Supply Chain Research

Microsoft has started pre-orders for its new Xbox One X games console (also known as Project Scorpio) that will be available from November 7. The device is aimed at the Sony PlayStation, which had a minor refresh in late 2016, and the recently launched Nintendo Switch. Panjiva data shows that U.S. sales of videogame consoles are likely to be going through a renaissance. Total imports in the second quarter climbed 23.5% on a year earlier, while seaborne shipment data for July indicates this could have accelerated to 61.5%.

Shipments based on all HS 9504 products through most recent month, dollar values specifically HS 9504.50 through prior month. Source: Panjiva

That improvement has been led by imports Nintendo’s Switch and related products. They were 2.6x their prior year’s levels in the three months to July 31. Meanwhile shipments of PlayStation products fell 12.3% and Xbox dropped 60.3%. Shipments of the latter will likely pick-up in October, though early sales may be transported by air instead and so won’t appear in initial data.

U.S. imported shipments based on keyword search for PlayStation/PS3/PS4, Xbox and Nintendo. Lower panel shows rate of of change for total imports in dollars through penultimate month, volumes for last month Source: Panjiva