The question now is whether the progress made within the continent鈥檚 supply chains has delivered the resilience to withstand repeated shocks. The Red Sea crisis, now stretching into its third year, has already forced a major restructuring of Asia-Europe-Africa shipping. The near closure of the Strait of Hormuz has layered a second and more acute shock onto already strained global trade flows. For African economies, the effect is being felt all at once through higher freight costs, longer lead times, elevated fuel prices, fertilizer disruption, and tighter access to trade finance.
