When Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s iPhone 4, he bragged about how much money software developers had made by creating Apps for the iPhone platform…  A staggering $1 Billion.  Indeed, a remarkable ecosystem has grown up around the iPhone platform.  But it’s not just software developers that comprise the iPhone ecosystem.  Apple’s supply chain partners play a crucial role, as do all the companies that make iPhone-related products.

We were curious to see how quickly an ecosystem would grow up around the iPad, so we took a look at shipments that included the word “iPad.”  See below for a graph of shipments of iPad-related products (iPad sleeve, iPad gummy crystal case, iPad screen shield, etc.).   9 in April, 20 in May, and 51 in June.  And Panjiva Search shows that there are more than 30 companies behind these products.

Apple fanboys should take note that these are NOT shipments of actual iPads.  Super-secretive Apple has figured out that they should call the iPads something other than iPads on shipping documents.  Nevertheless, the data serves as a dramatic illustration of just how quickly manufacturers are hopping on the iPad bandwagon.

By the way, for comparison’s sake, take a look at shipments of iPhone-related products:

The word from the Panjiva research team: global trade activity held steady in June.  Specifically, there was a 1% increase in the number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. market, as well as a 1% increase in the number of U.S. companies receiving waterborne shipments from global manufacturers.

The June data — together with fears about weak U.S. consumer spending, European debt, and rising input costs in China — leaves us feeling cautious about the months ahead.  However, there is good news:

• The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List declined slightly to 16% after remaining flat for 2 straight months.
• The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months also declined slightly to 23%.
• The number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. saw a 2% month-over-month increase from May to June.  This compares favorably to 2% month-over-month decrease in 2009 and a 5% month-over-month decrease in 2008.
• The number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. saw a robust 26% year-over-year increase in June, although year-over-year comparisons continue to be a bit misleading, since global trade was struggling this time last year.

Methodological notes:

• Manufacturers that have suffered a 50% or greater decline in volume shipped to American customers in the most recent three month period, versus the same period a year ago, are on the Panjiva Watch List.
• “Significant manufacturers” are companies that have sent 10 or more shipments to American customers within the last year. As of the end of June, there were 92,616 significant manufacturers.
• “Significant buyers” are U.S. companies that have received 10 or more shipments from overseas manufacturers within the last year. As of the end of June, there were 80,155 significant buyers.

Over at Manufacturing.net, we’ve posted an opinion piece on where sourcing is headed as wage rates rise in China…

Spread The Word: There Isn’t A Next ‘China’

Prices of products made in China are rising. In the short term, this is bad news for consumers and businesses that buy products made in China (read: everyone). As a result, a lot of people in the manufacturing world are asking, “Where’s the ‘Next China?’”

The answer to this question is vitally important, but not particularly uplifting. Unfortunately, there is no “Next China.” Sourcing executives would do well to spread the word — and fast.

Read the rest.