b'Russia-Ukrainian War Jeopardizes Regional Metals Supply ChainsRUSSIA-UKRAINIAN WAR JEOPARDIZESREGIONAL METALS SUPPLY CHAINSIts likely disruptions will last well beyond the duration of the current conflictBy Peter Buxbaum, AJOTA t a moment of trouble for global supply chains, theactivities even tangentially related to Russia, including in Belarus invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on February 22and some of the other surrounding countries. Organizations made matters that much worse. The war, almost frommoving products of Russian origin see friction associated with its inception, caught many commodity trades and markets in itsthose moves going forward. crosshairsincluding those involving several crucial metals.The extractive industries, he added, will be especially hard Russia is one of the worlds largest producers and traders ofhit, because it is so big a part of the economy in that region. pig iron, steel, and aluminum. Ukraine is the worlds 13th-largestCompanies contemplating buying ore or finished metal of producer of steel, exporting 17 million metric tons in 2021, andRussian origin now carry a significantly heavier due diligence the fifth-largest exporter of iron ore by volume, at 44.4 millionburden in order to ascertain the ownership structures of the tons in 2021. Ukraine is also a key commodities transit hub,selling organizations, to make sure that no sanctioned parties according to a report from S&P Global. Both countries are alsoare involved.major players in the titanium, nickel, and palladium trades. Scrambling to Make Up ShortfallsWestern sanctions on Russia in the wake of the invasion were meant to hobble the Russian economy, and to punishOn the Ukrainian side, Russia failed to gain control of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his cronies. Formally, theUkrainian port of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, during the first sanctions have more to do with the flow of products, capital, anddays of the war, but, during the second week, surrounded and information going into Russia and not as much on things leavingbombarded the city, shutting it down. Russian naval forces Russia, noted Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy,also control the narrow Kerch Strait which connects the Sea of Global Trade Intelligence, at Descartes, a provider of trade,Azov to the Black Sea, all of which jeopardizes Ukraines sizable logistics, and supply-chain information services. exports of steel, iron ore, and pig iron through Mariupol. During But many of Descartes customers are taking a prettythe second week of the war, Russian forces took control of the conservative approach, said Brown. They are looking at all theirBlack Sea port of Kherson, 125 miles east of Odessa, another 8'