Supply Chain Research

Global trade volumes climbed 5% on a year earlier in September, continuing a run of growth going back to January 2016 and the fourth sequential new high. Export growth of 12% in central/east Europe was helped by Russian commodity volumes. A 10% expansion seen in emerging Asia may not continue after exports in South Korea, China, Taiwan and India all slowed in October. Nonetheless, should the current rate of growth (3.8% year-to-date) continue in the fourth quarter, then 2017 will see the fastest rate of trade expansion since 2011.