US apparel imports posted a 1.77% gain in April over March, but were down -4.94% compared with the same month a year ago, our data shows. Hard to call April’s positive result the start of a rebound: As Sourcing Journal reports, weak demand and muted growth remain the...
Chinese CORE Steel Imports Drop 80 Percent as US Tariffs Soar
The US Department of Commerce just released its final decision in its investigations into charges of dumping and illegal government subsidization of corrosion-resistant (CORE) steel from China, India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan. But preliminary (and slightly...
Latin American Economy’s China Syndrome
The Latin American economy’s recession could deepen if China’s economy slows much more, says the International Monetary Fund in a new report that marks down already gloomy forecasts for the region. Brazil, Latin America’s biggest economy, is a drag on the entire...
How Climate Change Impacts Trade Now: Infographic
Add climate change to the factors that shape global trade. Along with exchange rates, costs of production, availability of raw materials and market demand, a change in climate can redirect trade flows, raise the price of trade goods and create openings for new...
Pacific Alliance and Mercosur: Moving at Two Speeds?
Latin America’s economy is moving at two speeds, according to BBVA, with the Pacific Alliance gaining ground as Mercosur, the Common Market of the South, slips into reverse in 2015 and on into 2016. In its first-quarter 2016 outlook, the Spanish bank lowers its...
Why That Ice Cream Cone May Cost You (Pricey Vanilla Beans)
No fooling: if you favor plain vanilla, your ice cream cone may cost you more this summer, thanks to pricey vanilla beans. Blame it on last year’s bad crop in Madagascar. As Eater reports, demand for vanilla (among spices, second only to saffron in price) is up while...
Copper Down Cycle Drags on Japan Traders
The copper down cycle has taken a big bite out of the profits of Japan’s trading companies. This morning, Mitsubishi Corp., Japan’s biggest trading house, announced ¥430 billion (US$3.8 billion) in write downs on a list of commodities assets, starting with...
West Coast Ports Cargo Volumes Gain in February
West Coast ports cargo volumes continued their rebound in February, our bill-of-lading trade data shows. Port of Los Angeles import volumes, measured in TEUs (or 20-foot equivalent units), were up 48% in February compared with the same month a year ago. The top ranked...
NVOCC US Import TEU Share Hits 37 Percent
NVOCC US import TEU share reached 37.4% in 2015, a bump up from 2014’s share of 36.0%, and a 10 percentage point gain over 10 years, our trade data shows. Global companies’ confidence that more shippers will be outsourcing their logistics is seen as driving M&A...
All about Alcohol: Infographic on US Liquor Trade
Liquor delivered another year of growth in 2015, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States – or DISCUS. Domestic supplier sales were up 4.1% and volumes up 2.3%. A key driver of growth is demand for American whiskeys – Bourbon, Tennessee and Rye...