It’s too soon to tell whether and to what extent the US federal government shutdown will impact US imports. But it’s not too soon to start keeping track. Here’s what our bill of lading data shows about the volume of trade through four major ports October 1 through 5...
Apple Season
It’s time to watch US import data for signs that new Apple products are ready for picking. The Loop reports that Apple has sent out invitations to an event on September 10 at the company’s Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. Cue the rumors that a new iPhone is about to...
Peruvian Economy Disappoints
Is this the curse of commodities export dependence at work? Peru's gross domestic product expanded 5.0% in May, lower than the expected 5.5 to 6.0% growth, the government announced last week. Barely two weeks earlier, President Ollanta Humala was remarking on Peru’s...
Building Demand
Construction equipment rolls up trade gains, but with a touch of the brakes Last month’s searches of our US import database were dominated by quests for bulldozers, excavators, backhoes and their manufacturers. Of the top dozen most sought company names, eight are...
China Looks for LATAM Lift
“Latin America offers way out of demand doldrums: Official” – China Daily China Daily’s Santiago correspondent reports that the Chinese ambassador to Chile, Yang Wanming, sees LATAM as a global region of opportunity as weakness in the world’s mature markets persists....
Gasoline Data Blend
Trade data belongs in the mix of energy market indicators Consumers may be riveted by the steady up-tick in prices at the gas pump, but the analysts who follow the energy market can’t afford that kind of tunnel vision. Multiple factors are driving the cost of oil. The...
Pharma Tops Counterfeit Seizures List
Industry watches for risks that make adulteration attractive Here’s a top 10 list you don’t want to see your product category make: last year’s top counterfeit merchandise seizures by Customs & Border Protection. In the just released CBP statistical report on...
Top Datamyne Searches
New feature tracks trends in searches of our trade data Datamyne has added a new feature to its website home page. We’re listing the top “country,” “company,” and “product” searches by subscribers of our trade database each month, starting with July. Ranked by volume...
Copper Exports: Volume Down, Value Up
Chilean, Peruvian copper fetches record prices as shipments slip in 1H11 End of July, we looked at copper exports from top source Chile and top comer Peru through year-end 2010, when the price of copper began its climb toward a record US$10,000/ton [Copper Benchmark]....
Food Prices: Why So High?
Latest spike is a variation on the pattern set in 2002 A steady downward trend in global food prices in 1980-2002 has given way to sharp rises and falls. A report from the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (ERS) looks for answers to the question...