The word from the Panjiva research team: global trade activity held steady again in July. Specifically, there was a 0.2% increase in the number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. market, as well as a 0.5% increase in the number of U.S. companies receiving waterborne shipments from global manufacturers.
These days, macro indicators tell a muddled story about the trajectory of the U.S. economy. Similarly, our data suggests that we’re holding steady but certainly doesn’t point to a robust recovery:
- The number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. experienced another 2% month-over-month increase from June to July. While good news, it’s important to keep in mind that this month-over-month increase compares unfavorably to the 12% June-to-July increase in 2009 and the 8% June-to-July increase in 2008.
- The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List declined slightly from 16% to 15%.
- The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months held steady at 23%.
- A final bit of good news: for the past three months, there have been over 1 million shipments to the U.S. — a streak that we haven’t seen since October of 2008.
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 July , there were 93,911 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 July, there were 80,898 significant buyers.
