London, UK Food continues to be the commodity most at risk of theft in the global supply chain and now accounts for a third of all hijacking incidents – up 29% in 2022. The data suggest thieves are increasingly targeting basic goods that have experienced significant price increases, according to the analysis from BSI. The report found that food and beverage items now represent 22% of all thefts (up from 17% in 2022 and 14% in 2021).
Thefts of food in transit are often relatively easy in comparison to higher-value commodities, as these commodities tend not to be shipped with tracking devices and anti-theft technologies – notable incidents from 2023 include the theft of 200 hams in Spain before Christmas.
Types of thefts have changed, with cargo theft remaining notably high, indicating the importance of leveraging smart technology solutions to mitigate this risk. There has been a drop in thefts from warehouses (26% to 21%) but a rise in theft of containers or trailers (4% to 14%). and of employee belongings, truck parts or cash (7% to 10%).
Thefts are highest in Europe (37%) and North America (23%). Nearly seven in ten (68%) thefts in 2023 affected trucks, although this varies by region, with violent hijackings more common in North and South America, and thieves more commonly targeting parked trucks in Europe, linked to a lack of secured parking as well as rest requirements for drivers.
Jim Yarbrough, global director, Supply Chain Solutions, BSI, said: “Food and beverage continue to be the top commodities stolen in transit throughout the supply chain. Such products are always in high demand, and inflationary factors have resulted in sharp price increases over the past few years.
“To better navigate the challenges of the modern global supply chain landscape, supply chain leaders can make the most of supply chain intelligence solutions to help them implement proactive and robust supply chain risk management strategies. Equally, the shared experience of the global pandemic and subsequent geopolitical and economic challenges has taught us that no single organization can handle supply chain management on their own – collaboration is absolutely critical.”
