If Russia invades Ukraine , oil prices are expected to double , leaving 90 % of the world ' s businesses facing further huge increases in sea freight costs .

JP Morgan warns that , were Russia to invade , Brent crude oil prices could rise as high as US $ 150 per barrel , which would be double the US $ 75 average price in Q4 2021 .

Shipping companies will then be likely to pass this extra cost on to customers who are already facing shipping container charges that , on some routes , are nine times higher than the pre-pandemic norm .

These already sky-high costs are not likely to settle down any time soon , with port congestion continuing to be a problem the world over .

Given 90 % of the world ' s merchandise is shipped by sea , a Russian invasion would be a perfect storm for most businesses .

� CHIP MAKERS According to preliminary results by Gartner , worldwide , semiconductor revenue in 2021 increased by more than a quarter ( 25.1 %), hitting US $ 583.5bn , and passing the US $ 500bn mark for the first time . If chip makers were to transport their 2021 profits to the bank by road they would need a convoy of 166 18-wheeler jugganauts .

� AP MOLLER - MAERSK Danish shipping giant Maersk upgraded its full-year guidance , and now expects to report a further US $ 1.8bn in its 2022 Q4 earnings , taking the projected total for the year to US $ 19.8bn .

� UNILEVER STAFF Unilever announced plans to axe 1,500 jobs globally . It ’ s reducing senior management roles by around 15 % and junior ones by 5 %. The restructuring follows Unilever ’ s unsuccessful attempt to buy GlaxoSmithKline ’ s consumer healthcare division , which prompted unrest among investors .

� JUST-IN-TIME SUPPLY A survey says ongoing disruption might be the death knell for ‘ just-intime ’ ( JIT ) supply chain models .

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