It is not enough for global businesses to know that in coming years China's economy will move away from an over-reliance on investment and toward more consumption. They also must know that the potential costs and benefits of rebalancing the world's second-largest economy are high and will affect industries not only domestically but also around the world.
Is reshoring (the return of manufacturing to the U.S.) really even a debate? A debate would indicate that there are two compelling sides to the argument, but from what I see, the hard and fast facts of the economy preclude a debate.
Drewry's latest Container Leasing report shows that the world's fleet of operationally leased containers grew annually by almost 11 percent throughout 2011-12, although a smaller 6.4 percent is being forecast for 2013, in line with the poorer global trade forecast.
The term "global trade management" used to mean one thing: compliance. Not anymore. Today, GTM embraces the whole experience of moving goods across borders: regulation, duty management, logistics and, most of all, global supply-chain visibility.
Remember when words like "globalization" seemed to be enough to drive some folks into the streets in protest? Surely, most of us have accepted that business is the way of the world. That's especially true when it is almost as easy to do trade with someone halfway around the globe as it is halfway across town. Just look at how interwoven we are in world commerce.
A maritime attack from Al-Qaeda or other affiliate terrorist groups is now increasingly likely, maritime security firm Gulf of Aden Group Transits (GoAGT) has warned.
Following negative numbers in four of the last five months, import volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to grow 1.7 percent in August over the same month last year and should continue to see gains through the holiday season and the remainder of 2013, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. The year is expected to end with a 2.4-percent increase over 2012.
In the coming years, the global shipping industry is expected to decline by five percent to 10 percent, according to Global Shipping Industry 2013 - Forecast, Trends and Opportunities, a report from Taiyou Research.
The latest news, analysis, services and systems regarding logistics and freight and their impact on global supply chains. Today’s companies are transporting and delivering perishables and manufactured goods in a more timely and efficient manner than ever before through logistics solutions. New technologies that provide information during local and global shipments are transforming the way companies do business - and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As transportation and distribution services continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies are using logistics and cargo solutions to power their supply chains.
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