Concerns are growing over the strength of the food supply chain amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In normal times, the global network of producers and distributors responsible for moving food around the world functions smoothly.

Obviously, these aren’t normal times. The unprecedented turn-of-events caused by coronavirus are challenging the resiliency of the food supply chain.

Will cracks emerge?

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An unprecedented decline in oil demand has caused inventories to build sharply in 2020. The potential for storage to "run out" by this summer has been widely raised, sowing panic in the oil market.

Is this true? How full are global crude inventories? Do inventory levels vary depending on geography? Where are stocks highest? Have any locations hit a plateau?

These are some of the questions we covered in a recent webinar using Ursa inventory data. Click below to watch the video.

Are you interested in learning how satellite imagery can be turned into valuable data?

If so, and you’re in Houston on November 13, then please swing by a networking event we’re hosting that evening (details and RSVP here).

The amount of crude oil China holds in storage became a pertinent question this month when freight rates to Asia reached record highs, discouraging flows on key supply routes from the Middle East and the United States.

Were China’s inventories sufficient to withstand declines in imports? Would refineries have to slow down?

The timing was tough. Storage tanks were already draining before the spike in freight rates.

The fire that engulfed a Philadelphia refinery on June 21 caused such extensive damage the owner decided to permanently close the financially-struggling facility.

It isn’t unusual for refineries to experience natural & man-made disasters. When these events strike, people are eager for information on the extent of destruction which can sometimes be difficult to obtain.

A list of the most pertinent questions facing the oil market would look something like this:

Will the ending of US waivers for buyers of Iranian crude drive the country’s exports to zero? Are there other producers who might increase output to replace lost supply?