Browsing by Author "du Plessis, Francois"

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    Investigating marine cargo insurance claims for signs of climate change through the South African fresh fruit export supply chain
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) du Plessis, Francois; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Van Eeden, Joubert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: This dissertation comprises four research articles that collectively explore the intersection of climate change events as a supply chain risk through investigating marine cargo insurance claims, specifically focusing on South Africa. The overarching aim is to gain insight into the impacts of climate-related perils on global supply chains and develop effective risk management strategies. The first article presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis that identifies trends, gaps and limitations in published academic papers on climate change events and fresh fruit export supply chain risks. According to the study, there is insufficient peer-reviewed literature in this area, and a research agenda is proposed for future scientific contributions. The findings underscore the need for the comprehensive understanding and mitigation of risks associated with climate change events and their effect on supply chains. The second article examines the trends, differences and seasonality of weather-related marine cargo insurance claims in South Africa from 2013 to 2022. Through statistical and claims analysis, the research shows a significant increase in weather-related claims over the past decade, resulting in challenges and disruptions to the country’s supply chain network. The study also highlights the higher average values and seasonal patterns of weather-related claims compared to non-weather-related claims. Practical guidelines are provided for supply chain managers and insurers to manage weather-related risks effectively. The third article, based on feedback from a cohort of international participants, delves into understanding the perceptions of marine insurers about their organisation’s involvement in the Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) framework for climate change events. The research explores the influence of experience levels and World Bank country income classifications on insurers’ perceptions. The SCRM framework steps show significant variations, indicating different risk management practices within experience groups. Higher country income levels correlate with greater awareness and management of climate change risks. The study emphasises the need for comprehensive involvement in all steps of the SCRM framework to build resilient supply chains. The final article focuses on the interplay between climate change events, South African fruit exports and food safety, providing a comprehensive analysis of fruit damage claims. With the global temperatures witnessing a significant 1.1 °C surge since the pre-industrial times, scrutiny of the vulnerabilities of South Africa’s fruit export sector has increased. This industry contributes over $3 billion to the economy every year. By examining fruit damage claims from 2013 to 2022, the article illuminates distinct categories of claims, highlighting variations driven by elements such as weather patterns. Notably, the research identifies seasonal trends vital for risk mitigation planning. Both Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) and regression analytic models are employed to anticipate future claims. The conclusions drawn highlight the pressing need for tailormade policies, reinforced resilience tactics in maritime supply routes, thorough analysis of different fruit-type vulnerabilities, enriched data gathering, and fortified partnerships with key players. This strategic alignment is crucial to offset potential future damages and to safeguard the prosperity of South Africa’s fruit export sector amid mounting climate adversities. Overall, this dissertation contributes to the growing knowledge of climate change as a supply chain risk. It highlights the urgent need for comprehensive risk management practices and proactive measures to address the increasing frequency and severity of weather-related hazards. The findings offer practical guidelines for supply chain managers, marine insurers and policymakers in mitigating the impacts of climate change on global supply chains, particularly in the context of South Africa. The research also identifies gaps for further investigation and provides a foundation for future scientific contributions in this important study area.