Supply Chain Research

Supply Chain Edge: Disjointed world, Tesla’s woes, bad canal choices

December 8, 2023

• Supply chains in 2024 face higher labor costs which may hinder investments in resilience. Firms are returning to “just in time” rather than “just in case” inventory strategies and diversification of suppliers is falling. Reshoring continues, however, as firms look to cut costs and risks even... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Outlooks for resilience and semiconductors; rare earth restrictions and vessel hijacking

November 24, 2023

• In new research this week with our colleagues from across S&P Global Market Intelligence, we look ahead to the key strategic trends and opportunities facing supply chains in 2024. Supply chain resilience is more important than ever, but falling profits and evidence of declining diversificati... Read more →

GE, Volvo have new options as Finland-India multimodal route arrives

June 23, 2021

A new multimodal rail-and-sea shipping service has been initiated between Finland and India. That comes amid a wider trend for shipping between Asia, particularly China, and Europe by rail to avoid the recent travails faced by the ocean freight industry. Other benefits include enhanced transit... Read more →

Cargotec and Konecranes announce merger to chase cost savings

October 8, 2020

Logistics equipment suppliers Cargotec and Konecranes have announced a merger due to be completed in 2022 in order to become a “global leader in material flows”. There’s evidence of a continued slowdown in activity from both firms with U.S. seaborne imports linked to Cargotec and Konecranes do... Read more →

Stora Enso shipments slide as COVID-19 crumples paper demand

April 22, 2020

Paper producer Stora Enso has suffered a loss of demand due to office closures linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm’s CEO, Annica Bresky, has stated the firm faces “an accelerated structural decline for paper” and has extended its cost cutting program to cope. The drop in demand over the ... Read more →

Tariff Quote Watch: Volvo Looks To Swerve Around Tariffs With Cost Cutting

July 22, 2019

Volvo Cars has announced a new round of cost cutting in response to “increased pricing pressure and new tariffs (which) have decreased our operating profit” according to CEO Håkan Samuelsson. While Volvo has a low direct exposure to China – which only represented 2.8% of U.S. seaborne imports ... Read more →

Tariff Quote Watch: Husqvarna Cuts Through Trade War Troubles With Supply Switching

April 24, 2019

Power-tool maker Husqvarna reported an increase in its 1Q profit margins despite an ongoing drag from tariffs and higher raw material costs. Management have applied by price increases and supply chain upgrades to do so. The impact of price increases can be seen in revenues that rose despite a ... Read more →

Tariff Quote Watch: Volvo May Not Hoist Flag for Polestar If Tariffs Are Wrong

March 8, 2019

Geely-owned Volvo will review its plans to sell Polestar electric vehicles in the U.S. “dependent on the type of tariffs” that are applied, according to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. The issue is whether Volvo will produce the vehicle in China and sell to the U.S., or assemble it from kits at... Read more →

Tariff Quote Watch: Volvo’s Very Well Timed Factory Opens as Tariffs Rise

February 11, 2019

Volvo Cars reported an unchanged operating profit for 4Q 2018 compared to a year earlier, partly as the result of a drag from tariffs as well as weak U.S. sedan sales. CEO Håkan Samuelsson has stated that the firm’s new Charleston, SC. factory has “been well timed considering emerging tariff i... Read more →

Sweden’s Strikes Carry Cautionary Tale For Ports

January 28, 2019

Labor disputes at major ports are starting to become an issue for global supply chains again. Dockworkers at Maersk’s terminal in Los Angeles have protested against port automation plans, while the Swedish Dockworkers Union has gone on strike at 15 ports. Strikes can have a long-term impact on... Read more →

Supply Chain Research

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