Supply Chain Research

The reopening of economies in Asia, Europe and the Americas as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes may boost global trade, though the shipping industry could continue to be disrupted for several months. U.S. seaborne imports for example fell by 19.8% year over year in the first half of May compared to a year earlier, accelerating from a 5.1% decline in April. Shipments dropped across the board with imports from China down by 15.2% and those from Asia ex-China off by 23.3%. The fastest drop was seen in imports from Europe including a 54.3% slide in shipments from the U.K. The latter is due in par...