Supply Chain Pressure Forces Narrower Planning
Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka described mounting supply chain strain at an ASCM CHAINge conference panel in Long Beach.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Transportation
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At the ASCM CHAINge conference in Long Beach, California, Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, described supply chain pressure during a keynote panel. Panelists said companies are repeatedly being asked to pivot and their planning horizons are narrowing.
Why it matters
Each new trade announcement changes the assumptions behind supply chain plans, leaving companies less able to plan far ahead. For Long Beach, home to one of the nation's major ports, the discussion highlights how geopolitics translates directly into daily cargo decisions.
The panel offered qualitative observations rather than specific operational figures on revenue, volume, or costs. Details on how planning horizons have shortened over time were not quantified in the available reporting.
The players
Gene Seroka
Gene Seroka is executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, one of the busiest container ports in the United States, and spoke at the panel about supply chain pressure.
Nicholas Burns
Nicholas Burns is a former U.S. Ambassador to China who brings diplomatic experience to discussions of trade and geopolitics.
Salvador Miñarro
Salvador Miñarro is CEO of Darnel Group, a company participating in the panel on the practical realities of global supply chains.
Tosca Derrick
Tosca Derrick is a licensed customs broker and leader in Baker Tilly's global trade management practice, focusing on the regulatory side of cross-border trade.
The details
Panelists Nicholas Burns, Salvador Miñarro, and Tosca Derrick discussed how geopolitics connects to moving goods, managing costs, and choosing production locations, moderated by Nick Vyas. The discussion emphasized that companies are being asked to pivot repeatedly as trade conditions shift.
Timeline
• Article on the ASCM CHAINge panel remarks was published November 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
The shift from just-in-time inventory toward resilience-focused planning that gained momentum after 2020 is being tested by frequent trade changes. Companies now face shorter planning windows, which pressures ports, customs brokers, and manufacturers to adapt faster.
Shippers and importers may need to build more flexibility into contracts and sourcing as planning windows shorten. Consumers could see effects in product availability and pricing if companies keep pivoting supply routes.
The takeaway
Companies that treat supply chains as adaptable systems rather than fixed plans will be better positioned as trade conditions keep changing.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Transportation for context on how these pressures move goods.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Logistics Management.
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