There’s never been a better time to “kick the tires” on your corrugated packaging spend. Prices are dropping for the first time in two years as global box demand finally weakens after the severe post-pandemic run-up. Corrugated packaging buyers that don’t have index-based pricing agreements…
It appears we are finally transitioning from a prolonged period of supply constraints and rapidly rising prices to a more “normal” state. Supply-demand dynamics will vary by commodity, and the possibility of a global recession still looms, but after several years of chasing parts and…
Every resin grade has its own price movements. Feedstock costs, supply availability, and demand drivers are unique to each material. That being said, the general trend is that prices for most resins are starting to soften – but are still well above pre-covid levels. The…
Is it time for North American purchasing teams to refocus on strategic sourcing? After staggering material shortages and unheard of ocean freight costs, purchasing teams are seeing glimmers of light that suppliers might be ready to compete for business once again. There’s a lot of…
APD recently delivered a webinar on Reducing Corrugated Packaging Costs in which we discussed the current state of supply and demand dynamics and shared what companies can do to optimize costs in the current environment. This post highlights some of interesting information shared. You can…
It’s been a rough time to be a buyer of cardboard packaging. Corrugated paperboard prices have been rising rapidly – up nearly 40% in past 20 months. Cardboard supply lead times have been painful, with some suppliers selectively firing customers to ensure they can fulfill…
In recent days, we’ve had several conversations with manufacturing business leaders focusing on the potential crises looming in both Asia and Europe, potentially affecting their suppliers. They are concerned that intense Chinese military drills in the area surrounding Taiwan and Russia’s slashing of natural gas…
At APD, we’ve learned that details matter when you are conducting a search for new suppliers of direct materials. Starting a search without having consensus on what you are looking for is a recipe for wasted effort and prolonged search times. So what are the…
There is a common mistaken belief that Lemmings hurl themselves off of cliffs in an act of mass suicide to control their population. Actually, the Lemmings are participating in a mass migration. The fortunate land in the water and complete their migration; the unfortunate land…
Finding suppliers in Mexico has become much more difficult with the rapid surge of nearshoring activities in the past 18 months. Recently, seven C-level executives and purchasing leaders at manufacturing companies shared their experiences related to finding suppliers in Mexico at an online Executive Roundtable. …