Enrica Centorame, managing director of supply chain firm Global Forwarding, says the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a series of disruptions to global supply networks, with escalating industrial strife on Australia’s waterfront now looming as another problem.

Speaking to The Age Economics Editor Nowel Towell, Ms Centorame said: “The major retailers are very clever, they did a lot of ordering early, so they should be OK, people like the Big Ws, will maybe just be OK for the stock inventory levels. But the smaller retailers, the one that took a financial hit through COVID, they don’t have the cash flow to place orders”.

Ms Centrorame has issued a warning to shoppers in the market for sports or fitness equipment, cosmetics, toiletries and cars to get organised early to avoid disappointment.