Supply Chain Research

Americans’ appetite for foreign ammunition continued to grow at a rapid rate in January. Panjiva data shows imports of bullets, cartridges and shot climbed 83% in January on a year earlier to reach 1,479 tons. That compares to a 98% growth in 2016 overall, and was led by shipments from Industrial Surquillo of Peru and Poongsan of South Korea. That contrasts with imports of completed weapons and parts. These dropped 30% on a year earlier, matching a 20% drop in background checks according to the FBI.