The word from the Panjiva research team: we saw a seasonal decline in global trade activity in September. Specifically, there was a 6-percent decrease in the number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. market, as well as a 6-percent decrease in the number of U.S. companies receiving waterborne shipments from global manufacturers.
• The number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. experienced a 7-percent month-over-month decrease from August to September. In both 2009 and 2008, the month-over-month decrease was 5 percent.
• The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List held steady at 16 percent.
• The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months increased slightly to 24 percent - the first increase since April 2009.
• On a positive note, we didn't see a million shipments in any month during 2009; however, we've seen over a million shipments in each of the last five months.
Methodological notes:
• Manufacturers that have suffered a 50 percent or greater decline in volume shipped to American customers in the most recent three month period, versus the same period a year ago, are on the Panjiva Watch List.
• "Significant manufacturers" are companies that have sent 10 or more shipments to American customers within the last year. As of the end of September, there were 95,342 significant manufacturers.
• "Significant buyers" are U.S. companies that have received 10 or more shipments from overseas manufacturers within the last year. As of the end of September, there were 81,881 significant buyers.
