Asia at a Crossroads: Reinvention, Risk & Supply Chain Growth

Mar 23, 2026

Brett Marshall, Editor-in-Chief of LogiSYM Magazine and pharma logistics expert, and Raymon Krishnan, President of The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society and Singapore logistics veteran, explore Asia's shifting trade patterns. They discuss domestic market growth, Singapore as a coordination hub, practical AI in procurement and freight, workforce reskilling, risk management, and reverse logistics innovation.

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INSIGHT

Infrastructure Limits Behind ASEAN Growth

Brett cautions that regional growth masks infrastructure gaps: ports, terminals, and TEU capacity must scale to rising intra-regional trade.
He emphasises that ASEAN remains country-by-country in execution despite high-level policy.

INSIGHT

Reinvention Not Mere Rebalancing

Raymon sees the moment as reinvention: firms pivot to new markets, adopt robotics and AI, and accelerate reshoring/nearshoring.
He observed Chinese logisticians reacting by seeking new markets rather than fretting tariffs.

INSIGHT

Domestic Demand Driving Southeast Shifts

Raymon highlights rapid domestic demand growth across ASEAN (e.g., Indonesia's large population) as a major shift, not just China-plus sourcing moves.
He notes Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia are maturing as manufacturing sources while domestic markets expand.

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Asia is playing a bigger role in global supply chains as trade shifts, regional demand grows, and companies focus on execution over noise.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by Raymon Krishnan, President of The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society, and Brett Marshall, Editor-in-Chief of LogiSYM Magazine, for a grounded conversation on what’s happening across Asia and Southeast Asia. From Singapore’s role as a logistics and coordination hub to the rise of domestic markets across the region, they walk through the changes influencing how supply chains operate today.

Scott, Raymon, and Brett discuss how companies are adjusting to new trade patterns, building stronger regional capabilities, and managing ongoing disruption while keeping day-to-day operations on track. They share practical examples of how AI is being used in procurement and freight, while emphasizing the need to focus on what delivers results.

The conversation also covers the growing importance of risk management, the need for continuous learning, and the role of relationships in keeping supply chains running. The episode closes with insights on Singapore’s next phase of growth, the rise of reverse logistics innovation, and the people-first mindset that continues to drive the industry forward.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(03:38) Warm-up stories and sports talk

(08:03) Optimism and caution in global supply chains

(12:34) Looking past headlines in supply chain news

(16:30) Staying focused amid constant disruption

(21:23) Rebalancing vs reinvention in global supply chains

(30:26) Practical AI use cases in logistics

(32:49) Skills and leadership for the future workforce

(39:46) Singapore’s logistics strategy and infrastructure

(46:41) Reverse logistics and sustainability initiatives

(50:07) LogiSYM APAC and industry collaboration

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Raymon Krishnan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymonkrishnan/
Connect with Brett Marshall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-marshall-944b537/
Learn more about The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society: https://lscms.org/
Learn more about LogiSYM Magazine: https://magazine.logisym.org/magazine/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/asia-crossroads-reinvention-risk-supply-chain-growth-1561