Our crack research team has uncovered sad news.  Bunny shipments are down.

The word from the Panjiva research team: we saw a modest uptick in global trade activity in March.  Specifically, the number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. experienced a 4% month-over-month increase from February to March.

The number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. was essentially flat versus February.  This compares unfavorably to last year’s 3%  February-to-March increase and 2009′s 2% February-to-March increase.

Additional notes:

• The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List declined slightly from from 19% to 18%.
• The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months also declined slightly, from 26% to 25%.

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 March , there were 94,026 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 March, there were 80,845 significant buyers.