RA WILLIAMS Distributors Limited says disruptions affecting Middle East shipping have contributed to delays in pharmaceutical imports and doubled freight and insurance costs on some routes, posing a fresh risk to margins that narrowed sharply during its latest financial year.

The Spanish Town-based distributor told the Jamaica Observer that no shipments had been cancelled and goods continued to arrive. However, supplies of some high-volume products, including IV fluids, had tightened and delivery times had lengthened.

RA Williams stopped short of attributing the tighter supplies solely to the war, saying broader global tensions had worsened container shortages and other logistics problems.