Analyst Insight: With the trend toward multichannel and omnichannel supply chains, pressure is mounting for inventories that were intended for one type of demand to be called on to serve another. This conflict can lead to underserving the demand for which the inventory was planned and raise issues between organizational entities that lean toward protectionism, undermining competitiveness. Solving this issue requires effective decision-making processes that occur in real time based on corporate objectives. - Ralph Cox, Senior Principal, Tompkins International

China has a new status its government doesn't want - world's biggest trader. Trade data from both governments indicate China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of $3.86tr to $3.8tr. That is about $44bn, or just over one percent of China's total.

A recovering housing market, record level U.S. exports and improved unemployment numbers are all key factors pointing to a slow but steady economic recovery in the United States. But while companies are celebrating their profits and looking at improved sales in the months and years ahead, far greater concerns loom on the horizon for shippers as the ever talked about driver shortage becomes a reality.

International experts are meeting at International Maritime Organization headquarters this week, in the form of an Expert Workshop, to begin updating the inventory of greenhouse gases from international shipping.

Analyst Insight: In a recent supply chain survey conducted by IDC Manufacturing Insights, consumer products manufacturers consider themselves stewards of product quality more frequently than of either cost or service. Interestingly, the gap between companies that consider themselves primarily stewards of product quality versus cost is narrowest for the large enterprise manufacturers, suggesting that for the smaller players, it is the product itself that drives competitive success in the marketplace. - Simon Ellis, Director, Supply Chain Strategies Practice, IDC Manufacturing Insights