Monthly Supply Chain Pulse - 16

📰 Supply Chain Pulse | Monthly Edition – March 3, 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 a massive 18.48% in February. This could be partially due to the new 10% tariff the US has imposed on Chinese goods. US companies are doing what they can to shift their supply chains away from China.

DAT Truckload Freight Rate Index

The national average Van Spot Rate reported by DAT this week is $2.04 per mile, which is a $0.03 per mile decrease from the beginning of the end of January. The North East US region has the lowest average Van Spot Rate at $1.89 per mile.

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 fell only 0.91% this month, landing at 306.50.

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.

After a record breaking January, we see a 59.14% decrease in the February index, with a score of 18.10. This reading indicates a forecasted decrease of manufacturing activities in the region. We see this decrease as “reality check” to the January index due to last month’s reading nearing all time high levels.

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 Supply Chain Volatility Index (GSCPI)

The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index tracks global supply chain conditions by measuring factors such as demand, shortages, transportation costs, inventories, and backlogs. A positive value indicates stretched capacity and higher volatility, while a negative value shows underutilization and reduced volatility. In January, the index fell slightly to -0.21. It is interesting to not that Demand has risen significantly between December and January. It is also important to note that stockpiling due to supply or price concerns has dropped significantly.

🌍 Global Hot Topic: Navigating Global Trade and Supply Chain Challenges in 2025 (Click To Read Article)

Global trade is becoming increasingly complex as tariffs, trade barriers, and geopolitical instability create new challenges for businesses in 2025. With heightened restrictions on AI-related technologies, semiconductors, and other critical materials, companies are facing higher costs and tighter regulations. In response, many are reevaluating sourcing strategies, considering alternative manufacturing locations, and preparing for retaliatory trade actions from major economies like China. At the same time, supply chain disruptions—from extreme weather events to cyberattacks and Red Sea shipping crises—continue to impact the movement of goods, forcing businesses to adopt more resilient supply chain strategies.

🇺🇸 US Hot Topic: Supply Chain Knowledge Is First Step To Mitigate Tariff Impact (Click To Read Article)

As President Trump implements new tariffs on global trade partners, businesses face increased costs and supply chain uncertainties. Trade experts emphasize the importance of deep visibility into supplier networks, advising companies to assess not only direct suppliers but also second- and third-tier sources to anticipate risks. With duties determined by classification, valuation, and country of origin, businesses are exploring legal strategies such as reclassifying products, shifting manufacturing locations, and renegotiating production agreements to minimize duty exposure. Additionally, Mexico has now surpassed China as the U.S.’s top trading partner, signaling a growing shift toward nearshoring to avoid costly tariffs.

Why It Matters:
With global trade policies in flux, proactive supply chain management is essential to maintaining profitability and stability. Ena Source helps businesses navigate these challenges by analyzing supplier networks, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and securing strategic sourcing alternatives that reduce tariff exposure. Whether it’s optimizing country-of-origin strategies, sourcing from alternative suppliers, or leveraging trade agreements, Ena Source ensures companies stay agile and competitive in an evolving trade landscape.

📈 Giorge’s Stock/ETF Pick

$MSFT- As we all know, Microsoft is a global leader in software, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, driving innovation across industries. With its strong presence in enterprise solutions, AI-powered products, and continued expansion in cloud services, Microsoft remains at the forefront of the tech sector. As businesses and consumers increasingly adopt AI and cloud-based infrastructure, MSFT is well-positioned for sustained growth in the evolving digital landscape.

• 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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