Supply Chain Research

U.S. car and light truck sales rose by 1% on a year earlier in August with the rate of growth in imported vehicles also rising by 1% – the slowest since a decline this time last year. That reflects slowing, but still substantial, growth in imported light truck sales of 21%. The slowdown appears to have been anticipated by foreign automakers whose exports to the U.S. fell 8% in June to the lowest (831k vehicles) for the month in four years. They may now be building inventories ahead of anticipated section 232 duties after a 12% rise in shipments in July and 3% in August by sea. The risks ...