could push up costs, disrupt trade flows, and spark retaliation against US exports.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/07/consumers-price-rises-trade-experts-warn 