It may have been National Beer Day, but many here in the States yesterday hoisted a bottle of brew from Mexico, just south of the border but far and away the top source for US imported beer. Total US beer imports were up 11.7% by value, and 6.9% by volume, in 2014...
Wild Card in Polyethylene Trade: Iran Sanctions
Market watchers trying to factor in Iran’s potential return to global markets in oil, gas and petrochemicals have no choice but to spin many an alternative scenario. Limited sanction relief provided by November 2013’s Geneva Interim Agreement has resulted in limited...
Risky for Business: Trade Sanctions
by Peter Quinter, guest columnist It has been a year since President Obama issued Executive Order 13660, entitled “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine,” and opened an economic front in the international dispute with Russia...
New Report Ranks NVOCCs in US Maritime Imports
Datamyne’s new quarterly ranking report on the top 20 NVOCCs (non-vessel operating common carriers) in US maritime import trade wraps up 2014 with Expeditors International of Washington (EXDO), Blue Anchor America Line (BANQ), and Christal Lines (CHSL) ranked No. 1, 2...
Chinese Trade with Latin America Set to Climb
Argentina’s Congress has just approved a bundle of agreements that set the terms of a “strategic integral alliance” with China. As MercoPress reports, the two countries will be cooperating on infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, mining, technology, and agricultural...
Need to be Nimble: China’s Economy in the Year of Goat
The Year of the Goat (or, by some interpretations, the Year of the Sheep) challenges China’s economy to sustain a steady climb over some rough terrain, at a slower but not too-slow rate (it’s now forecast at 6.8% by the International Monetary Fund). And, all the...
Can US Polyethylene Net Exports Expect a Lift from Shale?
The trade data shows US polyethylene net exports decreased 20% in October and 7% in November 2014 compared to the same months in 2013 – continuing a downward trend that has persisted since 2009 and through last year’s first three quarters: The US is still a net...
US Poultry Banned in China
China has banned all imports of US poultry and eggs following outbreaks of avian influenza in the Pacific Northwest, reports Reuters. The ban is effective January 8; any poultry shipped after that date is to be returned or destroyed. Other countries have restricted...
Fasten Your Seatbelts for Turbulence in Chemicals Prices
by Brian J. McCormick, guest columnist In September’s column, we compared first-quarter with second-quarter best and average prices for the basket of 10 chemical commodities that make up the Datamyne US Best Price Benchmark (posted to the Datamyne homepage). This...
Hot Properties: Freight Forwarder, NVOCC M&As Stoked
December’s string of acquisitions in the global logistics sector – including Berkshire Hathaway’s acquisition of Charter Brokerage, FedEx’s of GENCO, C.H. Robinson’s of Freightquote.com – seems likely to stoke this year’s trend to more M&A activity in transport,...