Hello again.
In this week’s Thomas Index, we’re going to take a look at sourcing activity in Texas. Manufacturing is on the rise in the Lone Star State, rebounding from the crash in the oil market that slammed much of the state’s manufacturing output a few years ago. According to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, manufacturing activity in Texas is at its highest level since 2005.
First, we’re going to take a look at what buyers from North America and abroad are sourcing from suppliers located in Texas; then we’ll take a look at what buyers located in Texas are sourcing from suppliers throughout North America. Of course, all of this sourcing activity is happening in the Thomas Network at Thomasnet.com.
For context, let’s take a look at the top ten categories being sourced by buyers throughout our network over the past 12 weeks.
The list looks like this: Printed Circuit Boards, Injection Molded Plastics, Steel, Metal Stampings, CNC Machining, Machining, Corrugated Boxes, Contract Manufacturing, Metal Fabrication, and Fasteners. Those are the top categories being sourced by buyers throughout our network, from the North American suppliers across our network.
Now let’s take a look at the top ten products and services our users sourced from Texas suppliers over the past 12 weeks.
Topping the list is Third Party Logistics Services, or 3PL, followed by Printed Circuit Boards, and Non-Destructive Testing Services. Non-Destructive Testing, or NDT, is utilized heavily to test the quality of welds in both petroleum engineering as well as aeronautical engineering – two industries with a strong presence in Texas.
Next up is sourcing for Contract Packaging and Glass Bottles, followed by Road & Highway Construction Contractors – this is definitely a category to keep an eye on as the White House recently put a 1.5 trillion dollar infrastructure plan on the table.
Sourcing for Plastic Bottles is next on the list, followed by sourcing for Tube Fabrication & Bending Services. Tubing solutions are used widely throughout the oil and gas industry – a huge part of the economy in the Texas region.
Rounding out the list is sourcing activity for Machining, and for Tank Heads.
Again, these were users from throughout our network sourcing those products and services from suppliers located in Texas.
Next, let’s take a look at what products and services buyers located in Texas are looking for from suppliers throughout the Thomas Network. This list is a good indicator of what kind of projects are going on in the state.
Texas buyers are sourcing for Contract Manufacturing, Pipe, and Third Party Logistics Services. There’s also high sourcing activity for Machining, and for Non-Destructive Testing Services.
Next up is sourcing for Steel. We talked about how proposed tariffs on foreign steel are impacting sourcing activity for North American suppliers in last week’s Thomas Index, check out the new Insights section on Thomasnet.com to see that report.
Rounding out the list is sourcing for Private Label Manufacturing, Corrugated Boxes, Valves, and Injection Molded Plastic.
If you’re a supplier in any of these categories, no matter where you are in the U.S. or Canada, there’s significant opportunity happening at Thomasnet.com. Now is the time get your marketing lined up to take advantage of this trend.
Whatever your business, if you’re interested in a free custom report showing you which buyers are in-market today for the products and services you offer, visit Thomasnet.com/BuyerReport.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next week.