Monthly Supply Chain Pulse - 15

📰 Supply Chain Pulse | Monthly Edition – February 5, 2025

Your Go-To Source for Supply Chain Insights, Trends, and Actionable Advice

Supply Chain Theme of 2025: Success will be measured by resilience and cost efficiency.

📊 Key Metrics

Staying competitive means keeping an eye on the data that matters most. Here are six supply chain metrics that we monitor and will provide updates on within each newsletter.

Drewry World Container Index (WCI):

The 40ft container shipping rate from Shanghai to New York decreased by 2.44% in January. Typically, this happens as the holiday shipping rush is over and imports to the USA slow.

DAT Truckload Freight Rate Index

The national average Van Spot Rate reported by DAT this week is $2.07 per mile, which is a $0.05 per mile decrease from the beginning of January. This is likely due to the holiday shipping rush coming to an end, leaving extra supply of trucking space.

Commodity Research Bureau (CRB) Index

The CRB index measures a basket of 19 commodities including energy, agriculture, and metals. It’s widely considered a leading indicator of inflation, economic health, and overall cost trends for goods across the market. An increase tends to signify an increase in economic activity while a decrease tends to signify a slowdown in economic activity. The index rose another 3.45% this month, reaching 309.30.

Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index

To create this index, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia surveys around 250 manufacturers, asking about factors like employment, working hours, new and unfilled orders, shipments, inventory levels, delivery times, prices, costs, and business forecasts for the next six months.An index level above zero signifies improving conditions, while a level below zero indicates worsening conditions. Read more here.

The January index stood at 44.30, which is a remarkable 55.2 point increase from December’s -10.90. This indicates a forecasted increase in manufacturing activities in the region. This also is the second largest monthly increase in the history of this index, dating back to May 1968. The first largest being between May 2020 & June 2020 with a 73.2 point increase.

Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)

The PMI is an economic indicator derived from monthly surveys of private sector companies, measuring the performance of the manufacturing and services sectors. It covers metrics such as new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries, and employment. A PMI above 50 indicates expansion, while below 50 suggests contraction. Keeping track of PMI data can help business owners anticipate changes in economic activity, demand for products, and supply chain conditions.

🌍 Global Hot Topic: What’s in Store for the Supply Chain in 2025? (Click To Read Article)

The global supply chain remains under pressure, with key disruptions from 2024—such as Red Sea shipping risks, rail strikes, and trade tariff shifts—shaping new strategies for 2025. Businesses are focusing on supply chain transparency, AI-driven insights, and alternative sourcing to mitigate risks and increase cost efficiency. Additionally, compliance with new international regulations, cybersecurity threats, and sustainability targets (Scope 3 emissions) are becoming top priorities. The rise of nearshoring—accelerated by trade policy changes and tariffs—could redefine global supply networks as companies seek greater control, reduced costs, and improved sustainability.

Why It Matters:
Supply chains are becoming smarter, more data-driven, and more resilient—but only for those who adapt. Ena Source helps businesses navigate these changes, providing strategic sourcing solutions that reduce costs, diversify suppliers, and improve supply chain visibility. With expertise in nearshoring, risk mitigation, and supplier management, Ena Source ensures that companies stay ahead of trade shifts, AI advancements, and evolving compliance standards. If your supply chain isn’t evolving, it’s falling behind—let’s build yours for the future.

🇺🇸 US Hot Topic: US manufacturing rebounds, tariffs could derail tentative recovery (Click To Read Article)

After more than two years of contraction, U.S. manufacturing is finally showing signs of recovery, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI climbing above 50.9, indicating sector expansion. However, this fragile rebound faces new headwinds, as President Trump’s 10% tariffs on Chinese goods and potential trade restrictions on Mexico and Canada could disrupt supply chains, raise material costs, and slow short-term growth. Additionally, a stronger U.S. dollar—driven by tariff policies—makes American exports less competitive, further complicating the recovery for manufacturers who rely on international sales.

Why It Matters:
Supply chains are once again in the spotlight, with rising tariffs, material shortages, and supply constraints forcing companies to adapt quickly. Ena Source helps businesses navigate these challenges by identifying cost-effective sourcing alternatives, securing diversified supplier networks, and reducing tariff exposure through strategic procurement. Whether it’s shifting to nearshore suppliers, optimizing raw material sourcing, or enhancing supply chain visibility, Ena Source helps businesses stay ahead of supply chain shifts, ensuring stability, profitability, and long-term success—even in uncertain times

📈 Giorge’s Stock/ETF Pick

$URA- The Global X Uranium ETF provides exposure to companies involved in uranium mining and production, a critical component for nuclear energy. With the growing push for clean energy and increasing global investments in nuclear power, uranium demand is set to rise. As countries prioritize energy security and carbon-free electricity, URA is well-positioned to benefit from the expanding nuclear sector.

• As always, it’s not about timing the market, it’s about time in the market

• Disclaimer: This is not financial advice or a recommendation for any investment. The content is for information purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

🚀 Your Supply Chain, Your Competitive Edge

Supply chains aren’t just about logistics—they’re about your bottom line, your growth, and your ability to outpace the competition. At Ena Source, we don’t just find suppliers; we engineer strategic sourcing solutions that cut costs, build resilience, improve reliability, and free up your cash flow.

If you’re curious how much you could be saving, let’s talk. No pressure. No cost. Just clarity.

📩 Click here to book a meeting. Resilient supply chains don’t happen by chance—they happen by choice. Let’s build yours, strategically.

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