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The Biggest Warehouse Fraud Cases in Recent History

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Special Reports, Warehousing

The Biggest Warehouse Fraud Cases in Recent History

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There is hardly a branch of the shipping industry that hasn’t experienced some kind of fraud, from importer customs fraud present in every country to tax fraud and agreement evasion. But, one of the scams that is not often talked about is warehouse fraud. You might be surprised to learn that warehouse fraud is by no means uncommon. In fact, there have been quite a few intentional fraud cases involving warehouse management that hurt not only the parties involved but the industry in general. In this article, we will go over the two largest warehouse fraud cases in recent history: the Qingdao scandal and the Nickel warehouse fraud.


Notable warehouse frauds in recent history

While these two cases are pretty sizable, it is essential to remember that they are by no means the only warehouse scams in history. Nor will they be the last. While we have modern safety equipment and high-tech features, keep in mind that willing participants carried out these actions. One can hardly create a technology that will overcome human greed. So, while these cases may seem considerable now, expect that we’ll be reading about even bigger scams in the future.

Qingdao scandal

The Qingdao scandal in China was based on using receipts multiple times to raise finance. While now Quingdao is considered one of the best factories in the world (Haier), it was under quite a bit of scrutiny during this scandal. The effects of it are manifold, but most were to the metal industry. To help you understand this fraud, we will go through it in a chronological timeline.

June 2014

Qingdao receives allegations of fraudulent use of warehouse receipts. The main accusation is that companies are using receipts multiple times to raise finance. The investigation focuses on bonded warehouses in the Dagang port terming. But, it neglects to take note of other bonded and non-bonded areas. Several banks like Citi, Standard Chartered, and Standard Bank claim that they are monitoring the investigation and reviewing the financial activities in Qingdao.

July 2014

Citic Resources Holding files a claim against the operator of a warehouse at Qingdao port. They wish to recover copper and alumina from it. Qingdao experiences significant postponement and rerouting of shipments, which causes copper premiums and prices to firm up in Shangai.

August 2014

Qingdao faces a court case. Glencore’s warehousing division sues them over undelivered aluminum. Shanxi Coal Import & Export sues Citic Recourses Holdings for $89.75 million, plus interest. Their primary claim is over undelivered aluminum ingots.

September 2014

Qingdao port states that the fraud contains 400,000 tonnes of material, including 80,000 tonnes of aluminum ingots, 20,000 tonnes of copper, and 300,000 tonnes of alumina.

December 2014

Trading company Mercuria and banking firm Citi give their arguments as they face a $270 million exposure due to Qingdao.

March 2015

Wanxiang Resources (Singapore) and Impala Warehousing & Logistics (Shanghai) face each other in UK courts. That is because Impala brought a claim against Wanxiang, forcing them to impose an anti-suit injection. To prevent Wanxiang from pursuing a proceeding, Impala is granted the anti-suit injunction.

May 2015

UK High Court settles the dispute between Citibank and Mercuria. The main subject of dispute was the missing metal from Qingdao.

August 2015

The People’s Bank of China slashes interest rates. Furthermore, it lowers the bank requirements for the deposit reserve ratio. They do this mainly to help many Chinese metal companies under considerable financial stress due to the Qingdao scandal.

Nickel warehouse fraud

The Nickel warehouse case mainly revolved around the Access World company owned by Glencore. They revealed that at the end of January 2017, numerous forged warehouse receipts bearing its name were in circulation. Fortunately, this was mostly contained in Malaysia and South Korea. The main difference between this and the Qingdao scandal is that no nickel has been physically delivered against the forged receipts. It was large-scale fraud involving multiple people and happening in different locations. The effects of the scam can be hard to evaluate, but the rough estimate is over $300 million. Therefore, it is fair to say that it is one of the largest warehouse fraud cases in recent history.

June 2016

Access World issues the original nickel warehouse receipt to the Straits (Singapore) Pte Ltd, the trade facilitation arm of Straits Financial Group. Unidentified parties make copies of Straits’ nickel warehouse receipts at some stage between 2016 and January 2017 to raise finance from banks.

January 2017

London-based Marex Spectron brings receipts of failed authentication from Access World, revealing the forgery. This prompts other receipts holders to check whether their documents were legit. Access World reveals that there are forged receipts in circulation in Asia. The London Metal Exchange then tells the warehouse operators to stop warranting metal where ownership is not assured. This includes any possible links to forged warehouse receipts such as those reported by Access World.

February 2017

Authorities confirm that Straits Singapore held the original Access World nickel warehouse receipts.

March 2017

Authorities identify France’s Natixis and Australia’s ANZ as being among the banks that agreed to provide cash against the forged warehouse receipts. Furthermore, Brokerage companies EDF Man and Marex Spectron are found to be caught up in the scheme.

May 2017

Natixis files a lawsuit against Max Spectron to recover $32 million in losses.

June 2017

Marex Spectron files a defense, claiming no liability in the case filed by Natixis. They claim that warehouse operator Access World incorrectly authenticated forged documents as genuine, which involves them in the lawsuit.

Conclusion

When reading about warehouse fraud cases in recent history, it is vital to keep in mind their scope. They usually involve large-scale companies, numerous participants, and millions of dollars. Therefore, if you feel worried about your warehouse, don’t be. Just get the necessary insurance, and use the recommended safety measures. Those two are the best possible protection from warehouse fraud.

_____________________________________________________________

Cory Hooker worked as a moving coordinator and long-distance moving consultant for many relocation companies. His most recent engagement was with Movers Toronto. He now focuses on writing helpful articles and raising his two daughters Megan, and Pauline.

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Archives, Commentary, Global Trade Daily, Special Reports

Invisible Safety: How What You Can’t See Can Hurt You

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COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace have revealed the importance of protecting and maintaining the health and wellness of employees. From social distancing to HVAC upgrades, factories have implemented strict protocols to stop the spread of the COV2 virus.  

If you walk into any manufacturing facility in North America, the first thing that you will see are signs related to safety. That’s because factories and assembly plants often have dangerous equipment and machinery, and even a minor lapse can have serious – or even life-threatening – consequences. Employers want to keep their team members safe, and they also know that the legal and financial risks of failing to maintain rigid safety standards can be devastating at a business level. But thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the biggest threats to safety can’t be seen at all: the air we breathe. Forward-thinking assembly companies need to factor this in when they evaluate their protocols for keeping their employees healthy and safe. And in many cases, existing HVAC systems aren’t up to the task.

There was a lot we didn’t know about the novel coronavirus when it first reached North America in March 2020, but over the last year and a half we have learned a great deal. As it turns out, the risk of disease transmission through surface contact is fairly minimal, as is the likelihood of an outdoor super spreader event – but more than 99% of COVID-19 cases can be traced back to events held in indoor spaces with poor ventilation and filtration. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued so many guidelines on how companies can keep their facilities safe. One of their biggest recommendations is for companies to improve ventilation to reduce the risk of people getting sick. 

That’s easier said than done. The best way to improve ventilation is to open windows and circulate fresh air. Unfortunately, many buildings, especially assembly facilities, have self-contained ecosystems to protect the quality of the items that are being put together. After all, letting free-floating particles into a building where microchips or electronic components are being put together is a recipe for disaster. What works during “normal” times to maintain product integrity may actually be harming the workers who are unable to breathe air from the outside. 

Despite some misinformation from the early days of the pandemic, HVAC systems are not responsible for the spread of pathogens. That’s the good news. On the other side of the coin, many of these systems don’t circulate enough air to maximize the safety of people inside the facilities that rely on them to maintain appropriate levels of humidity and temperature. Replacing entire heating and ventilation systems is expensive and time-consuming. So what options do operators of assembly facilities have to maintain employee health without jeopardizing their operations? 

The answer is supplementary air systems, which actually top the list of CDC recommendations for maintaining the safety of indoor spaces where natural ventilation is impossible. These devices come in many sizes, and can be used to filter air in small facilities as well as buildings with several million square feet of floor space. Regardless of how big a facility is, the principle is the same: air needs to be circulated and properly filtered to remove potentially dangerous microbes from the environment. Existing HVAC systems actually do a pretty good job, but they simply don’t move enough air to be effective, especially in an era defined by an airborne virus that has already killed more than half a million Americans. 

Clearly, this is something that needs to be taken seriously by companies in the manufacturing space. But this isn’t just a short term solution. While many people were optimistic that rising vaccination rates and social distancing rules would lead to the end of the coronavirus pandemic this fall, there is still plenty of reason for concern. That’s because in many parts of the country vaccination rates remain very low, and new variants, including Delta, are proving to be much more of a problem than doctors initially anticipated. Despite the many heroic advances in medicine over the last 18 months, the reality seems to be that we will be dealing with the long-tail effect of COVID-19 for years, or even decades, to come. 

It has been a century since the last major viral epidemic caused this much damage, but most health experts agree that the next pandemic will happen long before the year 2120. In fact, there is a high probability of a similar event occurring in the next 25 years. With that in mind, operators of assembly facilities not only need to get through the current pandemic, but also prepare for the next one. Maintaining air quality should be at the top of their list as they plan for an uncertain future. 

___________________________________________________________________

Marshal Sterio is the CEO of Surgically Clean Air Inc., a Toronto-based manufacturer of portable systems that purify air by supplementing existing HVAC systems. The company’s products are market leaders in dental practices, currently protects over 50,000 dental professionals, and are used by Fortune 500 companies, Major League Baseball clubs, the NBA, the NHL and thousands of other organizations. 

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, News

Italy Actively Expands Preserved Tomato Production and Exports

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘Italy – Preserved Tomatoes – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Italy boosts its production and exports of preserved tomatoes. Over the past decade, the output soared from 1.3M tonnes to 2.1M tonnes. Exports also followed an upward trend, reaching $1.3B in 2020. The UK, Germany and the U.S. comprise 45% of preserved tomatoes supplied from Italy in physical terms, while Australia featured as the fastest-growing importer last year. The average export price for preserved tomatoes increased by +9.1% y-o-y to $853 per tonne in 2020.

Preserved Tomato Production in Italy

Preserved tomato production in Italy rose notably to 2.1M tonnes in 2020, surging by +13% compared with the previous year. Over the past decade, Italian preserved tomato production increased nearly twofold, from 1.3M tonnes to 2.1M tonnes. In value terms, preserved tomato production skyrocketed by +29.3% y-o-y to $1.9B in 2020, estimated at export prices.

Preserved Tomato Exports from Italy

In 2020, approx. 1.5M tonnes of preserved tomatoes were exported from Italy, increasing by +2.7% in 2019. In value terms, preserved tomato exports rose significantly to $1.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

The UK (302K tonnes), Germany (237K tonnes) and the U.S. (141K tonnes) were the main destinations of preserved tomato exports from Italy, together comprising 45% of the total figure. France, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, Poland, Austria and Denmark lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 35%.

In value terms, the largest markets for preserved tomato exported from Italy were the UK ($258M), Germany ($183M) and the U.S. ($127M), with a combined 44% share of total exports. These countries were followed by France, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Canada, Austria, Poland and Denmark, which together accounted for a further 36%.

Among the main countries of destination, Australia (+26% y-o-y) saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports last year, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

The average preserved tomato export price stood at $853 per tonne in 2020, increasing by +9.1% against the previous year. Average prices varied somewhat for the major foreign markets. In 2020, the countries with the highest prices were Sweden ($1,026 per tonne) and Austria ($957 per tonne), while the average price for exports to Belgium ($747 per tonne) and Germany ($772 per tonne) were amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable growth rate in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Canada, while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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America's Leading 3PLs, Archives, Features, Global Trade Daily

AMERICA’S 50 LEADING 3PLs: IT’S CLEAR THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS COMPANIES ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

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The logistics industry has faced more than its fair share of challenges over the past year. 

As economies were brought (literally) to a halt by lockdowns and transport restrictions, the process of moving goods from A to B became riddled with added complexity, cost and difficulty. 

However, what the pandemic period has shown is just how critical the likes of third-party logistics (3PL) companies are to keeping all of our lives moving forward. Logistics workers have been among the unsung heroes who have often been on the frontline as the virus swept (and continues to sweep) its way across many parts of the world. 

The first part of this year’s top 50 takes a broad sweep of just some of the companies that continue to go above and beyond to go keep industries functioning–manufacturing, defense and ecommerce among them. 

Next is a look at some specific specialties that make particular 3PLs standout. Here, we list companies that thrive on technology, specialize in multimodal offerings and offer service to the more remote states in the USA. 

The third and final chapter of our top 50 charts some of the industry leaders that can provide inspiration to women seeking careers in logistics. The number of women truck drivers industrywide has grown 68% since 2010, with a 30% rise between 2018 and 2019. While this sort of trajectory is promising, women still only make up 10% of our long-haul drivers, meaning there is still plenty of work to do. We look at a handful of firms with inspirational female leaders and managers helping to steer their progress. 

3PLs BY SECTOR

Manufacturing 

Holman Logistics: Established in 1864, Holman Logistics has been a longstanding partner for manufacturing firms through the decades. Its manufacturing support services include material inventory management, quality control, shipping and receiving, and workforce management. Holman works closely with many well-known brand manufacturers of both CPG and durable goods. www.holmanusa.com 

UTXL: During its 24 years of service, Kansas City-based UTXL has arranged more than 1 million shipments with a 98% on-time delivery rate. Many of its customers are longstanding clients in the manufacturing space, from building products suppliers to automotive parts producers. www.utxl.com 

More 3PLs 

–Transplace

-United Facilities

Defense and aerospace

Phoenix Logistics: Based in Orlando, Florida, Phoenix Logistics has been providing engineering, manufacturing, IT, and logistics and supply chain services to the defense, aerospace, and industrial markets for 30 years. The company serves OEMs, Tier 1 and 2 suppliers, and government customers worldwide, including the US military. www.phxlogistics.com 

Neovia: Located in Irving, Texas, Neovia provides flexible solutions designed exclusively for the time-sensitive, service-critical requirements of the aerospace and defense industry. Its suite of services comprises inventory forecasting, warehousing, performance monitoring, replenishment and deployment, network design, supplier management and performance-based logistics. www.neovialogistics.com 

More 3PLs

–Omni Logistics 

-Hawthorne Logistics

Ecommerce

Whiplash: Formerly known as Port Logistics Group, California-based Whiplash specializes in omnichannel ecommerce fulfillment services, offering seamless integration with the world’s most powerful and revered ecommerce platforms. Real-time order and inventory insights are key features of its solution, which are powered by an open API and backed up by experienced support personnel. www.whiplash.com 

Rakuten SUPER LOGISTICS: Supported by a one- to two-day U.S. ground delivery network with sites spanning east to west, Rakuten SUPER LOGISTICS positions itself as an expert capable of empowering ecommerce retailers. Its solutions integrate with giant online retail platforms, including Amazon, shopify, eBay and Walmart. www.rakutensl.com 

GEODIS: With a direct presence in 67 countries and a global network spanning 120 countries, GEODIS supports a huge number of retailers with their online operations. The company recently launched an extended GEODIS eLogistics service in the U.S. to provide best-in-class ecommerce fulfillment solutions to emerging direct-to-consumer brands. The service will operate from three key locations in Indiana, California and New Jersey. www.geodis.com    

More 3PLs 

–ShipBob

-Seko Logistics

Food & drink

Arrive Logistics: With more than 1,300 employees and over 70,000 unique carriers, Arrive Logistics serves customers through several specialized divisions. The Arrive Fresh team is a centralized, experienced team that is uniquely equipped to solve the challenges of moving produce, meat, seafood, dairy and nursery freight. www.arrivelogistics.com 

McLane Global Logistics: The McLane family has been a proud partner of the U.S. food industry for more than 120 years. Based out of a 285,000-square-foot distribution center in Houston, Texas, the firm offers a complete package of food logistics services. This includes food grade warehousing such as organic certified storage and temperature-controlled facilities, fulfillment, re-packing, transportation and technology services for importing, exporting and domestic business. www.mclanegloballogistics.com 

More 3PLs

–Genpro

-RMX Global Logistics

Healthcare

TRIOSE: In its 20-year history, TRIOSE has supported more than 10,000 healthcare locations with their supply-chain operations. The company offers a broad range of smart, full-service supply chain solutions to hospitals and healthcare systems across the United States, leveraging a mix of technology- and human-based support mechanisms to assist clients. www.triose.com 

Cardinal Health: Healthcare logistics has been a specialty of Cardinal Health since 1995. The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, and is also a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, as well as a provider of performance and data solutions for healthcare facilities. www.cardinalhealth.com 

More 3PLs

–The Jay Group 

-Rhenus Logistics 

3PLS BY SERVICE SPECIALTY

Technology platforms 

R2 Logistics: R2 Logistics prides itself on leveraging several technology platforms to better serve its customers. Its Transport Management System (TMS) is flexible and scalable, offering features such as KPI reporting, automated decision making and provision of actionable data to underpin supply chain optimization efforts. www.r2logistics.com 

GSC Logistics: With locations in Oakland, Tacoma and Seattle, GSC Logistics has been operating for some of the USA’s largest retailers and manufacturers since 1988 and occupies some of the most strategic gateways on the West Coast. Its offering is based around high-performance technology and platforms which help its clients to mitigate costs through proactive planning and fleet scalability solutions. www.gsclogistics.com 

Transportation Insight: Transportation Insight empowers shippers and carriers with hybrid digital logistics services backed by proprietary technology, data and deep industry human expertise. Based in North Carolina, the firm enables its customers, which typically operate in retail and manufacturing industries, to harness the power of big data to inform strategic supply chain decisions. www.transportationinsight.com 

Coyote Logistics: A ‘tech + humanity’ approach underpins the 3PL offering from Coyote Logistics, something which enables it to keep up with rapidly evolving supply chain trends. For instance, its new pricing framework doesn’t incentivize volume and gross margins, but instead provides accurate rates and optimal matches for customers based on AI and machine learning. www.coyote.com 

Werner Enterprises: Supported by cutting-edge technology, Werner Enterprises is on its way to becoming the first North American carrier to move its entire tech stack and operations to the cloud. This includes the implementation of MasterMind, a new cloud-based transportation management system, and Carrier’s EDGE, a self-service digital platform designed to increase available freight visibility. www.werner.com 

CT Logistics: Thanks to a range of in-house software systems, CT offers customized services and programs which combine to present a comprehensive, global supply chain solution for customers. The firm has been in operation since 1923 and has moved with the times in order to remain relevant. Today, many of its applications and services are available as SaaS (Software as a Service) and BPaaS (Business Process as a Service) via the cloud. www.ctlogistics.com 

More 3PLs 

–EXIM Trade Options

-LFS

-NEON Logistics

Remote locations

Lynden: Lynden offers complete 3PL services in, out and within Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, as well as many locations around the globe. The company is regarded as a particular expert in Alaska shipping and has been operating in the state since 1954, servicing a diverse array of industries including energy, mining, construction, seafood, retail and manufacturing.  www.lynden.com 

Carlile Transportation: While not fitting the typical profile of a 3PL, Carlile Transportation is a go-to for companies looking to reach many of the remote and inaccessible parts of Alaska. As well as transport, the company also provides warehousing and brokerage services, among other solutions, for small businesses. www.carlile.biz

More 3PLs

–Direct Drive Logistics

–Hawaii Transfer Company

Multimodal networks

Echo Logistics: Since its founding in 2005, Echo has built strong partnerships with over 50,000 carriers, creating a robust network that allows the company to move over 16,000 shipments every day for more than 35,000 clients. With its multimodal transportation solutions, the firm serves corporations of all sizes, from small and medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies. www.echo.com 

A.N. Deringer: In 1919, Alfred Neel Deringer founded the firm that today employs more than 450 supply chain professionals. It is the largest privately-held customs broker in North America, providing solutions over land, air and sea thanks to its formidable network of multimodal transit options. www.anderinger.com 

DACHSER: Since the founding of this family-owned enterprise in 1930, DACHSER has evolved into a global market leader in system logistics. With a presence in 24 locations around the world, the firm employs well over 650 staff and handled more than 214,000 tons of cargo in 2020, utilizing its multimodal capabilities, including air, sea and rail freight services. www.dachser.com 

More 3PLs 

–C. H. Robinson

-NTG Freight

-Hub Group 

3PLs empowering women in logistics

NFI Industries: Having been in business since 1932, NFI prides itself on being a champion of sustainability, with the wellbeing of its people and communities at top of mind. It remains a family-owned business, and was recently recognized by the Women in Trucking Association (WIT) as one of the best companies for women to work for in transportation. www.nfiindustries.com 

Langham Logistics: Langham Logistics stands proud as the only women-owned 3PL with GMP storage and distribution facilities in both the Midwest and Southwestern regions of the United States. The company was co-founded by President & CEO Cathy Langham, who opened two franchises for trucking and air freight three years after graduating from the IU Kelley School of Business before setting up Langham with her brother and sister. www.elangham.com 

Kenco Group: In business for more than seven decades, Kenco Group is the largest woman-owned 3PL company in the United States. Its purpose is simple: “to empower our people and customers through connected solutions.” Jane Kennedy Greene sits as chairwoman of the Board of Directors, which is headquartered in Tennessee, while the company has operations in 30 U.S. states and Canada. www.kencogroup.com 

Knichel Logistics: Knichel Logistics is a woman-owned, non-asset-based provider of transportation and logistics services, including intermodal, trucking, specialty equipment and various ancillary services. The company was founded by Kirsty Knichel, her siblings and father William, who she took over from as president & CEO in 2009. Today, she owns a majority stake in the business and hopes her success will inspire other women to step into the industry. www.knichellogistics.com 

BAT Logistics: In March 2021, the Women in Trucking Association announced its fourth annual list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation, with BAT Logistics’ Ashley Jankowski among them. She currently serves as vice president and was selected along with her peers for their significant career accomplishments in the past 12 to 18 months as well as efforts to promote gender diversity. www.batlogistics.com 

J.B. Hunt: As it celebrates passing 60 years in business J.B. Hunt defines itself as a people-first company founded on innovation, disruption and service. Co-founder Johnelle Hunt has become one of the most influential women in the transportation industry after setting up J.B. Hunt with her husband in 1961. She regularly speaks in front of female audiences, using her story to inspire others into pursuing a career in the 3PL industry. www.jbhunt.com 

Odyssey: Several of Odyssey’s senior management are women. Last year, Lindsey Shellman, vice president of WIN Business Services–a web-based tool that helps shippers manage their freight with just a few keystrokes–was named one of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s Women in Supply Chain. “As a supply-chain leader, it is my responsibility to provide equal opportunities and create a work environment where women can contribute and excel,” she stated in response. www.odysseylogistics.com 

ReedTMS Logistics: Addressing issues of gender and racial equality is a key part of ReedTMS Logistics’ mission, and the company routinely features in the Women in Trucking Association’s best companies to work for lists. In 2019, two of its female managers also gave a keynote presentation on the topic of creating an inclusive company brand at WIT’s Accelerate Conference and Expo. www.reedtms.com 

U.S. Xpress: Women in management positions at U.S. Xpress are making significant contributions to the success of the business and their customers. Vice President of Customer Experience Julie Van de Kamp was named one of Women in Trucking’s 2020 Top Women to Watch in Transportation, and she also headed a leadership panel hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Women in Supply Chain Initiative to mark Women’s History Month earlier this year. www.usxpress.com 

More 3PLs 

–BlueGrace Logistics

–Aria Logistics 

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3pls, Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

7 Supply Chain Optimizations to Protect You in 2022

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Current market turmoil is too big for any company to control, but leaders can take some first steps to protect themselves in 2022 with supply chain optimization best practices. Shoring up relationships, improving understanding of current affairs, and adding safeguards all can play a role in securing operations. For companies looking to create a significant impact in short order, here are seven optimization efforts to try.

1. Map the supply chain

Supply chain designs are changing rapidly. Not only can modern technology bring partners together and facilitate near-instant data transfer, but mergers and acquisitions are shifting the landscape of what’s available. To optimize a modern supply chain, you need a good map to see how parts move and where new connections appear.

Consider creating a robust visualization of your supply chain. Show how goods move, where data flows, and what connects each point physically and digitally. You may identify new pathways or constraints, discover unnecessary, duplicative efforts, or uncover advantages such as optimized warehouse locations. But to find these, you need to be able to look.

2. Consolidate data and documents

You need accurate data that’s readily available if you want to respond to a crisis. The more significant the delay in collecting and analyzing this information, the more time it takes to adapt to whatever occurs. So, focus your supply chain optimization on efforts to automate data capture, consolidate it, and make it usable for you and your partners.

One core area to start with is your documentation. Look for tools that support data capture and verification in standard documents, such as invoices, bills of lading, service-level agreements (SLAs), dock receipts, and more. Build a single repository to help you track everything a shipment uses. When possible, work to integrate your tracking and partner systems so that everyone is working from the most recent status and information.

3. Strengthen current relationships

Your supply chain is complex and intricate, involving a wide range of partners. Use the lessons and capabilities from documentation-focused efforts to foster broader communications improvements. Ask suppliers and partners what they need from you, such as updated forecasts or projections. Speak with carrier reps to secure capacity and discuss your seasonal volume. Tell companies how you measure their capabilities or SLA success. Ask partners how they measure you.

The aim is to open lines of communication and start discussing ways to be mutually beneficial in every deal. When you’re a better partner during non-peak, companies are more likely to give you additional support, capacity, and leeway during peak. As we’ve seen in 2020 and 2021, that can make a world of difference.

4. Secure additional space early

Keeping the peak season focus, it’s time to work on your current capacity. Can you or your 3PL store additional goods? Are you running out of shelf space? What will happen when you scale, up or down?

For 2022, it’s a promising idea to start thinking about scaling up your inventory. We’ve seen slower inbound services and prolonged delays at ports. So, increasing stock on hand helps you avoid stockouts and backorders. Work to secure or build that additional space early on to accommodate this increase in stock. It’ll protect order fulfillment as well as give your overall supply chain more lead time.

5. Create realistic alternatives

Communicating with existing partners around their KPIs and your needs, such as storage, will often identify gaps in coverage. You may realize that some partners can’t meet every demand or that they’re at risk when supply chains struggle.

Protect operations with supply chain optimization practices focused on diversity and alternatives. Bring on additional carriers and regional support to keep goods flowing. Try different warehouses or 3PLs for your sales channels to determine the best fit. Adding partners eliminates many single points of failure, allowing you to keep running when the market becomes complex. This protects customers and partners throughout the supply chain by ensuring operations don’t grind to a halt.

6. Enact a testing plan

Today’s supply chain relies on a considerable number of systems and tools to operate efficiently. So, any changes in these can impact your overall supply chain optimization efforts. Work with your partners and internal IT teams to create a plan for testing changes, tracking implementation, and evaluating results. Set metrics and KPIs for tools as well as new partners.

Whether you’re splitting fulfillment across multiple partners, trying new suppliers, or shifting ERPs, you’ll face significant challenges. A robust change management plan will help your teams stay on track, encourage people to try the new methods, and attempt to make investments lucrative. Give people what they need to grow your supply chain.

7.  Continue to analyze and adapt

Supply chain optimization never truly ends. While the other tips can help you take initial steps or push a project further, you’ll want a team to review operations consistently. Assign analyst roles and tasks to ensure you’re continually reviewing the overall supply chain and any improvements you make. Crunch short- and long-term data to see where you’re succeeding or if new risks emerge. Always keep testing and reviewing to help mitigate the impact of supply chain disruptions that have become increasingly common in the 2020s.

___________________________________________________________________

Jake Rheude is the  Vice President of Marketing for Red Stag Fulfillment, an ecommerce fulfillment warehouse that was born out of ecommerce. He has years of experience in ecommerce and business development. In his free time, Jake enjoys reading about business and sharing his own experience with others.

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, Imports/Exports, News

Global Imports of Printing Paper Fall Dramatically, but China Increases Its Purchases

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Printing and Writing Paper – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Digitalization has put pressure on the world’s trade of printing and writing paper. Over the past decade, global imports of printing and writing paper dropped from 47M tonnes in 2010 to 31M tonnes in 2020. In value terms, imports declined to $27.6B. The U.S., Germany and France remain the largest importers of printing and writing paper worldwide. China features as the only county that boosted its paper imports last year. In 2020, the average printing and writing paper import price fell by -3.2% y-o-y to $899 per tonne 2020. Germany, Indonesia, Finland and Sweden constitute the largest exporters of printing and writing paper.  

Global Imports of Printing and Writing Paper

Under the pressure of digitalization, global imports of printing and writing paper dropped from 47M tonnes in 2010 to 31M tonnes in 2020, a decrease of -34%. In value terms, imports reduced from $34.4B in 2019 to $27.6B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

Germany (3.3M tonnes) and the U.S. (3.2M tonnes) represented the major importers of printing and writing paper in 2020, accounting for approx. 11% and 10% of total imports, respectively. France (1.9M tonnes) took a 6.3% share (based on tonnes) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by the UK (5.3%) and China (4.9%). Italy (1,145K tonnes), Poland (1,009K tonnes), Turkey (813K tonnes), Japan (690K tonnes), Singapore (649K tonnes), India (628K tonnes), Spain (598K tonnes) and the Netherlands (545K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

In value terms, the largest printing and writing paper importing markets worldwide were the U.S. ($2.9B), Germany ($2.8B) and France ($1.7B), together comprising 27% of global imports. The UK, China, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore and India lagged somewhat behind, comprising a further 29%.

Among the largest importers, China was the only country that increased purchases of printing and writing paper from abroad. The value of Chinese purchases rose from $0.9B in 2019 to $1.2B in 2020.

The average printing and writing paper import price stood at $899 per tonne in 2020, reducing by -3.2% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($1,186 per tonne), while India ($749 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Spain, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

World’s Largest Suppliers of Printing and Writing Paper

Germany (4.2M tonnes), Indonesia (3.2M tonnes), Finland (2.7M tonnes), Sweden (2.2M tonnes), China (1.8M tonnes), Canada (1.8M tonnes), Austria (1.6M tonnes), Portugal (1.3M tonnes), Brazil (1.2M tonnes), South Korea (1.1M tonnes), the U.S. (1.1M tonnes) and Italy (1M tonnes) represented roughly 75% of total exports of printing and writing paper in 2020. The Netherlands (794K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

In value terms, the largest printing and writing paper supplying countries worldwide were Germany ($3.8B), Finland ($2.3B) and Indonesia ($2.1B), together comprising 30% of global exports. China, Sweden, Canada, Austria, the U.S., Portugal, Italy, South Korea, Brazil and the Netherlands lagged somewhat behind, accounting for a further 45%.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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Archives, Commentary, Global Trade Daily

See Line Item in Action with a Live Webinar or Product Demo

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You already know that CPG e-commerce has taken a leap forward during the pandemic—and that business intelligence has become table stakes for success. This is because knowledge is power, and what you don’t know is hurting you. In such a dynamic market, you must monitor changing demand patterns and analyze the risks of CPG e-commerce without business intelligence. We’ve gone beyond analyses and caution, though, to share how the right business intelligence platform can help you sell more on Amazon and Walmart, the giants that control the retail market. And we’ve shared an overview of the good, better, and best tools for e-commerce e-analytics to show how Line Item helps CPG and e-commerce marketers master their market with insights to drive sales growth.

Now to compliment our industry-specific articles, we’re offering live webinars and product demos so you can see Line Item in action.Why watch a live webinar, or tune into an on-demand session? Simply put, a live product tour brings Line Item’s features to life in specific ways for your category or product portfolio. It’s a way for you and your colleagues to understand the power of business intelligence for your business, not just for CPG and e-commerce in general (though of course, that’s important, too).
Here are four reasons to join us for a live Line Item webinar or product demo.#1: Understand value through product attributes.
Line Item’s deep insight into product attributes is what sets it apart from other analytics platforms. With a single tool built specifically for CPG and e-commerce, marketers can improve performance and profitability by understanding exactly what’s driving value. Line Item’s proprietary AI engine can calculate attributes for every item, even across hundreds of items in a category. These include form (like liquid or powder), size, flavor, and packaging (like pouch, box, and more).With a live product demo, you can see how Line Item enables visibility into this granular detail for business intelligence that powers better decision-making. See when competitors are coming out with new items that could threaten your sales. Detect new attributes that drive value. Know what consumers value about your product and your brand.

#2: Learn how to truly optimize your search results.
Search results matter. They can make or break whether your product makes it into customers’ carts, in-store or online. There can be many reasons why your product isn’t getting its share of page one, but if you don’t know them, you can’t address them with a fix. And it’s not enough to look at them as separate. A smart and successful digital strategy is built and optimized across all selling platforms. You need to know if your e-commerce SEO is working across all sites and all search terms.

In a webinar, you can understand the power of Line Item in optimizing SEO strategy across all keywords, retailer websites, and online marketplaces. Line Item provides insight into how your brands and items are ranking and analyzes page share, rank by item, brand, form, and other attributes. You can also ask questions specific to your brand or category on SEO strategy and how Line Item powers it.

#3: Discover how to drive sales with smarter insights.
How do you know if your promotions are performing? Which search terms are working across all retailers and platforms? Which keywords are worth investing in? This level of detail is where the battle for the digital shelf is won, but it’s impossible to access without deep insight. And it’s not actionable without the kind of visibility into your e-analytics that Line Item enables. This is just one example of how smarter insights can drive sales growth in the fiercely competitive e-commerce market.

Here are some others. Are your out-of-stocks hurting revenue? Are they giving competitors the edge if you don’t maintain inventory on Amazon? Optimizing inventory is enough of a challenge without having to second-guess your strategy. Line Item gives you the insights to understand how inventory is affecting your sales and ultimately your profitability. A webinar or live demo can show you how Line Item can be a game-changer for your e-commerce portfolio.

#4: Level up your ability to monitor third-party activity.
Amazon may be the world’s biggest marketplace, but it’s also the world’s most competitive. Keeping tabs on authorized and unauthorized third-party activity is key to success on the platform, but it can be complex even with the right tools. Unless, that is, you’re using Line Item. In a webinar or live product demo, you can see how a deep dive with Line Item can reveal when an unauthorized third-party seller starts selling your product online. With Line Item, you can understand when your items are priced correctly as well as when competitors or third-party sellers are undercutting your price. From pricing to competitor activity, see how Line Item can help you understand more about your market.

Actions speak louder than words. Join us for an upcoming webinar or request a live product demo to see how Line Item can transform your CPG e-commerce. You’ll understand why Line Item is your best option for mastering your market. It’s a single platform with comprehensive capabilities purpose-built for CPG e-commerce. In today’s competitive and uncertain e-commerce market, Line Item is your lifeline to more profitable e-commerce.

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, News

China and Uzbekistan Emerge as the Fastest-Growing Persimmon Exporters

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Persimmons – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

China and Uzbekistan recorded double-digit growth rates of persimmon export value over the last year. The global exports rose by +18% y-o-y to $695M in 2020. Spain, Azerbaijan, China and Uzbekistan constitute the largest persimmon suppliers worldwide, accounting for 85% of the total export volume. The average persimmon export price spiked by +6.4% y-o-y to $1,091 per tonne in 2020. Russia remains the world’s largest importer of persimmons.

Global Persimmon Exports by Country

In 2020, the volume of persimmons exported worldwide was estimated at 637K tonnes, picking up by 11% from the previous year’s figure. In value terms, persimmon exports soared by +17.7% y-o-y to $695M (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

In 2020, Spain (211K tonnes), distantly followed by Azerbaijan (126K tonnes), China (108K tonnes) and Uzbekistan (97K tonnes) represented the main exporters of persimmons, together committing 85% of total exports. The following exporters – Lithuania (14K tonnes), Poland (12K tonnes) and Georgia (11K tonnes) – each recorded a 5.7% share of total exports.

In value terms, the largest persimmon supplying countries worldwide were Spain ($234M), China ($206M) and Azerbaijan ($92M), with a combined 77% share of global exports.

In terms of the main exporting countries, China (+62.1% per year) and Uzbekistan (+48% per year) have the highest growth rates of the value of exports.

In 2020, the average persimmon export price amounted to $1,091 per tonne, picking up by +6.4% against the previous year. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2020, the country with the highest price was China ($1,909 per tonne), while Uzbekistan ($499 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Lithuania, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

World’s Largest Persimmon Importers

Russia represented the major importer of persimmons globally, with the volume of imports resulting at 149K tonnes, which was approx. 27% of total imports in 2020. Kazakhstan (58K tonnes) occupied the second position in the ranking, followed by Germany (55K tonnes), Ukraine (40K tonnes), Italy (31K tonnes), Thailand (28K tonnes) and France (28K tonnes). All these countries together occupied an approx. 44% share of total imports. Belarus (19K tonnes), Lithuania (16K tonnes), Poland (12K tonnes), Canada (9.3K tonnes) and the UK (8.4K tonnes) held minor shares of total imports.

In value terms, Russia ($120M), Germany ($75M) and France ($37M) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2020, together comprising 43% of global imports. These countries were followed by Ukraine, Italy, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Canada, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland and the UK, which together accounted for a further 32%.

Source: IndexBox Platform

FSM
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Software

What Is the Best Field Service Management Software?

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Field service management (FSM) technology is essential for businesses wanting to maximize their team’s productivity. Features like schedulers, dispatching utilities, and user-friendly mobile apps make managing team members in the field easier.

The quality and availability of these features can vary significantly among platforms, however. Here are the most essential FSM software features and a comparison of the top options.

Essential and Cutting-Edge FSM Software Features

Most FSM software will include a few of the same basic features. Industry-leading platforms will almost always offer job scheduling, dispatching, work order management and contact management tools. Typically, these programs will also come with apps that allow workers to access the information they organize remotely or via a smartphone while in the field.

Newer, more sophisticated platforms are also adding in more advanced features that can provide some additional functionality.

1. Route Optimization

Route-planning tools find the most efficient route for a given job, including multistop trips. They help field members move from one location to another while reducing mileage, travel time and gas consumption.

In some systems, real-time data from vehicle GPS will be used to find the best possible routes. Route optimization may also be combined with dispatching optimization to help a business respond to new work orders as quickly as possible.

These tools can help businesses overcome some of the most common route optimization challenges and improve routing efficiency.

2. Intelligent Scheduling

Many managers rely on automatic or simple manual scheduling to assign field workers to jobs. This approach can work, but it’s often extremely inefficient.

Intelligent scheduling leverages algorithms that consider all the workers across an organization, their availability, current location and other information to more effectively assign them to jobs. In the same way route optimization takes advantage of available data to improve routing, these tools get the most out of scheduling workflows.

Most modern service fleets outfit their workers with various diagnostic and repair tools, especially if the business services complex or critical machinery, like construction equipment.

The specific toolkit in a vehicle or with a particular field worker may vary significantly — meaning each worker may not be equipped for every job. Varying skill sets can also make the choice of worker critical. Intelligent scheduling technology can take this into account and only look for workers with the correct tools for a job.

In practice, these features can help companies complete more jobs with the same resources while offering customers faster response times and improved service windows.

3. Open APIs

FSM platforms often include integrations for tools businesses are already using — like Outlook, Quickbooks or even industry-specific software like digital construction tools. These integrations allow the software to share data directly with these tools and integrate the new FSM into existing workflows.

Extensive, open APIs help simplify the learning process for a new FSM. The software integrates with tools companies are already using, reducing the number of new features workers must learn how to use. They also help make an FSM much more scalable.

These extensions may require additional payment or IT investment, but they can extend platforms’ functionality.

What to Consider When Reviewing FSM Options

Not all platforms offer these tools. Managers interested in these features should carefully investigate a potential FSM tool to ensure it provides the functionality they desire.

These are five of the most popular field service software options available.

1. FieldOne

FieldOne is an FSM tool designed for large and enterprise-level businesses that offer field service. Available features include automated routing and workflow automation. The software works across several platforms.

Native apps for iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets are available, and because the tool is cloud-based, workers using these apps can access the FSM software from just about anywhere.

The software is built with the Microsoft Dynamic Platform, enabling easy integration with tools that can extend the base software’s functionality.

Pricing for the software can vary. The FieldOne developers offer a free trial, meaning businesses can experiment with the software without committing to a subscription.

2. Jobber

Jobber is an FSM platform built to help home service businesses coordinate their field team and stay on top of work orders.

The software includes a client manager and hub that allows business customers to approve quotes, check appointment details, pay invoices and request work orders. The tool also provides scheduling and quoting features and a one-on-one support system for when users need help troubleshooting.

Various pricing plans for Jobber exist, starting at as slow as $35 per month for a single user. The most expensive “Grow” plan costs $196 per month and supports up to 30 users. Costlier plans offer additional features, and some functionality — like GPS tracking — isn’t available with the cheapest “Core” plan.

Jobber offers a free trial, allowing interested businesses to test the software before investing in a subscription.

3. FieldEdge

FieldEdge is built for contractors, particularly providers of HVAC, plumbing and electrical services. The program supports a wide range of company sizes, from individual freelancers up to enterprise-level businesses.

Software features include inventory and workflow management, an activity dashboard, reporting and mobile access. The program supports web, Android and iPhone access.

FieldEdge also offers a client portal that allows customers to review information related to work orders, invoices and other essential information. The software provides seamless integration with QuickBooks, which can help to simplify business record-keeping.

Pricing for FieldEdge is determined individually for a company and customized based on the business’s needs. An available 14-day free trial gives companies a chance to experiment with the software.

Find the Right FSM Software

Choosing the right FSM can help any business streamline operations and deliver better service to customers faster. These three FSM tools are some of the most popular picks.

The best FSM software for a business will depend on that company’s needs. Looking for key features like route optimization, client portals and APIs will help managers determine if a particular software will simplify their business’s workflows.

___________________________________________________________________

Emily Newton is an industrial journalist. As Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized, she regularly covers how technology is changing the industry.

glove
Archives, Global Trade Daily, News

European Surgical Glove Imports Soar Over $1.8B

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Surgical Gloves – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

In 2020, EU surgical glove imports exceeded $1.8B, reaching the highest level ever recorded. In physical terms, European imports of surgical gloves rose from 20.6B in 2019 to 35B pairs in 2020. Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark imported 69% of the total supplies in the EU. Germany, the largest European importer, saw a 10%-growth of the import volume last year, while the Netherlands doubled its purchases from abroad. In 2020, the average surgical glove import price in the EU grew by +14% y-o-y to $53 per thousand pairs. 

EU Surgical Glove Imports

In 2020, imports of surgical gloves in the EU surged from 20.6B in 2019 to 35B pairs in 2020. In value terms, surgical glove imports soared from $1B in 2019 to $1.8B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

The countries with the highest levels of surgical glove imports in 2020 were Germany (9.8B pairs), the Netherlands (8.2B pairs) and Denmark (6B pairs), together reaching 69% of total import. It was distantly followed by France (1.6B pairs), comprising a 4.5% share of total imports. The following importers – Austria (1,436M pairs), Sweden (1,237M pairs), Spain (1,196M pairs), Poland (988M pairs), Italy (769M pairs), Belgium (715M pairs) and Hungary (574M pairs) – together made up 20% of total imports.

In 2020, Denmark saw the most notable growth of imports in physical terms. Denmark increased surgical glove imports from 0.6B pairs in 2019 to 6B pairs in 2020. Over this period, the Netherlands doubled its imports of surgical gloves, while Germany’s purchases rose by +10 y-o-y.

In value terms, Germany ($725M) constitutes the largest market for imported surgical gloves in the EU, comprising 40% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the Netherlands ($161M), with an 8.8% share of total imports. It was followed by France, with a 6.9% share.

The surgical glove import price in the EU stood at $53 per thousand pairs in 2020, with an increase of +14% against the previous year. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2020, the country with the highest price was Italy, while Denmark was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Italy, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform