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Current Rate Analysis from China

January 2, 2012 By 1 Comment

After months of hard time for every steamship line in 2011, it seems like a new hope is arising for the carriers again to increase the rates. In terms of volume comparing to past years October 2011 was an extraordinary month. The national holiday of China between October 1 and 7 always brings some down hill effect to China exports. However, space issue to US has occurred much earlier this year during October. Almost every carrier was loading very well right after the long holiday. The situation lasted for days, and gradually slowed down in early November. Although there is slow down in November, the loading volumes were much better than they were comparing to the first half of the year.

 The continuous loss of money in the past months (almost a year) made it  very difficult  for the most of the steamship lines to run the vessel schedules regularly. [Read more...]

Filed Under: China, General Business, Global Authors, Global Trade, Shipping Trends, Supply Chain Planning

When West Meets East

October 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The world has witnessed in history how quickly the focus of power shifts from one side to another. The days when the Roman Empire was the hope of the world for a very long time and nobody could think of its demise. Not to mention the decline of the British Empire that ruled the world for centuries. The bottom line is that with time everything changes and nothing is constant in this world.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said;

“Nothing endures but change”.

We can call this a universal phenomena or the rule of the land but it justifies itself when we talk about the shift the world is currently undergoing. The world dominance of the United States is evident; therefore a slight change in the US economy marks a significant change in the worlds economy. It acts as a tipping point and the whole world follows. The dependence on one economy is like putting all our eggs in one basket. [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Business, Global Authors, Global Trade

US-CHINA : GREAT PARTNERS

August 15, 2011 By 4 Comments

US-China economic ties have expanded substantially over the past three decades. Total US-China trade rose from USD5 billion in 1980 to USD409 billion in 2008. Though commercial ties were sharply affected by the global economic crisis in 2009, China remained the second largest US trading partner, its third-largest export market, and biggest source of imports. With a large population and a rapidly expanding economy, China is also a huge market for US exporters and investors.
US-China: Great Partners
However, the bilateral economic relationships have become strained over a few issues, such as the recession of US, which the deficit was USD226 billion in 2008 and USD227 billion in 2009. On top, the growing level of economic integration and mutual commercial dependency between the two economies further complicate their relationship. US economic ties with China benefit many US groups, such as consumers and certain business interests (such as firms who use China as a center for their supply chain operations to assemble inputs into finished products). However, some US organizations (mostly domestic firms and workers) see the growing economic ties as damage to US economic interests. [Read more...]

Filed Under: China, Global Authors, Global Trade

Bangladesh Booming Part 2

August 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

Supply-Chain in Ready Made Garments

The readymade garment (RMG) sector is a success story for Bangladesh. The industry started in the late 1970s, expanded heavily in the 1980s and boomed in the 1990s. The quick expansion of the industry was possible because of the use of less complicated technology, cheap and easy to operate sewing machines, and relatively cheap and abundant female workforce.

But, apparel firms in the country have moved into a challenging position in the new millennium. The challenge is now to offer high-quality, low-cost products within a short lead time; and to meet health, social and environmental compliances in the face of increasingly stiff competition.

To face these challenges, the apparel makers should focus on effective supply chain management as it will ensure delivering the right product to the right place at the right time at the right price, say supply chain experts. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Global Authors, Global Trade

Bangladesh Booming Part 1

August 3, 2011 By 3 Comments

The Bangladesh apparel market will grow by more than 14 percent annually over the next four years, according to a recent study. The study said apparel products in Bangladesh would see a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 14.3 percent to 2014 driven by an expansion in apparel manufacturing capacity amid increasing export orders. CAGR means the year-over-year growth rate of an investment over a specified period of time.

The research was carried out by RNCOS, an India based market research and information analysis company with a global presence, and the findings were released on Friday May 6, 2011. The study identified Bangladesh’s low-cost manpower, competitive energy cost and a proven track record in production and exports as an edge over other competing countries like China, India, Vietnam and Thailand. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Global Authors, Global Trade