Supply Chain Research

Chinese managers’ export order expectations for April continued to reflect an expansion, albeit at a slightly lower rate than March’s near-six year highs. That followed a 16% jump in exports in March. The import picture dimmed, however, with the lowest reading since October being bad news for key suppliers in South Korea and Japan. The slower import figure suggests managers do not see a short term impact from the “100 day plan” between the U.S. and China that is designed in part to boost U.S. exports.