Supply Chain Research

The U.S. ITC will continue its anti-dumping investigation of Chinese wooden cabinet exports. The furniture industry in the U.S. in under pressure after retail sales fell 0.9% year over year in 1Q. While the manufacturers need protecting, retailers can ill-afford higher costs. Imports from China already fell 8.6% year over year in March. However, shipments from Vietnam, Canada and Mexico have partly compensated so that total imports actually rose 2.5%. Not all retailers are cutting their imports with Ikea and Home Depot both accelerating shipments, possibly to build stockpiles ahead of th...