The American Chemistry Council issued new research documenting how a lack of freight rail competition is costing U.S. chemical companies billions of dollars in excess shipping costs each year. Showing shipping rates that often exceed 300 percent of the revenue-to-variable cost (RVC) ratio, the ACC study estimates that if the $3.9bn premium on chemical shipments were reduced, the chemical sector could create up to 25,000 additional American jobs, with $1.5bn in new wages, and $6.8bn in new economic output.

Where does it normally go wrong?

Decisions on what, how much, where, and when to stock product across the extended global CP supply chain directly impact corporate profitability, positively or negatively.

Significantly improve your supply chain network through real-time, comprehensive visibility.

Many companies that employ an on-demand transportation management system (TMS) to automate their transportation processes realize double digit savings on their total transportation spend within the first year.

Commodities are often given short shrift in discussions about supply-chain risk management. Dave Brown, vice president of supply chain and agricultural sales in North America for Ingredion Inc., helps to correct the oversight.