Suez Crisis

The Suez Crisis was the first modern demonstration that closing one chokepoint can disrupt world shipping for months, a risk supply chain planners still model. After the nationalization and the invasion that began at the end of October 1956, Egypt sank ships to block the canal, and it stayed closed until the spring of 1957 while the wrecks were cleared. Tankers and cargo ships rerouted around Africa, raising costs and transit times, and the long detour encouraged shipowners to build larger tankers. Planners today respond to similar threats with safety stock, alternative routings, and suppliers in more than one region.

• Safety StockExtra stock that covers demand and lead time swings
• Lead TimeTime from purchase order to sellable stock

• Opening of the Suez Canal1869 · A canal joins the Mediterranean and the Red Sea
• Vasco da Gama's Sea Route to India1497–1499 · Portugal reaches India by sailing around Africa
• Ideal X First Container Voyage1956 · The first commercially successful container ship sails

1. Suez Crisis britannica.com
2. Suez Crisis, 1956 history.state.gov
3. Closure of the Suez Canal (1956-1957) en.wikipedia.org