GEP Study Shows Global Supply Chains Operating at Close to Full Capacity

Improving activity across global supply chains are a direct result of healthier demand, which has picked up consistently in the year-to-date after considerable weakness in 2023.

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The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index rose in April to -0.18, from -0.32 in March, which signals that global supply chains are operating at close to full capacity.

Improving activity across global supply chains are a direct result of healthier demand, which has picked up consistently in the year-to-date after considerable weakness in 2023. The Asian market is at the forefront of this trend, with input demand at the region’s factories remaining strong. Procurement managers in South Korea, Vietnam, India and China reported greater purchasing activity during April.

“After four years of supply shocks, inflation, stockpiling, and uncertainty, global supply chains are now operating in a Goldilocks zone, a steady state of full capacity, not expanding or contracting too quickly, which is excellent news for global suppliers and business,” says Mike Seitz, VP, GEP Consulting. “In China, we’re seeing a steady pick-up in manufacturing activity, which will encourage Chinese Premier Li Qiang to accelerate efforts to remove barriers imposed by European markets and foster more FDI, especially as the potential for tougher U.S. tariffs and trade policies loom.

Key takeaways:

  • The North American market is showing more evidence of tightening capacity, with backlogged work reported by manufacturers, particularly in Mexico. Demand for raw materials, commodities and components, while still subdued, also improved slightly.
  • Demand conditions were less robust in Europe, with the region’s manufacturing sector continuing to underperform and lag other parts of the globe. Positively, however, the industrial recession across the continent has eased considerably since late last year.
  • Global demand for raw materials, commodities and components remained close to its long-term average in April, highlighting vastly improved conditions in the worldwide manufacturing sector compared with late last year. As was also the case in March, Asia was the main positive force, with major goods-producing nations such as China, India and South Korea recording growth.
  • Inventory drawdowns persisted into April, albeit cooling in strength compared to March. Reports from global businesses of stockpiles rising because of price or supply concerns were among the lowest seen in over four years.
  • Reports of short supply for items, including semiconductors, foodstuff, chemicals, and metals, remain historically low.
  • After rising for the past three months, global reports of backlogged orders increasing because of staff shortages fell in April and were broadly aligned with historically typical levels. Regional differences persisted, however, with North America seeing greater labor shortages than elsewhere.
  •  Following recent increases in oil prices, global transportation costs rose for the first time this year in April.  
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