U.S. container imports fell 19.4% in November to 1.9 million Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) compared with the same month in 2021, according to global trade and shipping data from Descartes Datamyne. It is the first time in almost two years that volumes have...
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...
Global Trade Data Shows Rush for Lithium-Ion Batteries Rerouting Supply Chains
As national governments supercharge the drive toward electrification, the scramble to secure supplies of Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries is fueling major investments in mines, factories, and R&D. Global trade data is capturing signs of shifting cross-border supply...
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 Shipping Crisis: U.S. Container Import Volume Remains in Record Territory at Start of 2022
It would not have been outside the realms of possibility to think that the start of the New Year would marked by a lull in U.S. import volume. Afterall the traditionally quieter December month was as frenetic as it has been compared with the previous six months. The...
Address the Global Shipping Crisis by Leveraging Automation and Trade Intelligence
The Covid-19 pandemic has played havoc with global trade flows, as consumers have displayed an increased need for goods while manufacturing struggles to meet demand. The system for moving those products has been under unprecedented stress for months, and its weak...
The Global Logistics Shipping Crisis: November U.S. Import Numbers Point to Continued Port Congestion
U.S. import volumes continued to run at a record pace in November 2021. Despite this overall success, retail inventories are not catching up to pre-pandemic levels as a percentage of sales. The ultimate takeaway: as long as the high demand for goods continues in 2022,...
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...