Q4 Spike in Supply Chain Activity Suggests ‘Significant Recovery': Tradeshift

Q4 global supply chain activity exceeded that of the pre-pandemic 2019 quarter by 14%, suggesting a “significant recovery” after nearly a year of “massive supply chain instability and disruptions,” reported Tradeshift Monday. The trade analytics firm studied invoicing and ordering records, finding “a particularly strong end to the year” in most world regions, it said. The number of U.S. transactions between buyers and suppliers jumped 29% in Q4 from a year earlier, double the rate of global growth in the quarter, it said. Trade activity in Western economies “has only recently shown signs of returning to growth,” but businesses in China “have been operating at near-normal capacity” since April, it said. Q4 supply chain activity in retail jumped 34%, outperforming other sectors, it said. Retail trade activity declined by as much as 36% in Q2 during peak COVID-19 lockdowns. Supply chain activity in the tech sector increased 16% in Q4.