Supply Chain Research

A drop in container shipping rates is normal for the post Lunar New Year period but has come as fuel costs have increased, squeezing container-lines’ profitability. Orient Overseas has cut back some Trans-Pacific services, possibly for competitive as well as demand reasons. Also: SQM may be trying to squeeze the lithium market, leaving Chinese buyers in the cold; Daimler and Heineken may see disruptions from CMA-CGM’s slipped sailing; U.S. auto sales accelerate in reverse, imports out of favor; Volkswagen’s good news for Baltimore may come at Houston’s expense; India stays hopeful despit...