Mild weather has helped to head off a dreaded energy crisis in Europe.
LOGISTICS
US ocean imports fell in December and are projected to be well below 2021-2022 levels into H1 2023. But these projections remain above 2019 levels, suggesting demand is normalizing, per Freightos.
Space on Asia-Europe routes is full and there are a considerable amount of rollings in the lead up to Lunar New Year, said Flexport.
Rates on Asia-Europe routes, still 25% over 2020, are expected to be under pressure after Chinese New Year, per Flexport.
Falling demand for ocean and air freight services is driving headcount cuts across the logistics sector, with forwarder Flexport the latest to announce layoffs, per The Journal of Commerce.
MATERIALS SOURCING
Where to Find Huge Variety of High Quality, Sustainable Knitted Fabric
The ideal supplier combines state-of-the-art technology, the best raw materials, creativity, a domestic supply chain – and transparency.
It’s a big ask, even for the top manufacturers.
Varakith Textile Co. Ltd. focused on meeting this challenge – and even in a challenging market, they’re making it work.
“We have about80 machines, but they don’t all produce the same fabric. This enables us to offer customers a very wide variety, but it does limit the volume we can make of each kind of fabric,” said Mr. Thanasarakij. Read more
PODCAST
A System for Turning Ideas into Action Plans
How many times have we seen the high energy of a brainstorming session quickly stall when it comes to taking action – or more importantly taking consistent action that will bring a concept into fruition?
In this podcast Natalie Turner, Founder and CEO of The Entheo Network, talks about The Six ‘I’s, a model that helps people and companies achieve greater impact from new ideas.
You’ll Learn:
- How to create a more innovative, results oriented culture.
- The 6 I’s of Innovation and how leaders can use them in their companies.
- The mindsets and skills we need to harness diversity.
- The different dimensions of innovation, and how can leaders identify them – and then use them to build better results in their companies.
SUPPLY CHAIN OUTLOOK
A Bumpy Start to a New Year
Brands are still trying to clear excess inventory after a better-than-expected, but still lackluster, holiday season. Considering that January is the season for returns, the final measure of how retailers did for Holiday 2022 is still unfolding.
The biggest shift is the sudden reopening of China. From a supply chain point of view, this is just one more bump in what has been a long, winding and rocky road.
However, Chinese suppliers continue to live up to their reputation of being able to handle even the toughest challenges. Read more
MARKETS
US inflation fell in December to its lowest level in more than a year, in a further sign that price pressures have peaked, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The consumer price index declined for a sixth consecutive month, registering an annual increase of 6.5 per cent. However it is still near a multi-decade high.
MATERIALS
Materials prices remained flat as demand for imports remained weak. China’s chaotic reopening also put downward pressure on prices, said analysts.
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