Supply Chain Research

U.S. laptop computer sales may suffer a fourth year of contraction after imports in the three months to Nov. 30 fell 0.1% on a year earlier. That came despite a surge in shipments in September and October, potentially as importers anticipated the implementation of tariffs on Chinese exports. That’s now been delayed until at least March. The computer firms are following different import strategies. Dell’s imports increased 65.0% – its peak sales are earlier in the year suggesting it may have been stockpiling ahead of tariffs. Lenovo’s 69.5% rise may reflect inventory building for the laun...