RELEX Report: 86% of Supply Chain Leaders Impacted by Tariffs and Economic Pressures as Companies Split on Pricing and Inventory...
A RELEX survey finds 86% of supply‑chain leaders say recent tariffs and broader economic pressures have already disrupted operations. More than half of respondents have raised consumer prices, while 24% are shifting sourcing away from affected regions. Companies are split on inventory tactics, with 28% building safety stock and 27% tightening lean models. Inflation remains the top stressor, eclipsing tariff and labor concerns, prompting firms to invest in AI‑driven scenario planning and stronger logistics partnerships.
MoSPI to Launch New Surveys, Boost High-Frequency Economic Indicators: Saurabh Garg
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has completed base‑year revisions for the CPI and GDP and is now turning to high‑frequency economic indicators. A trial Index of Services Production (ISP) will be released in 2026, supported by a...
Not Going, Bananas: Ramzan Ripe Time for Most-Exported Fruit but Iran War a Spoiler
India’s banana exports, worth roughly ₹3,500 crore annually, are being hit by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockage has stranded 1,500–2,000 containers, valued at up to ₹200 crore, just as Maharashtra ramps up shipments for Ramzan demand across the...
Middle East War Disrupts U.S. B2B Ecommerce Supply Chains
Escalating conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States is disrupting key air and maritime corridors in the Persian Gulf, notably the Strait of Hormuz. The disruptions are lengthening transit times, raising freight costs, and forcing carriers like DHL to...
Druzhba Idle as Hungary Secures Russian Oil Supply Guarantees
Hungary has secured a guarantee from Russia to resume crude deliveries, yet the Druzhba pipeline remains idle for both Hungary and Slovakia. The EU stepped in to mediate the dispute, but no operational agreement has been reached. The suspension persists...
Navigating Euro Credit: Fundamentals, Valuations & Technicals
Pim van Mourik Broekman outlines the Euro credit market’s current landscape, highlighting overweight financials and utilities versus underweight industrials. He warns that geopolitical tensions and divergent central‑bank policies—particularly the ECB’s dovish stance against the Fed’s tightening—could steepen the yield curve. Valuations...
More Than 20 States Challenge Trump's New Tariffs
Around two dozen Democratic‑led states have filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s new 15% global tariffs imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The states argue the president exceeds his authority, noting that Section 122 was designed for narrow...
Enforce Sanctions to Prevent Russia From Benefitting in a Prolonged Iran Crisis
The United States and its allies are warning that the Iran‑Israel conflict could lift oil prices to $80‑plus per barrel, creating a lucrative window for Russia’s sanctioned oil stockpiles. Russia, facing dwindling revenues after years of sanctions, now eyes the...
Seafarers Maintain the Right to Refuse to Sail Through Mideast Gulf Region
Seafarers can now refuse to sail through the Middle East Gulf after the threat level was raised to its highest, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Bargaining Forum. The agreement allows crew to decline voyages in...
Mideast War Casts Cloud on Gulf Petchems, Other Industries
Iran's retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure in the Gulf have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of global oil shipments. The shutdown immediately disrupted energy‑intensive sectors in the region, notably petrochemicals, fertilizers and aluminum, curtailing...
Apple Blocks US Users From Downloading ByteDance’s Chinese Apps
Apple has begun blocking U.S. iPhone users from downloading or updating any ByteDance‑owned apps that are intended for the Chinese market, including Douyin, Doubao, and Fanqie Novel. The restriction, enforced through on‑device geolocation checks, follows the Protecting Americans from Foreign...
Ukraine Brings Back 200 POWs in Latest Swap with Russia, Zelenskiy Says
On March 5, 2026 Ukraine announced the return of 200 prisoners of war in a new exchange with Russia. The group includes combatants seized during the 2022 siege of Mariupol, highlighting the lingering human cost of that battle. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted on...
Middle East Chaos Stems From Erosion in International Law, EU's Kallas Says
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that the current turmoil in the Middle East stems from a systematic erosion of international law. She blamed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for emboldening other actors, and singled out China’s expansionist moves in...
Christine Lagarde: Technology, Fragmentation and the New Uncertainty
In her 2026 Global Risk Lecture, ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that the world is shifting from a measurable‑risk environment to genuine uncertainty driven by rapid AI adoption and escalating geopolitical fragmentation. She cited estimates that AI could add up...
Exclusive-NATO's Rutte 'Not Deaf' To Criticism of His Trump Praise, Offers More
NATO secretary‑general Mark Rutte defended his habit of praising U.S. President Donald Trump, acknowledging criticism but insisting the admiration is warranted. He credited Trump with helping NATO adopt a new 5 % of GDP defence‑spending target, a significant increase from the...
Amazon Haul Has Over 3,000 Sellers
Amazon Haul, the low‑price, direct‑from‑China storefront, now hosts 3,287 sellers after launching in November 2024. The platform’s seller base is heavily China‑registered and generates roughly $2 billion in annual GMV, with most sellers offering items under $20. Amazon has backed the...
US Invites Proposals to Boost Supply of Tungsten and 12 Other Critical Minerals
The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) announced that the U.S. military is inviting proposals to develop domestic production of 13 critical minerals, including tungsten, arsenic and nickel, with submissions due March 20, 2026. The request covers the entire value chain—from...
More Tankers Hit in Gulf as Iran Conflict Spreads
More tankers were hit in the Gulf as the US‑Iran conflict intensified, with a Bahamas‑flagged vessel attacked by an explosive‑laden boat and another tanker suffering a port‑side explosion and oil spill. Since the war began Saturday, nine civilian ships have...
Middle East War Jitters See Boxship Rates Jump 20% on Asia-Europe
Container freight rates on the Asia‑to‑North‑Europe lane have jumped sharply after the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Spot rates are up roughly 20%, while forward contracts for the next weeks and months are priced 20‑30% higher. The surge...
SONAR Launches New Geopolitical Alert and Fuel Dashboards to Help Supply Chains Navigate Iran Conflict Volatility
SONAR introduced two platform enhancements—a Geopolitical Alert on its Executive Dashboard and a Fuel Dashboard within Truckload Insights—to give logistics professionals real‑time visibility into Iran‑related conflict risks and energy price swings. The Geopolitical Alert supplies immediate context, curated resources, and...
US, China and Allies Pressure Ghana over Proposed Gold Royalty Hike
Ghana plans to replace its fixed 5% gold royalty with a sliding scale of 5‑12% tied to bullion prices, aiming to capture more revenue as gold hits record highs. A coordinated diplomatic push from the US, China, the UK, Canada,...
No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing?
China controls roughly 90‑95% of global rare‑earth processing, creating a strategic vulnerability for U.S. defense and high‑tech sectors. In response, REalloys (NASDAQ: ALOY) is building North America’s first fully integrated, China‑free heavy rare‑earth supply chain, with a production facility in...
Assessing North Korea’s New Economic Five-Year Plan
North Korea’s Ninth Party Congress unveiled a five‑year plan focused on stabilization, consolidation and modest qualitative development rather than rapid growth. The agenda places the power sector at the core, linking factory construction, hospital building and agricultural mechanisation to reliable...
Italy Plans to Send Help to Gulf States After Iranian Strikes, Meloni Says
Italy announced it will send air‑defence assistance to Gulf states following Iranian strikes, aligning with the UK, France and Germany. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the move protects thousands of Italian expatriates and roughly 2,000 troops stationed in the region while...
Middle East War Could Trigger Currency Shock Across Africa - Fitch
Fitch Solutions warns that a broader US‑Iran conflict could trigger a sharp currency shock across sub‑Saharan Africa. In a prolonged escalation, Brent crude is projected to trade between $110 and $130 per barrel, raising energy costs and disrupting shipping routes....
Exclusive Q&A: Why Retailers Should Leverage the Power of Dynamic Pricing
Retail experts argue that dynamic pricing can help merchants offset tariff‑driven cost spikes by aligning prices with real‑time demand. The approach builds on traditional markdown optimization, extending it to continuous price adjustments across channels. Altug stresses that supply‑chain resilience—through redundancy...
GMS Pushes EU to Recognise India’s Ship Recycling Capacity
GMS, the world’s largest cash buyer of ships for recycling, is urging the European Commission to add qualified Indian ship‑recycling yards to the EU Ship Recycling Regulation list. Over 110 Indian yards hold Hong Kong Convention compliance, yet none have been...
Hormel Foods Faces Transportation Cost Pressures
Hormel Foods reported a sharp rise in transportation expenses during Q1, driven by a severe freight capacity crunch after Winter Storm Fern slashed shipment volumes by 55% in late January. Spot freight rates climbed as driver availability tightened, extending pressure...
Meeting of 4-5 February 2026
The ECB Governing Council met on 4‑5 February 2026 and kept its three key rates unchanged, signalling a data‑dependent stance through 2027. Market reactions to recent geopolitical and tariff shocks were muted, with the euro gaining about 1 % against the dollar...
Costamare Orderbook Hits 10 in 3,100 Teu Series
Costamare added four more 3,100 teu vessels to its Chinese newbuilding programme, bringing total orders for that size to ten. Deliveries are scheduled between Q4 2027 and Q4 2028, each with medium‑term charter agreements secured at signing. The expansion marks the company’s re‑entry...
Is India Torpedoing Its Claims to Being a Net Security Provider in the IOR?
A U.S. nuclear submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters off Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors. The vessel had been a guest of the Indian Navy after participating in a fleet review in Visakhapatnam, yet New Delhi issued...
Great Eastern Keeps Fleet Renewal on Course with Fresh Kamsarmax Buy
Great Eastern Shipping announced the purchase of a 2014‑built Japanese kamsarmax of 81,094 dwt, slated to join its fleet in the first quarter of FY27. The acquisition is part of a broader renewal program that swaps older vessels for younger...
Inside EIB’s Critical Meetings, and USAID’s Controversial Shutdown
The European Investment Bank (EIB) held its annual meetings in Luxembourg, where President Nadia Calviño announced a $1 billion pledge for electrification projects across Africa and introduced a third Gender Action Plan, underscoring a renewed focus on health and gender equity....
India Mulls Mandate to Raise Imported Coal Generation
India is weighing an emergency directive under Section 11 of its Electricity Act to compel imported‑coal‑fired power plants to increase output ahead of the summer peak. The move comes as seaborne coal prices surge due to the US‑Iran conflict and LNG...
UK Must Double Down on Renewables as Wars Drive up Energy Costs, Experts Say
The UK faces renewed fossil‑fuel price volatility after the US‑Israel attacks on Iran, echoing the 2022‑2025 energy shock that cost the EU and Britain $1.8 trillion. Experts and climate groups argue the government must accelerate its clean‑energy transition, focusing on renewables...
Estonian Owner Amisco Moves on MPP Newbuilds
Estonian shipowner Amisco has placed an order for two 5,900‑dwt multipurpose dry cargo vessels from Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry in China. Steel cutting for the first hull began in February 2026, with deliveries slated for the first and second quarters...
India Demand and Panama Pipeline Positive for VLGCs, Says Dorian LPG
U.S. LPG exports are hitting record levels while a 76‑km Panama pipeline, slated for post‑2031 operation, promises 2 million barrels per day capacity. Dorian LPG’s chief information officer says the pipeline will likely add loading and discharge points rather than divert cargoes,...
Middle East Crisis Hits Garment Export Routes
Rising Middle East tensions have forced major carriers such as Maersk, Hapag‑Lloyd, CMA CGM and MSC to divert vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, adding one to two weeks to Asia‑Europe apparel shipments. The disruption hits Bangladesh,...
Drones Hit Airport in Azeri Exclave, Baku Blames Iran
On March 5, two drones struck the airport in Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave, injuring two people and damaging the terminal. Baku blamed Iran for the attack and warned it could take corresponding measures. The incident comes amid a series of regional drone...
Global Economy Faces Inflation and Growth Test Amid Escalating Conflict in Iran - Goldman
Goldman Sachs warns that a temporary spike in crude to $100 a barrel could shave 0.4 percentage points off global GDP growth and lift headline inflation by up to 0.7 points. The firm’s baseline scenario still sees oil easing to...
West Asia Conflict Poses Near-Term Challenges to Indian Economy: RBI MPC Member
RBI monetary‑policy committee member Nagesh Kumar warned that the West Asia conflict creates near‑term headwinds for India, notably higher oil prices, export disruptions and reduced remittances. He stressed that inflation remains benign, with headline CPI at 1.3% in December 2025...
DoubleLine Highlights Emerging Market Opportunities Despite Middle East Tensions
DoubleLine Capital sees a "virtuous feedback loop" in emerging markets as a weakening U.S. dollar and ongoing central‑bank rate cuts create attractive local‑currency fixed‑income opportunities. While recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran sparked a sharp sell‑off in EM currencies and equities,...
Workshop Calls for Natural Capital to Anchor Vietnam S Economic Policy
The Finance for Nature workshop in Hanoi gathered policymakers, economists and finance leaders to push natural‑capital accounting into Vietnam’s macroeconomic framework. Organisers unveiled a report that applies the Integrated Economic‑Environmental Modelling (IEEM) and GTAP‑InVEST tools to embed ecosystem services in...
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Impacts 4% of Global Dry Bulk Trade
BIMCO analysis shows bulk‑carrier transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell about 70% week‑over‑week, affecting roughly 4% of global dry‑bulk volumes. Arrow Shipbroking data indicate 1.9% of Capesize, 5.6% of Panamax and 5.7% of Supramax/Handymax demand passed the strait in...
EUR/USD: Oil-Driven Terms of Trade Support Dollar – Commerzbank
Commerzbank analyst Michael Pfister argues that higher oil prices and the United States' shift to a net oil exporter improve its terms of trade, bolstering the dollar against the euro. Because central banks focus on stabilising inflation, price adjustments occur...
Iran Crisis Could Disrupt Supply of Key Chipmaking Materials, South Korea Warns
A South Korean ruling‑party lawmaker warned that the escalating US‑Israel war with Iran could jeopardize the supply of essential semiconductor materials, particularly helium, which is critical for heat management in chip fabrication. The Korean chip sector, responsible for roughly two‑thirds...
How to Maintain Customer Loyalty When Tariffs Increase Prices
U.S. import tariffs jumped from an average 2.6% to 13% last year, shifting most of the cost burden onto domestic firms and their customers. The article argues that price‑increase conversations succeed only when salespeople act as trusted advisors rather than...
Bac Ninh Consolidates Position at Top of Vietnam's FDI Landscape
Bac Ninh Province recorded over US$18.6 billion in registered foreign direct investment in 2025, placing it among Vietnam’s top two FDI destinations. Major infrastructure projects—including the accelerated Ring Road 4 corridor and a new National Highway 3 overpass—have dramatically improved connectivity to Hanoi,...
Mideast Gulf Ports Resume Operations After Drone Strike
Operations at several Gulf ports have resumed after precautionary shutdowns caused by drone incidents linked to the US‑Iran conflict. Cargo movements between Iraqi ports and regional destinations are proceeding normally, but all tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains...
Lee Orders Swift Execution of 100 Tln-Won Financial Package Amid Middle East Crisis
South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung ordered an immediate rollout of a 100 trillion‑won (US $68.3 billion) financial package to stabilise capital markets amid the escalating Middle East conflict. The plan targets volatility in stocks and exchange rates while explicitly avoiding direct government share...