We are delighted to be joined today by Nils Haupt from Hapag-Lloyd
— one of the world’s leading container shipping companies.

Now, global shipping is one of those industries that most people rarely think about… until something goes wrong. Yet almost everything we use, wear, build, or consume has likely spent time on a container vessel somewhere in the world. From electronics and pharmaceuticals to food, retail, and industrial goods, global trade quite literally moves by sea.

Nils has had a fascinating career journey across media, aviation, and now international shipping — giving him a unique perspective on how communication, leadership, and customer expectations are evolving in an increasingly volatile world.

And there’s certainly no shortage of volatility right now.

Over the past few years, supply chains have faced pandemic disruption, port congestion, geopolitical tensions, war in the Red Sea, rising fuel costs, and now renewed instability around the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.

Today, we’re going to explore what these disruptions actually mean in practical terms for global carriers: how quickly shipping networks can adapt, the real operational and financial costs behind rerouting vessels, the knock-on effects across global trade, and importantly, the human impact on crews working in high-risk regions.

We’ll also discuss how customer expectations have changed, why resilience is now becoming just as important as efficiency, and what supply chain leaders should be preparing for next.

🎙️ New Episode – Supply Chain Ireland Podcast

What does rising tension in the Gulf mean for Irish businesses?

With uncertainty around key trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz — and no peace agreement yet between the US and Iran as of April 13th — supply chains are facing renewed pressure.

In this episode, I speak with Wissam Kazzaz, a Gulf commercial strategist with over 25 years’ experience across the region, now supporting Irish companies entering Middle East markets.

We discuss:
▪️ The reality on the ground in the UAE
▪️ Disruption to trade routes and logistics
▪️ The impact on Irish exporters
▪️ What businesses should be doing now

🎧 Listen now via the link in bio

#supplychain #ireland #logistics #exports #uae #middleeast #geopolitics #business

Supply Chain Ireland Podcast – Episode 2 covers the ongoing fuel protests across Dublin and around the country, speaking with James Geoghegan, Paul Murphy TD, John Dallon, Peader Tobin, and members of the public.