Bridge collapse disrupts key trade lane, prompting new supply chain woes

Tuesday’s mishap means a significant disruption for East Coast shipping, with trade in autos, coal and machinery likely to be the hardest hit, according to government officials and industry executives. It comes as global shippers are grappling with a historic drought that has left the Panama Canal without enough water for routine operations, as well as two wars in Europe and the Middle East that have turned routine commercial voyages into daring adventures.

Two years of rising interest rates also have increased the cost of higher inventories, which help manufacturers and retailers guard against unexpected snafus.

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