To round off each issue, we ask our contributing business leaders for their views on the same question. In issue 60 we asked: What trends do you forecast to impact your industry in 2023?
“The average long-run thermal coal price continues to shift higher in the face of reserve depletion, limited new investment, concerns over energy supply security, and a multitude of other supply risks. In the short term, driven by the reduction in Russian gas supply to Europe, two key pipelines have shut down, driving gas prices to 10 times the pre-COVID-19 levels.”
“The great challenge for our industry is to supply sustainable packaging solutions which still provide the necessary functionality of shelf life and hygiene required by the food industry. At the same time, we must ensure that these developments are commercially viable for our customers. There will be further development of recyclable mono web and common polyethylene-based materials, as well as the use of heat seal and barrier coatings applied to both plastics and papers which will become more prevalent. At Schur, we are well down the track in providing our customers with sustainable options.”
“With aviation continuing to grow year on year with high growth between now and 2030, this will result in airlines and maintenance facilities continuing to see a shortage of skilled people including engineers and pilots as well as spare parts. This will put a lot of pressure on the whole ecosystem across the range of services. This is not just in the business world. It will include tourism, emergency services, government support, and military, and then in the cargo world, this can result in an increase in commodities. The upside of this is that as a career choice and industry it is one that will offer sustainable growth.”
