Panjiva Blog: Global Trade Trends

Panjiva at the NYPL

emily — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:30:34 +0000

This past Tuesday, Panjiva hosted a learning event at the New York Public Library’s Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL). The Panjiva database is now fully online and accessible to library users, making it possible for students, researchers, and beginning entrepreneurs to have access to Panjiva’s information on global trade – from high-level market trends to detailed shipment and company information.

The NYPL event was a chance to introduce Panjiva to a new set of users and to give those users an opportunity to have guided demonstrations of the system. Thanks to all the staff at the NYPL SIBL who worked on this partnership, especially Maddy Cohen and Peter Bengston. Thanks also to Shirley Leung, the Economic Development Director for the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce who helped to arrange the partnership and the event. If your library or educational institution would like to learn about how to gain access to Panjiva for your members, contact Erika Borden at 646-205-0594 ext. 302.

Greece’s austerity experiment doesn’t apply to weapons?

patrick — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:15:15 +0000

Greece may be mired in economic depression, but that hasn’t slowed the country’s arms and ammunition imports. Panjiva’s data shows that Greece imported over $40 million of arms and ammunition from the U.S. in February 2012. Further, in Q1 2012 the country imported 3.6% more than the same period last year. So far it seems that Greece’s austerity experiment doesn’t apply to arms and ammunition. With talk of a possible Greek default and/or Euro zone exit, the country may opt to decrease the number of arms imports in the months ahead.

See more on Panjiva’s Trendspotting report.

Avenger Merchandise Could Indicate that IRON MAN is Top Avenger

katelyn — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:15:49 +0000

Updated: We revisited this data and discovered that in fact Iron Man (90 shipments), not Thor (86 shipments), was the character who had generated the most merchandise shipments between February and April. We regret the error, but as a technical company we also find ourselves relieved that engineer-genius Tony Stark is the super hero of choice.

April Trade Data: Continued Growth

Josh Green — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:33:59 +0000

The word from the Panjiva research team: trade activity experienced another healthy bump from March to April. Specifically, the number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. experienced a 11% month-over-month increase from March to April. Previous year’s March to April changes: +7% in 2011, +4% in 2010, +10% in 2009, +8% in 2008.

The number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. also went up — 9% — from March to April. March-to-April changes in previous years: +6% in 2011, +3% in 2010, +8% in 2009, and +3% in 2008.

Additional notes:

The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List remained at 19%.
The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months dropped slightly to 25%.

Methodological notes:

Manufacturers that have suffered a 50% 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 April, there were 94,095 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 April, there were 81,370 significant buyers.

March Trade Data: Looking Good

Josh Green — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:00:18 +0000

The word from the Panjiva research team: trade activity experienced a healthy bump from February to March. Specifically, the number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. experienced a 14% month-over-month increase from February to March. Previous year’s February to March changes: +4% in 2011, +3% in 2010, +9% in 2009, -6% in 2008).

The number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. also went up — 6% — from February to March. February-to-March changes in previous years: -0.2% in 2011, +3% in 2010, +2% in 2009, and -5% in 2008.

Additional notes:

The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List remained at 19%.
The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months also remained at 26%.

Methodological notes:

Manufacturers that have suffered a 50% 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 March, there were 93,587 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 March, there were 80,486 significant buyers.

Increased Shipments Show Bunnies will be Back this Easter

katelyn — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:57:48 +0000

Panjiva has good news for those opening Easter baskets this Sunday. According to an analysis of U.S. customs shipment data, there was a 22 percent increase in shipments of “bunnies” this January, the month Easter items are shipped in order to make it to the U.S. in time to be packed into baskets. Shipments of bunnies, which include chocolates, toys and decor, steadily declined from 2009 to 2011, likely a result of the economic downturn and recession. However, with the economy hopping back on track, it should be safe to say that the Easter Bunny’s coming to town!

Quality Control, Safety, and Sourcing Overseas

emily — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:19:24 +0000

This weekend the New York Times published a story about the ongoing criminal trial over the 2008 crane collapse in NYC that killed two people. In brief, the crane owner, New York Crane and Equipment Corporation, needed a critical part manufactured to repair the crane and the owner found quotes from US-based companies to be too expensive; he then instructed an employee to find a cheap solution, leading the company to hire China-based RTR Bearing to manufacture the needed bearing at a comparatively low price. But during the trial, some troubling truths were revealed:

Joyce Wang, RTR’s owner, claimed to have two factories. In fact, she was an agent who liaised with independent factories.
RTR’s website claimed RTR had been operating since 1998. In an affidavit for the criminal case, Ms. Wang stated that the company had only been operating for six months when they were contacted about the crane part in 2007.
RTR provided no references about their prior work to New York Crane and Equipment Corporation.
Of the two parts RTR shipped to New York Crane and Equipment Corporation, one was deemed too defective for use upon receipt.

Notably, New York Crane and Equipment Corporation did not have anyone experienced in sourcing working on this project. The entire research-to-installation cycle was handled by a mechanic working for James F. Lomma, the company owner.

The tragedy highlights problems that sourcing professionals face often: ascertaining supplier company credentials and ensuring quality control can be difficult, especially when using company-provided information to do it. Top-level assessments of a manufacturer’s history and production levels can be made with services like Panjiva, but that is only the first step. These are real problems that require experience and attention, as well as comprehensive product assessments and quality control procedures, to deal with properly. They don’t—and can’t—afford shortcuts.

February Trade Data: Significant Seasonal Declines

Josh Green — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:01:07 +0000

The word from the Panjiva research team: trade activity experienced declined significantly, but as expected, from January to February. Specifically, the number of waterborne shipments coming into the U.S. experienced a 20% month-over-month decline from January to February. In years past, we’ve seen Chinese New Year-related declines from January to February (-15% in 2011, -4% in 2010, -19% in 2009, -1% in 2008).

The number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. also went down — 12% — from January to February. January-to-February changes in previous years: -8% in 2011, -3% in 2010, -10% in 2009, and +1% in 2008.

Additional notes:

The percentage of significant manufacturers on the Panjiva Watch List remained at 19%.
The percentage of significant buyers having done business with a Panjiva Watch List supplier in the preceding three months also remained at 26%.

Methodological notes:

Manufacturers that have suffered a 50% 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 February, there were 93,577 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 February, there were 80,441 significant buyers.

Leaping Leprechauns! Soaring Stout Shipments Indicate a Fun St. Patrick’s Day to Come

katelyn — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:30:49 +0000

Looks like some “cheers!” are in order! According to the Panjiva research team, stout shipments are up once again this year, possibly hinting at a particularly festive March 17^th. January and February shipments of the brew are at a record 609 – an increase of over 23% over last year’s 494 shipments and a whopping 185% increase over the 214 shipments in 2010. Though the reasons behind the rising shipments could be attributed to several factors, one thing is for sure: you won’t be going thirsty this St. Patrick’s Day.

A Higher-Tech Way to Find Suppliers on Panjiva

emily — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Panjiva’s aim is to help making sourcing overseas faster, easier and more secure. This week, the New York Times published a piece on how Panjiva client Superb Packaging is saving time and money by using Panjiva to pre-qualify companies it wants to do business with. Read the full article at NYTimes.com: A Higher-Tech Way to Find Overseas Suppliers.