Urgent Alert: Red Sea Chaos, China-U.S. Bans, and 2025's Procurement Game-Changers

Are you following all of this 🤯

Hey Procurement Legend,

I’m just sat in my hotel room putting the finishing touches to this with a beautiful view of Canary Wharf. I’m in London for a couple of days in my marketing role at Gatekeeper for the Product Marketing Summit. It’s great so far - I’m exhausted, and am currently waiting for some food in my room.

PS. the curtains make the photo extra special

As a quick break from the copious amounts of notes and other work I need to get on with, I bring you this curated selection of recent news impacting procurement and supply chain.

Spoiler… there’s a lot happening right now, and I’ve been working hard on capturing this information proactively to share with you all.

It’s still wild out there.

Red Sea Updates:

1. Houthi attacks continue to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea, with major shipping companies like Maersk and BP suspending operations due to safety concerns.

2. The U.S. and UK have launched counter-strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, aiming to secure maritime routes.

3. Egypt warns of significant economic impact due to the militarisation and blockades affecting the Suez Canal.

China-U.S. Export Bans:

1. China imposes export bans on critical minerals, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the U.S., escalating tech tensions.

2. In response, the U.S. extended export controls, affecting over 140 Chinese companies in the semiconductor industry.

3. China also tightens graphite export controls, vital for electric vehicle batteries, amid ongoing trade disputes.

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2025 Procurement Trends

I’ve been researching upcoming trends. I appreciate that ESG is becoming increasingly political, and with Trump in office, I see this becoming less of a priority. However, let’s be clear that ESG & Sustainability are fundamentally different.

1. AI and automation are set to become central to procurement strategies, with a focus on AI-driven data analysis and decision-making.

2. A significant push towards sustainability and ESG compliance in procurement, with an emphasis on circular economy principles.

3. The procurement workforce is ageing, with strategies focusing on attracting younger talent and upskilling existing staff in digital competencies.

4. Geopolitical risks, including those from ongoing conflicts and trade wars, are prompting a focus on supply chain resilience and risk management.

5. Procurement strategies are evolving from cost-centric to value-centric.

What do you care about in 2025?

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See you soon,

Daniel

Procurement Legends