Andrew White

I highlighted Panjiva in a blog a short time ago; this new vendor buys access to import data that is readily available from (example) US Customs, as well as other international sources.  The vendor mines this data and sells, as a service, knowledge and insight gleaned from this data.  Yesterday the vendor shared some snippets of information – all very interesting in this current economic climate: 

• 13% decline in the number of global suppliers shipping to the U.S. since October 2007
• 12% of suppliers suffered a 50% decline in volume versus the same quarter a year ago
•  5% decline in suppliers shipping to the U.S., just from November to December of 2008

On top of this I spied an interesting comment in Monday’s FT.  The article was called, “Steel demand ‘likely to fall by 10%” and in that article, Bruno Bolfo, chairman and owner of Duferco, the world’s biggest steel trading company, was quoted.  Bolfo was responding to comments that the economy would pick up later in 2009 which is a very widespread held view by a lot of economists.  However, Bolfo said, “The official line from the big companies is that a mild recovery of sorts could start in the second half [of 2009].  Of course, they have to say this – but really there’s not much hope.  An upturn so soon is just not on the cards.”