Monthly Archives: December 2011

Steel prices expected to drop in 2012

Prices should be below the 2011 peak but above 2010 prices over the next 24 months, Fitch Ratings’ report.

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Analysis: Walmart looks to technology to develop supplier relationship management

Is Walmart about to re-define supplier relationship management? That’s certainly the hope of the US retail giant which – shortly before Christmas – announced ambitious plans to reinvigorate its online fortunes.

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Flooding forces Opnext to suspend production at Thai facility

Opnext, a US-headquartered company that designs and manufacturers optical modules and components, has disclosed the impact that recent and on-going flooding in Thailand on its business.

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Biggest procurement bribery case in US ends in acquittal

After a twelve-week jury trial in US District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Richard J. Leon entered judgment acquitting Stephen G. Giordanella of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), after the biggest procurement …

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China modifies rare earth quotas

China, which produces a majority of the world’s rare earth elements, has announced changes to its export quota system, which has caused controversy in the past because of China’s dominant position in the market.

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Unions continue to stoke Massmart takeover dispute

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has criticised US retailer Wal-Mart for its merger with the supermarket in its end of year message.

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Unions continue to stoke Massmart takeover dispute

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has criticised US retailer Wal-Mart for its merger with the supermarket in its end of year message.

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Analysis: 2011 in review

2011 will be remembered as one of the most challenging years in procurement’s history. Not only were global supply chains thrown into turmoil following the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March, but global markets have seemingly been in a cons…

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Corn increases on weather concerns

A period of dry weather, lingering over South America has pushed corn prices up a near six-week high as it threatens to disrupt the crop as it enters its pollination stage, stoking fears of reduced yields.

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US ends three decades of biofuel import ‘protectionism’

Global producers of ethanol have welcomed an impeding relaxation of long-standing US import tariffs on the biofuel.

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