Supply Chain Research

Supply Chain Edge: Olympian sourcing, Mexican metals, expensive memories

July 26, 2024

– The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games present an opportunity to revive the declining sports equipment and apparel supply chains, which saw US imports drop from US$20.97 billion in 2021 to US$14.85 billion in 2023.
– Elsewhere in consumer goods, there are protests in Bangladesh an... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Tariff man dons his cape once more; Australia gets more Pacific

February 9, 2024

• The impact of Red Sea shipping disruptions is becoming clearer. In new research, we look at the impact on Australian supply chains of both shipping challenges and port strikes. Container shipping prices are falling, partly due to expectations of excess supply. Taiwan’s government is not conc... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Disjointed world, Tesla’s woes, bad canal choices

December 8, 2023

• Supply chains in 2024 face higher labor costs which may hinder investments in resilience. Firms are returning to “just in time” rather than “just in case” inventory strategies and diversification of suppliers is falling. Reshoring continues, however, as firms look to cut costs and risks even... Read more →

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Peaking like it’s 2019: 2023 US peak season supply chain activity

September 8, 2023

• US import activity has slowed throughout 2023, culminating in a 12% year-over-year drop in seaborne imports of containerized freight in August. While maritime containerized freight represents 32% of total imports by value, it is nonetheless indicative of slowing supply chain activity more br... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Navigating forests, strikes ahead, localized Lego

September 1, 2023

• In new research, we show how the EU Deforestation Regulation will have an effect on supply chains, ranging from food and personal care to autos and furniture. Elsewhere in commodities, there have been further Indian food trade restrictions and a mainland Chinese seafood import ban to contend... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Moving to Mexico, clearing the chip traffic jam

July 21, 2023

• In new research this week, S&P Global Market Intelligence looks at soccer ball supply chains, as the FIFA Women’s World Cup gets started, and finds rapid growth, rising prices and recycling challenges. US retail sales are rising, potentially aiding firms ranging from home appliances to appar... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Seasonal clock ticking for labor settlement

June 9, 2023

Labor action at US west coast ports raises the specter of logistics disruptions ahead of the peak shipping season. Consumer discretionary products, particularly back-to-school items including children’s apparel, are particularly exposed from a seasonal perspective if a labor deal is not reache... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Athleisure close to achieving balance

June 2, 2023

Athleisure is typical of the apparel industry in still trying to achieve balance between inventory and sales, but Lululemon appears to have found a successful formula as supply chains normalize. The personal computer sector is stuck in a period of inventory normalization in the face of sliding... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Slower, steadier and smoother

April 14, 2023

Evidence from US seaborne imports shows that supply chain activity continues to slow, further reducing pressure on supply chains. US containerized imports fell by nearly a quarter in March versus a year earlier, led by consumer durable goods. The S&P Global PMI for manufacturing supplier deliv... Read more →

Inflation keeps growing as shipping rates dip

March 8, 2022

Shipping rates out of China have likely providing some relief to shippers even if still elevated. This accounted for a drop of 5.6% in rates out of China on average since the week of February 11, up 1.3% since the beginning of the year. Rates to the U.S. west coast and Europe followed this tre... Read more →

Supply Chain Research

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