Add climate change to the factors that shape global trade. Along with exchange rates, costs of production, availability of raw materials and market demand, a change in climate can redirect trade flows, raise the price of trade goods and create openings for new...
Pacific Alliance and Mercosur: Moving at Two Speeds?
Latin America’s economy is moving at two speeds, according to BBVA, with the Pacific Alliance gaining ground as Mercosur, the Common Market of the South, slips into reverse in 2015 and on into 2016. In its first-quarter 2016 outlook, the Spanish bank lowers its...
Copper Down Cycle Drags on Japan Traders
The copper down cycle has taken a big bite out of the profits of Japan’s trading companies. This morning, Mitsubishi Corp., Japan’s biggest trading house, announced ¥430 billion (US$3.8 billion) in write downs on a list of commodities assets, starting with...
Out of Luck? Chinese Economy in the Year of the Monkey
The Chinese economy – indeed the world economy – is in for a run of bad luck in the Lunar New Year that begins today, according to feng shui master Chen Shuaifu, who shared his forecast with NBC News. Master Chen forecasts a big slide in the world economy: "The global...
Where US Beef Comes from
Do you know where US beef comes from? Until last month, you could find out where your hamburger came from by reading the label on the package. Labeling meat products to disclose where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered was mandatory. But Congress has repealed...
November Import TEUs Up over Last Year, Down from Last Month
November import TEUs reached 1,639,165, for a 5% gain compared with November 2014, Datamyne’s current US import bill-of-lading data shows. This reverses the downward trend in year-over-year comparisons in October, when the 1,731,930 TEUs (20-foot-equivalent units)...
Wheat Exports Flattened as Dollar Rises
Wheat exports are being flattened by the strengthening dollar, as competitors with weaker currencies take US share of the global market for this and other agricultural products. Generally among the top 3 US agricultural exports (behind soybeans and corn), wheat...
Trade Data on China: Buying Less from the Americas
The slowdown in China’s economy is taking its toll on its imports from the Americas, our trade data on China through third-quarter 2015 shows. China’s imports from North America dropped 9%, while its imports from South America were down 11% in September 2015 compared...
Slowdown at Top US Ports: Bad News for Economy?
America’s busiest ports are sending a warning about the US economy, according to the Wall Street Journal. Citing data from Zepol (now part of Datamyne), the WSJ reports that imports at the three busiest ports – Los Angeles, Long Beach, and New York-New Jersey – fell...
A New HS Code for Tesla (and Other EV Makers)
Yet another sign that electric cars are catching on: A new 10-digit Harmonized Tariff System code has been established for the lithium-ion batteries used to power electrical vehicles: HS 8507.60.0010. Until now, the HS codes did not distinguish between EV batteries...