As investors bet on the future of gasoline fueled automobiles, palladium trade is on the rise, and with it the price of this precious metal. The price of palladium has surged 39% so far this year, making it the leading contender for the title of best performing...
Condition Whiskey: Southeast Ports Get Set for Hurricane Irma
Preparations are underway at ports in the projected path of Hurricane Irma, expected as of Friday morning to move up the Florida Keys and hit the continental U.S. near Miami this weekend. The ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are closed – the Coast...
Closely Watched Data: U.S. Electric Vehicle Imports–Exports
Electric vehicle market watchers can get a sharper view of cross-border commerce in hybrids and all-electric cars, thanks to new Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) codes introduced in January. [See Change and Continuity: New Tariff Codes Debut.] Previously swept under the...
Whiskies Top Tipple in U.S. Trade in Distilled Spirits
Whiskies were the top tipple in U.S. trade in distilled spirits in 2016, with one notable exception. Our 2016 U.S. Census-sourced data shows whiskies with the leading share of imports by value (27%) and volume (31%), and exports by volume (76%) of trade in the...
Brazilian Meat Exports Skewered by Operation Weak Flesh
Brazilian meat exports have taken a big hit. On March 17, Brazil’s federal police raided meat packers accused of paying off inspectors to okay rotten and adulterated meat for market, capping a two-year investigation into official corruption dubbed “Operation Weak...
Li-ion Batteries Drive Chinese Lithium Imports
Lithium, last year’s hottest metal, looks set to be even hotter in 2017. With the new year barely a day old, mineral exploration company Birimian announced the sale of its Bougouni lithium project in southern Mali to China’s Shandong Mingrui Group. The deal signals...
Playing Whack-a-Mole with US Steel Imports
“It can be like whack-a-mole,” one steelmaker exec told us recently. “AD/CVD duties do have an effect, but there is so much excess steel capacity in the world that when, say, China is blocked, here comes the steel from someplace else. Countries are watching for any...
Hot Metal: Lithium in Global Trade
Lithium is this year’s “hottest metal,” says USA Today, beating out gold, with another price spike expected this fall. There are no exchange reference prices for lithium as there are for gold. The Financial Times cites estimates from the research group Mineral...
A Toy Story of US Imports | Infographic
A Toy Story of US Imports FAQs: C’mon, are kids still playing with toys? Despite the fact that your child can likely run circles around you on a smartphone or tablet, kids actually still play with toys (although they seem to be more brand conscious). According to the...
How Climate Change Impacts Trade Now: Infographic
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...