Why are global supply chains experiencing frequent disruptions?

Global supply chains are like big toy trains that carry all our favorite toys from one place to another, but sometimes they get stuck or delayed.

Imagine you and your friend each have a box of Legos, and you want to trade them. You send your box by mail, but the postman gets stuck in traffic, or maybe the truck breaks down on the way. That’s what happens with global supply chains, they're like that mail truck, carrying toys (or food, clothes, phones) from one country to another.

Sometimes, there are too many toys to carry at once, and the train can’t go as fast. That’s like when your mom is cooking for a big family dinner, she has to make more food than usual, so it takes longer to get everything ready.

Other times, parts of the track break down, like if the toy train's wheels fall off or there’s a snowstorm that covers the tracks. This can happen because of things like weather, workers going on strike (like when your classmates all decide not to play during recess), or even virus outbreaks, which make it hard for people to work.

So, just like how your toy train might get stuck, big toy trains around the world also get stuck, and that’s why we see so many delays in getting our favorite things!