Logistics and warehousing industry trends that impacted 2021

Increased parcel movements

2021 saw an increased number of parcel movements, primarily due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, which saw Australian states enter and exit periodic lockdowns, forcing retail stores to close. Australia Post reported more than a 20% increase in online shopping compared to the previous year, with 9.2 million households purchasing goods online in the last 12 months.

Such an increase was well received by IFC, who offered consistent e-commerce deliveries to customers thanks to innovative models such as Same Day Delivery, which supports FMCG businesses in offering accelerated delivery for metropolitan areas. The success of such models is largely thanks to IFC’s expertly implemented Business Continuity Plan, which helped the brand successfully navigate the pandemic through extensive research, meticulous planning, and proactive activation.

Demand for cold chain logistics

In 2021, an increased demand was demonstrated for cold chain logistics due to requests for Australian agricultural products from other countries, including China, Japan and New Zealand. In fact, a reported 75% of Australian beef and veal is exported, along with 73% of mutton and lamb.

IFC understands that the food and beverage industry requires strict attention to detail and an understanding of food safety standards throughout the entire supply chain. In 2021, the business expanded on its offering of advanced climate control equipment to monitor and maintain perishable, fragile, and sensitive products and continued to provide HACCP accredited warehousing and distribution facilities to handle food and beverage products safely.

Container prices rise

2021 saw dramatic increases in container prices on ocean freight services. The Australian Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission reported that 40-foot shipping containers between Australia and China alone saw a 300% rise. This increase has been attributed to the rise in goods being imported and exported to both countries due to the pandemic.

As a result, IFC was required to continue negotiating with their wide range of partners and carriers to ensure that customers received the best rates possible. Similarly, the team offered air freight services as an alternative, with complete management of the process to ensure that customers were aware of any changes.

IFC looks forward to continuing to provide expert international supply chain solutions into 2022, with a complete service offering of freight forwarding, global 3PL logistics, warehousing, distribution and technology solutions. Contact the team to learn how we could assist you with a custom solution today.