Based on discussions with those in our professional network and a visit to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, we expect that the plunge in imports will begin showing up in the real economy during the first two weeks of July. … READ MORE >
shipping
Canada’s economy surged last quarter, but U.S. tariff threats cloud 2025 forecast
Canada’s economy showed promising growth in the last quarter of 2024 and is poised to have a robust 2025—provided U.S. tariffs don’t take effect. … READ MORE >
How attacks on ships in the Red Sea are affecting trade
Trade through the Red Sea accounts for 15% of total global sea trade, including vital supplies of grains, seaborn liquid natural gas and oil. … READ MORE >
Activity at top 10 U.S. ports signals softening economy; manufacturing activity contracts
February inbound container shipments at the top 10 U.S. ports hit their lowest level since before the pandemic, according to the latest available port data aggregated by Bloomberg. … READ MORE >
The U.S. may see another supply whipsaw amid transport logjams
The months-long lockdown in Shanghai, China’s most populous city and home to the world’s largest container port, is causing a pile-up of ships at anchor off the Chinese coast. Factory shutdowns and the reduced flow of goods from the city’s port will cause another jolt to U.S. supply chain in the weeks and months to come.
The predictable knock-on effects of the Shanghai lockdown–while far from a total supply disruption akin to that of the early days of the pandemic—will certainly sustain or worsen supply shortages and sustain worldwide inflation. … READ MORE >
Biden’s infrastructure package: Impact on consumer products businesses
Hopefully this legislation provides a long-term improvement plan to ensure consumers have efficient, affordable and safe access to all types of consumer goods. … READ MORE >
Managing a supply chain: The short and long game for consumer goods companies
Persistent bottlenecks throughout the global supply chain stand in the way of middle market consumer goods companies’ ability to meet robust consumer demand. … READ MORE >
Global manufacturing activity and delta-induced supply chain disruptions
Rising costs and supply chain constraints continue to disrupt U.S. manufacturing activity and may worsen as the world’s factory floors brace for more shutdowns linked to the spread of the coronavirus delta variant. Even U.S. companies that do not have operations in other countries can expect to feel the strain, considering they likely have global suppliers somewhere in their supply chain. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Unexpected risk and a blocked Suez Canal
Just when optimism was returning to the global economy, a shortage of microchips threatens the automobile industry and a container ship gets stuck in the Suez Canal, threatening the global supply chain. … READ MORE >
Container crunch pushes shipping rates to record highs
Surging demand for Asian imports and a shortage of containers are congesting U.S. ports, causing headaches for companies importing from Asia, skyrocketing shipping rates and surging purchase prices for containers. … READ MORE >