The word from the Panjiva research team: we saw solid seasonal growth in global trade activity in May.  Specifically, the number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. experienced an 8% month-over-month increase from April to May.

The number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. was up 6% from April to May.  This aligns with last year’s robust 9% increase, 2009’s +2%, and 2008’s +3%.

Additional notes:

• The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List continued its gradual increase from 19% to 20%.
• The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months also experienced an increase from 26% to 27%.

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 May, there were 94,302 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 May, there were 81,390 significant buyers.

Today, Panjiva launched its first Quarterly Trendspotting Report which contains a quantitative analysis of the macro trends shaping global trade during Q1 2011. This new initiative draws on Trendspotting, our intelligence tool which helps sourcing executives figure out which geographies are trending “hot” for the products they seek across the globe. The report provides a clear view of how some of the most rapidly changing product categories performed relative to the same quarter one year prior and can aid sourcing executives in making key decisions.

Some interesting findings from Q1 2011:

• U.S. Sourcing Executives are Still Dependent on China — The sheer dollar value of imports from China grew by over $13 billion. This is disconnected from what we have been hearing directly from sourcing executives that are eager to do business elsewhere. U.S. companies continue to be dependent on imports from China.
• High-end Products are In Demand in U.S. — Smartphones and precious stones came in as top drivers of imports this quarter with a 21 percent and 40 percent change, respectively.
• American Manufacturing Hype is Mostly Just That — Export growth was driven first and foremost by an increase in oil exports. Other export winners included cars and high end electrical products suggesting that the manufacturing resurgence is not broad-based.

The complete report, with more in-depth analysis on specific geographies and product categories, is available for free download at http://panjiva.com/info/q1_tradeflows/.