Petrochemicals attacked, Smart Cube comments 

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Environmental issues attack every industry.  As Hurricane Beryl bears down on the US Gulf Coast, we ask Ritesh Kumar, Director, Procurement and Supply Chain Intelligence, The Smart Cube, about the impact that hurricanes can have on the petrochemicals industry.

“Originally a Category 5 storm, Hurricane Beryl weakened to a tropical storm – devastating Jamaica and the Caribbean.  At the start of last week (8th July), it unexpectedly changed course, bearing down on the US Gulf Coast.  This shift in trajectory placed several major ports in Texas directly in its path, and impacted major ports – including Corpus Christi, Freeport and Galveston – in Texas, which serve as critical hubs for US petrochemical refineries and chemical complexes.”

“Texas is the largest US oil and gas producing state, accounting for some 40% of oil and 20% of gas output, and although some refineries only experienced brief power disruptions during the storm, operations at petrochemical factories and ports were suspended until Tuesday last week.”

“While the impacts to industry were not severe on this occasion, the unexpected nature of this hurricane emphasises the importance of preparedness in facing the challenges of an increasingly volatile hurricane season.  It also highlights the need for businesses to map out supplier reliance and identify alternative suppliers in different geographical regions wherever possible.  By diversifying their supply chains and continually keeping abreast of developments, procurement professionals can mitigate the disruption to their supply chain.”