Tradeshift's Index of Global Trade Health Q4 2021

Global trade passes the latest resilience test… for now at least

The Omicron variant proved an unwelcome Christmas gift for global trade in Q4. But unlike previous waves, supply chains have so far passed the latest test of their resilience.

Our latest Index of Global Trade Health shows that cumulative transaction volume growth across the Tradeshift platform stayed flat in Q4 compared to pre-pandemic forecasts. Recent history suggests that things could have been a lot worse. 

Fears that the significant drop in order volumes we saw in Q3 could be the beginning of more profound and protracted slowdown in activity also proved unfounded. Instead, ordering activity appears to be returning to a more predictable pattern. With recent data also suggesting that the supply chain bottlenecks of the past year are beginning to ease, we could well be looking at a gradual calming of the waters heading into 2022.