Supply Chain Research

Japan’s exports fell 1% in September vs. a year earlier, ending a 21 month run of growth. With exports to China and the U.S. down slightly it may be tempting to blame their trade spat for a knock-on effect to wider Asian supply chains. A 6% slide in exports of electrical appartus and 2% in semiconductors appears to corroborate this. Yet, a 4% slide in exports of cars and trucks suggests other factors are present, potentially including disruptions from Typhoon Jebi earlier in the month. With a 2.6x expansion in bilateral duties between China and the U.S. at the end of September it will on...