Countries start hoarding food as prices rise and Covid-19 crisis worsens

Covid-19 has forced consumers to shift from just-in-time inventory management to a more conservative approach which was labelled just-in-case

Agricultural commodity buyers from Cairo to Islamabad have been on a shopping spree since the Covid-19 pandemic upended supply chains.

Jordan has built up record wheat reserves while Egypt, the world’s top buyer of the grain, took the unusual step of tapping international markets during its local harvest and has boosted purchases by more than 50 per cent since April. Taiwan said it will boost strategic food stockpiles and China has been buying to feed its growing hog herd.

The early purchases underscore how nations are trying to protect themselves on concerns the coronavirus will disrupt port operations and wreak havoc on