Supply Chain Research

Australian exports continued their onward march in April, but saw a slowdown to 18% growth from 29% a month earlier. That resulted in a trade surplus that was just one quarter of the level expected by economists. Exports to China increased by 7% despite a slowdown in coal sales due to higher gold and iron ore shipments. U.S.-bound exports meanwhile increased by just 1% in April, and may have dropped 21% in May. The slowdown global exports in April was the result of Cyclone Debbie cutting coal exports by 38% on a month earlier in dollar-terms. Shipments of coal to China fell 59% though sa...