Plan Now for January: Why Supply Chain Preparation Can’t Wait
As the year winds down, many businesses are focused on closing Q4 strong—but failing to plan for January can lead to costly setbacks. Supply chain leaders should act now to prepare for a tight and unpredictable start to the new year. Low year-end inventories are a major concern. Many companies have kept stock lean throughout […]
Fed’s Bowman Signals Two More Rate Cuts in 2025 — What It Means for Chemicals
Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman announced she expects two additional rate cuts before year‑end, reaffirming her support for easing policy following September’s 25 bps cut (to 4.00 %–4.25 %) Reuters. She emphasized that if the labor market and other economic data evolve as expected, the Fed should continue lowering the federal funds rate. For the chemical industry, this shift […]
Lower Global Trade due to Tariffs
The Atradius October 2025 outlook highlights a downshift in global chemicals growth, driven partly by U.S. trade policy headwinds. Worldwide chemicals production is projected to expand by just 2.1 % in 2025 and slow further to 1.5 % in 2026, reflecting increasing pressure from tariffs, inflated input costs, and shifting trade flows. Global & Trade Pressures Because […]
Shipping Rates Drop, Low Q4 Inventories Expected
Ocean shipping rates from China to the U.S. have fallen sharply—down as much as 68% since June—as importers take a more cautious approach in response to ongoing tariff uncertainty and softer consumer demand. This trend is part of a wider global slowdown in container shipping, with rates declining for 11 consecutive weeks amid reduced logistics […]
Fed Cuts Rates: What does it mean?
The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 25 basis points to a range of 4.00%–4.25%, marking a notable shift in policy aimed at supporting the economy. This move comes as job growth slows, and the Fed looks to provide some relief while keeping an eye on inflation, which is still slightly above target. Officials highlighted […]
