Supply Chain Research

Homebuilder Toll Brothers has delayed completion of some of its homes due to a shortage of light fittings which it has blamed in the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in China. China represented 50% of all U.S. imports of light fittings in 2019 with a 15.5% year over year drop due to the application of section 301 tariffs. A decline in seaborne shipments from China of 13.6% year over year in the first three weeks of February would suggest overall supplies have started to decline by have yet to collapse. Leading importers who appear wholly reliant on China include Home Depot and Masco, while ...