Supply Chain Research

Supply Chain Edge: Copper security, expensive technology, Gemini’s aims

February 28, 2025

– The latest wave of tariff announcements from US President Donald Trump includes a national security review of copper imports, which may affect Chile and Peru, among others; and a threatened increase in forestry product duties. Trade policy actions are not limited to the US, with the EU havin... Read more →

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Supply Chain Edge: Early peak evidence, AI chip delay, Chile’s woes

August 9, 2024

– US seaborne imports of containerized freight surged 14% year over year in July, with sequential growth of 8% in consumer durables suggesting peak season is arriving early. Further evidence includes a pull-forward of Prime Day goods and comments from container line A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S. It... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Olympian sourcing, Mexican metals, expensive memories

July 26, 2024

– The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games present an opportunity to revive the declining sports equipment and apparel supply chains, which saw US imports drop from US$20.97 billion in 2021 to US$14.85 billion in 2023.
– Elsewhere in consumer goods, there are protests in Bangladesh an... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Stellar start, building ban, India’s Apple

April 12, 2024

• In new research this week, we find that US seaborne imports have a stellar start to 2024 with growth of 15% year over year in the first quarter, driven by industrial materials. Caution is needed as growth may slow and the prospects for the peak season are clouded by supply chain disruptions ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Red Sea meets Black Friday, cars impounded, PlayStation cut

February 16, 2024

• In new research this week, we take a deep dive into the impact of Red Sea shipping disruptions on the apparel industry. Should delays last until later in the year, the peak shipping season could be affected, while most firms for now see higher costs as a bigger challenge than delays. Elsewhe... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Tesla’s canal route pain, upbeat apparel, mixed chips

January 12, 2024

• In new research this week, we examine the dynamic situation facing logistics networks due to violence in the Red Sea. The impact on US supply chains may be felt most keenly by selected food products and automakers, while the impact on consumer goods is lower due to seasonality.
• On th... Read more →

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Supply Chain Edge: Reversible reshoring, Israeli supply chain risks, EU’s mainland China strategy

December 15, 2023

• In new research this week, we dive into the risks for Israeli supply chains from the worsening security situation in the Red Sea; the possibility of a reversal of reshoring for Bangladesh’s apparel industry; the EU’s as-yet undefined supply chain de-risking strategy vis-à-vis mainland China;... Read more →

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Supply Chain Edge: The new Vietnam

April 21, 2023

Thailand might be the next computer supply chain hub, although there will be a fight to displace mainland China as the main exporter and beat Mexico and Vietnam as rapidly expanding centers. We published new research this week looking at downturn-era supply chain strategies among the global to... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Slower, steadier and smoother

April 14, 2023

Evidence from US seaborne imports shows that supply chain activity continues to slow, further reducing pressure on supply chains. US containerized imports fell by nearly a quarter in March versus a year earlier, led by consumer durable goods. The S&P Global PMI for manufacturing supplier deliv... Read more →

Rapid apparel reshoring: Alternatives to sourcing from Myanmar

April 3, 2023

Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing’s exit from manufacturing in Myanmar is reportedly due to elevated political risks. Myanmar’s share of apparel imports to the EU, Japan and the US has stalled at 2.1% following the 2021 coup d’etat. Alternative supplier locations, which include: similar or larger ap... Read more →

Showing research about Bangladesh