Supply Chain by the Numbers
   
 

- July 18, 2013
   
  Supply Chain by the Numbers for Week of July 18, 2013
   
 

As Triple E Launches, even Bigger Ships Coming; UPS Bets Big on Nat Gas Trucks; Rail Profits Continue to Roll On; Manufactures Optimistic, but Fewer Planning Investments
   
 
 
 

22,000

The number of TEU capacity that is being considered in the latest generation of container ship designs, according to Marc Pauchet, senior analyst at ACM Shipping. That as the first Maersk Triple E - the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller, after the parent company's founder's late son - left the port of Busan, South Korea on its maiden voyage this week, headed for Europe. The Triple E's can carry some 18,000 TEU, 11% more than the current largest vessel. But even larger ships are coming.
 
 



 
 
 

40%

Percentage of US industrial manufacturers that plan major new investments during the next 12 months, according to the latest quarterly Manufacturing Barometer report from PWC. That is off three percentage points from the 43% indicating major investment plans in the first quarter, and well below the 55% recorded in the second quarter of 2012. In better news, the level of optimism among manufacturers regarding the domestic economic outlook rose to 63% during the second quarter of 2013, up from 55% in the first quarter, representing the highest level since the first quarter of 2012.
 
 
 
 
 
700

The number of new natural-gas powered class 8 trucks UPS will be ordering for the rest of 2013 and into 2014 - and that is all the class I tractors the logistics giant is planning to acquire over that time. The order follows five years and 300 million miles of successful experience with 2,700 trucks and package cars fueled by natural gas, said David Abney, chief operating officer of the company. These new tractors will run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Currently, large fleets can buy LNG for as low as $1.50 per diesel-equivalent gallon , which is most attractive, almost $2.00 below contracted diesel prices and more than two dollars lower than on-the road-pricing.
 
 
 
 
 

$1.1 Billion

Q2 profits for rail carrier Union Pacific in Q2, according to the company's earnings report this week. That’s up 10% from net income in Q2 2012, even though carload volumes were actually down 1% from the same period last year. Operating revenue increased five percent in the second quarter to $5.5 billion. That means operating profit margins of an impressive 27.2% - and shows rail pricing power continues on.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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