At the height of COVID-19, soaring consumer purchases in the United States congested supply chains and threatened to overwhelm U.S. maritime ports. But last September, container trade volumes suddenly went into a decline from their record highs, according to global...
Global Trade Data: Tracing the Supply Chains that Deliver a Cold Beer on St. Patrick’s Day
Erin go bragh! You may well plan to hoist a glass of beer in honor of St. Patrick’s Day March 17. Whether your choice is lager, ale, stout, or porter, you will likely be in luck if you ask for a brew from the Auld Sod itself. The U.S. imported 134,106,004 liters of...
Global Trade Data Confirms Seasonal Shift in How we are Stocking up for the Year-End Holidays
Descartes Datamyne global trade data shows merchandise imports cresting in May for the second year in a row, well ahead of the traditional August-October peak shipping season. Consumers are expected to spend more on holiday shopping, but they are spending earlier on...
Supply Diversity Is Key to Global Trading System Resilience: IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is calling for more diversity in global value chains as a means to boost supply chain resilience. Meanwhile, Descartes Datamyne trade data confirms the point that diversification reduces losses to supply disruptions. Moreover, our...
Global Shipping Crisis: Managing Supply Chain Risk More Complicated as U.S. Imports Hit Record High
A somewhat positive short-term outlook for the American economy and continued strong consumer spending helped push U.S. container imports into new record territory in May 2022. The spike will likely make managing supply chain risk all the more complex especially when...
Four Key Steps to Supply Chain Resilience in Today’s Rapid-Fire Shipping Disruptions
Economic downturns, trade conflicts, a pandemic, the shipping crisis, and a hot war in Europe – global supply chain disruptions now come in rapid-fire, tsunami-scale waves. Global trade intelligence can help companies reroute and rebuild supply chains today and craft...
Global Trade Trend: Steep Surge in Holiday Toy Shipments Help Keep U.S. Import Volume at Near Record Highs
Surging imports into the U.S. towards the end of the year typically ring up holiday cheer for distributors, retailers and other businesses. But with many ports, especially those along the western seaboard, experiencing severe and sustained congestion, higher volumes...
Global Trade Data: Metals Markets Rise on Post-pandemic Demand Surges, Supply Crunch
Market watchers who bet on a post-pandemic commodities supercycle are looking like the smart money. Resurgent demand chasing short supply is driving prices to premium levels across global markets. Among the hottest sectors, metals saw prices take off from March lows...
Global Trade Data: Shift to ‘Stuff Economy’ Prolonging the Global Shipping Crisis
While it seems that COVID-19 is largely under control, the pandemic continues to affect supply chains in a profound way, according to latest global trade data from Descartes Datamyne. This includes new disruption of manufacturing and logistics operations with further...
USMCA – North American Trade Policy and Impact on Key Industries
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement The USMCA agreement came into effect on July 1st 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had been in place since 1994. The aim of the new accord was to modernize trade policy among the U.S., Mexico...