sole supply; monopoly supplier
Refers to a single entity being the exclusive provider of a product or service, often in business or economic contexts.
Because the part is supplied by a single source, price negotiation is difficult.
If the sole-supply situation continues, market competition will be hindered.
独占供給 emphasizes a monopolistic control over supply, while 単独供給 simply means a single supplier without necessarily implying market dominance.
単独 means 'single' or 'sole' and is used in many compounds; 単独供給 is a specific business term.
Compound of 単独 (tandoku, 'single, sole') and 供給 (kyōkyū, 'supply'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is a straightforward Sino-Japanese compound used in modern economic and business contexts.