Monthly Supply Chain Pulse - 27

📰 Supply Chain Pulse | Monthly Edition – February 6, 2026

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

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📊 Key Metrics

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

🛳️ Drewry World Container Index (WCI)

The 40ft rate from Shanghai to New York fell sharply from $3,302 to $2,819 this month (‑14.6%), signaling a release of capacity after recent weather and pre–Lunar New Year congestion eased. We are expecting the rates to maintain around this level for the next 4-6 unless there are significant changes in the global trade landscape.

🚚 DAT Truckload Freight Rate Index

Van spot rates climbed to $2.47/mile, driven by winter weather disruptions, tighter capacity from driver availability, and regional imbalances following year-end resets. As weather normalizes and capacity loosens heading into spring, we expect rates to drift back closer to the $2.00–$2.10 range, easing domestic freight pressure for shippers.

🛢 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.

Why it matters: The CRB Index moved up to 312.93, reflecting firmer pricing across energy and select industrial inputs rather than a broad-based inflation surge. This potentially does signal that the extended “flat cost” window may be narrowing and now is a smart time to validate material exposure, lock near-term pricing where possible, and look for alternate sourcing options to protect margins if volatility returns.

🇺🇸 🏭 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.

Why it matters: The index surged to 12.6 in January. This jump signals expanding activity in the Philadelphia region’s manufacturing sector suggesting improving demand, stronger order volumes, and a more upbeat business outlook. It’s an encouraging signal for early Q3, but volatility in recent months means it’s too early to call this a sustained trend

What to consider: While the bounce is promising, stay cautious. Monitor for confirmation next month before making major changes. Maintain focus on inventory discipline, but start identifying areas where a pickup in demand could justify replenishment or faster order cycles. Supply chain risk planning remains key as trade and policy uncertainty continues to cloud the broader picture.

🧾 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.

Why it matters: After 3 months of the PMI falling, it looks like manufacturing is back in growth mode. The sharp rebound to 52.6 reflects stronger new orders, improving production, and a healthier demand pipeline. Now’s the time to tighten quote turnaround, stay flexible on lead times, and secure supplier capacity before schedules fill up. Expect more urgent RFQs and increased competition, so position your team to say yes faster without sacrificing margins.

🌍 Global Hot Topic: Global Supply Chains Shift Focus (Click To Read Article)

At Davos, Economist Impact launched The Future of Trade, a multi-year initiative supported by UNCTAD, aimed at helping businesses navigate a rapidly evolving trade landscape shaped by AI, automation, climate disruption, and geopolitical fragmentation. The focus is shifting from efficiency to resilience and adaptability as companies rethink how they source, transport, and protect goods. AI is accelerating supply chain planning and risk analysis, but it also introduces challenges around cyber vulnerability and workforce disruption. Fragmented alliances and rising protectionism are driving more regional, digitally integrated trade strategies. For manufacturers and supply chain leaders, staying competitive will require flexible sourcing, better data visibility, and a stronger handle on upstream risk. The May report will outline how companies can build more resilient, inclusive trade networks that thrive despite volatility

🇺🇸 US Hot Topic: Post-holiday reordering boosts US manufacturing in January (Click To Read Article)

U.S. manufacturing activity rebounded in January for the first time in a year, with the ISM Purchasing Managers Index climbing to 52.6, which is above the growth threshold of 50. However, optimism is thin as there are persistent tariff threats, unclear trade policies, and emerging “anti-American” buyer sentiment are unsettling both domestic and global buyers. While new orders surged, partly from stockpiling ahead of expected price hikes, manufacturing employment continues to shrink, and inflationary pressures remain relatively high. Geopolitical tensions and volatile trade relationships are muddying business planning and creating fragility across sectors.

Why It Matters:
While the January rebound in manufacturing is encouraging, the outlook remains mixed. Businesses are cautiously optimistic but still face headwinds from shifting trade dynamics, rising input costs, and global buyer hesitancy. The uptick in orders suggests short-term demand is healthy but long-term growth will depend on clearer trade policies and more stable economic signals. For now, companies should monitor pricing trends and supply chain developments closely while remaining agile in their planning.

📈 Ena Monthly Stock Pick

$VIS– VIS provides broad exposure to U.S. industrial stocks, giving a way to participate in the manufacturing and infrastructure cycle without the company‑specific risk of individual names. Industrials tend to benefit from tariff‑related reshoring, supply chain rebuilding, and domestic capital investment themes that remain relevant as manufacturers adjust to evolving trade policy and logistics dynamics.

• 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

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