Emerging Regions May Offer Opportunities for Global Trade: QIMA Study

Three months into 2025, global trade has maintained a degree of resilience, but supply challenges are mounting as U.S. trade policies remain heavy-handed and unpredictable.

As the new wave of U.S. tariffs sends global supply chains into uncharted waters, China’s trade with emerging regions remains strong amid tensions with the West, according to data released by QIMA.

In fact, QIMA’s first-quarter data on inspection and audit demand indicates a notable shift: for the first time since the 2022 COVID-19 era, China’s relative share in the sourcing portfolios of Western buyers has diminished. This suggests that North American and European supply chains are intensifying efforts to reduce dependency on China.

At the same time, emerging economies have maintained a robust appetite for China imports. Businesses in Latin and South America, in particular, drive this demand, fueled by both local consumption and manufacturing geared towards U.S. nearshoring.

Key takeaways:

·       U.S. brands seek new agile sourcing partnerships across Asia.

·        Growing consumer markets and nearshoring projects fuel growth in Latin and South America.

·        QIMA data indicates that businesses in Latin and South America actively sourced from China in Q1 (inspection and audit demand up +21% YoY), while also exploring other supplier markets in Asia, such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and India. On the supply side, the region’s manufacturers received healthy order volumes in the first quarter, with inspection and audit demand expanding by +15% year-over-year, fueled by both North American businesses and local buyers.

·        With nearly one in two U.S. businesses planning to increase nearshoring volumes this year, Latin and South American importers and manufacturers may continue to see robust activity in the coming months, especially as the tariff pressure on the region is lower compared to many overseas supplier hubs.

·        QIMA data suggests that these businesses are relying on existing inventories and engage in limited restocking, primarily close to home.

·        Non-transparent supply chains compromise buyers’ ability to navigate turbulent trade landscape. Only 13% of respondents globally reported having full visibility of their sourcing networks, including raw material suppliers.