Global supply issues ease, volatility at lowest level in 2+ years

ISTANBUL

Global supply chains continued to improve in January, with supply volatility at its lowest level since September 2020, S&P Global said on Tuesday.

Item shortages continued to ease in the last month, transportation costs normalized broadly, and businesses are unwinding safety stocks, it said in a press release.

The global supply chain volatility index, which is an indicator tracking demand conditions, shortages, transportation costs, inventories and backlogs, dropped to 0.97 in January, from 1.61 in December.

The index also showed that global demand for raw materials posted a decline for the seventh consecutive month in January.

In North America, the lower demand signals a possible recession, it noted.