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Manufacturing
Lower cost structures, improved quality, and efficient distribution from overseas producers are forcing U.S. firms to source goods offshore from countries like China. Unable to compete on a cost basis, companies are closing down their domestic operations and jobs are being lost. With overhead costs representing 33 percent to 37 percent of wholesale revenue for U.S. manufacturers, improving productivity is vital to success.
Automotive Industry
Today’s automotive industry faces greater challenges than at any time in recent history. Increased government regulations, rising costs of raw materials, ever-increasing energy prices, and extreme global competition are taking their toll.
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Chemical Industry
The persistently high price of oil and natural gas and extreme competition pose a severe threat to the health of the chemical industry in the United States today.
Furniture
The United States furniture industry is undergoing rapid, disruptive changes that are driven by low-cost competition from Southeast Asia and consolidation at the retail and manufacturing levels.
Paper & Pulp
Overseas imports traditionally played a very small role in the North American cartonboard markets, and imports were largely limited to trade between the U.S. and Canada. However, that began to change during the last two years, and overseas imports averaged roughly 300,000 tons in 2004 and 2005.