Supply Chain Research

Kubota will raise prices for its agricultural and construction equipment by 2% to 3% in the coming year as a response to higher steel prices that are linked to U.S. tariffs. That follows a similar price increase from Deere & Co. Kubota hasn’t slowed its use of imported steel though with its U.S. seaborne imports having risen by 5.4% year over year in 4Q 2018 and increased by a further 18.4% year over year in January. It may face other tariff challenges though. China accounted for 12.1% of Kubota’s imports in the 12 months to Jan. 31 while imports of engines, which accounted for 24.8%, ma...