Adaptable supply chains for green coffee: Commodity Supplies in swissinfo.ch

In an article published on 22 October 2026, SWI swissinfo.ch examines how geopolitical shocks are reconfiguring the coffee supply chains of the Swiss industry. Our Head of Commodities, José Luis Pérez, shared how roasters and traders are adapting.

From efficient to resilient to adaptable

With the Strait of Hormuz closed since February, carriers have rerouted vessels and added fuel surcharges, and shipments from Vietnam now sail around the Cape of Good Hope. At the SCTA Forum on 1 October, participants named flexibility and alternative routes as their top priority.

As José Luis Pérez explains in the article, just-in-time sourcing has become less attractive. Roasters hold larger inventories to avoid running out of beans, which ties up working capital and raises financing and insurance costs. Supply chains are moving from efficient, to resilient, to adaptable.

How we help coffee companies adapt

Commodity Supplies works with around 200 coffee customers. For them, adaptability comes from experienced people working with clear data:

• Procurement with flexibility built in: carrier allocations and alternative routings agreed before disruption strikes.

• Control Tower: early warnings on corridor risks and delays, and a team that acts on them.

• Freight Financing: extended payment terms of up to 360 days, subject to credit review, to ease the working-capital pressure of larger inventories.

• Freight Audit: surcharges and war-risk premiums checked against your contracts.