Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Half of Hormuz oil flow restored as US pledges full reopening
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said roughly 7 million barrels per day have resumed flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, representing half of the volume stranded when the waterway was effectively shut. He pledged that the United States will fully reopen the strait, with or without Iran’s assistance.
Also developing:
By the numbers: EasyGroup acquires Svelta Courier to launch easyCourier
Ireland Rolls Out New Round of Fuel Supports
Ireland’s government unveiled a new Road Transporters Supports Scheme to offset soaring fuel costs, offering €1,350 per vehicle for operators with up to five trucks, €790 for fleets of six to 20, and €300 for larger fleets. A parallel program will reimburse farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers at roughly €20 per litre of green diesel, or €200 per 1,000 litres, based on 2025 usage. The measures come after diesel prices jumped nearly 30% and gasoline 25% since the Iran war began, prompting nationwide protests and a narrow no‑confidence vote that the ruling party survived 92‑78. In total, the state has allocated about €755 million (≈$883 million) to fuel supports in recent months.
India’s RCF Seeks Phosrock, DAP/MAP, MOP in Tender
Indian fertilizer producer RCF issued a tender on April 29 to purchase raw inputs for its NPK line. It seeks 35,000 t of phosphate rock from Togo with at least 35% P₂O₅, two 20,000 t lots of DAP/MAP meeting specific grade ranges, and 50,000 t...
Equipment Theft Becomes a $13M Problem Driving IoT Asset Tracking Adoption
Samsara’s 2026 State of Connected Operations report finds large enterprises lose an average of $13.2 million each year to equipment theft and loss when they lack IoT asset‑tracking. The study of 1,500 finance leaders shows 72% of those costs stem from...
Cosco’s Profit Drops by Half as Lower Freight Rates Bite
Cosco Shipping Holdings reported a 50% plunge in first‑quarter profit, with net income falling to 5.9 bn yuan ($863 m) from 11.7 bn yuan a year earlier. Revenue slipped 11% to 51.8 bn yuan (about $7.6 bn), driven by weaker transpacific freight rates. Average container...
Somali Pirates Attack Tanker Deep in Indian Ocean
Maritime security forces reported a suspected piracy attempt on a tanker far off the Somali coast on April 29, 2026. The incident follows three ship boardings near Somalia earlier this month, indicating a new, more ambitious pirate group. The aborted...
ZIM Dividend at Risk as Freight Rates Cool
ZIM’s dividend is looking shaky as freight rates cool. The post-pandemic shipping boom is over, and with new vessel supply flooding in, earnings are expected to drop. A dividend cut feels inevitable, and the risk/reward has soured. 🚢 ShippingStocks
Ardmore Shipping Inks Newbuilding Deals and Bumps Dividend as Rates Skyrocket
Ardmore Shipping announced contracts for two 40,500‑dwt handysize newbuilds at China’s Wuhu Shipyard, each priced at $44.9 million. The company’s medium‑range (MR) tanker fleet generated $33,700 per day in Q1 and is now earning $50,000 per day, with half of the...
Will Electrifying the UK’s Heavy-Duty Trucks Require More Vehicles Overall?
Researchers at Heriot‑Watt University are using real DHL fleet data to simulate the electrification of heavy‑duty trucks on the London‑to‑East Midlands Airport corridor. The digital‑twin model examines how heavier batteries and longer charging stops could force hauliers to increase vehicle...
Maersk’s Integrated Logistics Strategy Is Gaining Traction
Maersk is transforming from a pure container carrier into an end‑to‑end logistics provider, linking ocean shipping, terminals, inland transport, warehousing, air freight and customs services. In 2025 the company posted $54 billion in revenue, with strong growth in its Logistics &...
Tanker Experts Digest Impact of UAE Exit From Opec
The United Arab Emirates announced its departure from OPEC, but experts say any impact on the global tanker market will be delayed. Even if the UAE ramps up oil exports immediately, the ongoing war in Iran limits short‑term market shifts....
Adani’s Giant Copper Plant Hit by Technical Woes in First Year
Billionaire Gautam Adani’s $1.2 billion Kutch copper plant, commissioned ten months ago, has struggled with engineering setbacks that have kept it far below its 500,000‑tonne annual capacity. From April 2023 to February 2024 the facility produced only 94,000 tons of refined copper,...
"Using This ‘Crop Grazing’ Technique, Yield Can Be Improved up to 20% Even on a 3rd Flush"
Alan Edwards’ Game Changer mushroom machine automates stalk cutting, punnet placement and weighing, letting pickers work with both hands. The system’s “crop‑grazing” method lets larger mushrooms be harvested first, allowing smaller ones to mature, which can lift yields up to...
Is War Quietly Boosting Logistics Companies’ Profits?
The ongoing U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran is quietly reshaping the logistics sector by reallocating value rather than merely disrupting supply chains. Higher freight rates, tighter capacity and increased insurance costs are boosting margins for carriers and freight forwarders that can...
This War Changes Everything: Are We Ready for Energy Shockwaves From the Strait of Hormuz?
The podcast examines the unprecedented oil supply shock caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure, which has removed roughly 5 million barrels per day from global markets—the largest daily loss ever recorded. Analysts explain how the disruption is driving price spikes,...
Six Governments Accuse China of Weaponizing Maritime Trade
Six governments, led by the United States, issued a coordinated diplomatic statement accusing China of weaponizing maritime trade after a series of Panama‑flagged vessels were detained. The statement marks a shift from a commercial arbitration over canal‑port disputes to an...
Logility Launches AI‑Driven Orchestration Center to Automate Supply Chain Execution
Logility, an Aptean company, announced the immediate availability of its Orchestration Center, a real‑time, agentic AI layer that unifies planning, production, supplier and transportation management. The platform promises to turn data insights into automated actions within minutes, addressing the long‑standing...
Landstar Appoints James M. Applegate as Chief Corporate Sales Strategy & Specialized Freight Officer
Landstar System announced the appointment of James M. Applegate as Vice President and Chief Corporate Sales Strategy & Specialized Freight Officer during its Q1 2026 earnings call. The move underscores the carrier’s focus on scaling corporate sales, leveraging AI, and...
Royal Mail Launches Parcel Postboxes for Medium-Sized Parcels
Royal Mail has introduced a solar‑powered parcel postbox that can accept medium‑sized parcels up to 24 cm high, 48 cm long and 43 cm wide. Around 600 of these new boxes will be installed across the UK over the next six months, beginning...
JSW Motors Ramps up Supplier Network Ahead of New Energy Vehicle Launches
JSW Motors held its first supplier partner conference and technology showcase at its Bidkin plant, gathering over 100 component makers. Co‑organized with the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India, the event emphasized supply‑chain readiness, localisation and next‑generation new‑energy‑vehicle (NEV) technologies...
Iran War Triggers UN Blockade, Pushes Brent Oil Over 50% Higher
The Iran war has sparked a United Nations‑backed blockade that cut global oil supply by about 10 million barrels per day, sending Brent crude more than 50% above its start‑of‑year level. The shock is reverberating through emerging economies, tightening fiscal space...
UK Refineries Asked to Maximise Jet Fuel Production Amid Supply Fears
The UK government has asked the nation’s four remaining refineries to maximise jet‑fuel output as the Iran‑Israel conflict threatens to choke supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy Minister Michael Shanks warned that global jet‑fuel shipments have dropped to less...
Iran-Israel Conflict Sends Brent to $111, EU Faces $600 M Daily Energy Aid Loss
The Iran‑Israel war has pushed Brent crude up 2.8% to $111.26 a barrel, while the European Union now incurs roughly $600 million in daily energy‑aid losses. EU leaders warn the surge could echo past crises and demand tighter targeting of aid.
Airbus Q1 2026 Revenue Falls 6.6% to €12.65bn, Profit Drops 26%
Airbus SE posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue of €12.65 billion ($13.8 billion), down 6.6% from a year earlier, while net profit fell 26% to €586 million ($639 million). The earnings miss has pressured the stock and intensified scrutiny of the company’s delivery pipeline.
Supply-Driven Freight Recovery Fueled by Capacity Tightening
Freight recovery is here — but it’s supply-driven. In Talking Transports, $JBHT CEO @Shelley_Simpson discusses: • 4-year freight downturn • Capacity tightening from enforcement • Intermodal growth opportunity • AI + productivity gains 🎧 Listen to Episode 136 of Talking Transports: Apple: https://t.co/UFqu2nvREk Spotify: https://t.co/jEzbzyaVh2 iHeart: https://t.co/PMZLX1Zan1 https://t.co/eCb5WV066Z: https://t.co/TlpRbThZLx @TheTerminal...
Ukraine to Procure 25,000 Unmanned Ground Vehicles for Frontline Logistics by 2026
Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced a plan to purchase 25,000 unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) by mid‑2026, targeting 100% robotic handling of frontline logistics. The move follows recent footage of a rescue robot evacuating a civilian in eastern Ukraine, underscoring the operational...
Amazon Connect Launches Four Agentic AI Solutions for Hiring, CX, and Healthcare
Amazon announced that its Connect suite now includes four purpose‑built, agentic AI solutions—Decisions, Talent, Customer, and Health—targeting supply‑chain planning, hiring, CX, and clinical workflows. The rollout leverages Amazon’s operational data and foundation models to embed AI directly into existing business...
Why China May Benefit From the UAE’s Opec Withdrawal Amid Iran War Oil Crisis
The United Arab Emirates will leave Opec on May 1, ending its role as the bloc’s third‑largest producer, which accounts for roughly 12% of total output. Analysts expect the move to give China greater flexibility to source more Emirati crude, potentially...
Paccar, Volvo CEOs See Production Picking up From Q1 Pace
Volvo Group and Paccar CEOs said production rates are picking up after a weak first quarter, but they differ on how many build slots will be available in the coming months. Volvo idled U.S. plants 25‑30% in Q1 and plans...
Middle East Diesel Spike Wipes Out 30 Per Cent of Log Volumes at NZ Ports
A diesel price surge driven by the Middle East conflict has slashed New Zealand’s log exports by more than 30% as contractors halt harvesting. Fuel now costs around NZ$4 per litre (≈US$2.40), wiping out margins for family‑owned logging firms that have...
Diesel Prices Decline Nationally While Gasoline Costs Rise Across U.S. Markets
Diesel prices slipped nationally this week, with the EIA reporting a 5‑cent drop to $5.351 per gallon, while gasoline climbed 8 cents to $4.123 per gallon. The West Coast saw the steepest diesel decline at 9 cents, whereas the Rocky...
Nuclear $81M Verdict Highlights Broker Liability Risks
$81m awarded in trucking nuclear verdict. “In the first trial, the jury determined the driver was not negligent, which in turn led to no finding against Allied/Beacon. For the company to be found liable, the driver first needed to be...
Textiles Ministry Sets Up Monitoring Cell to Ensure Supply Stability Amid West Asia Crisis
India’s Ministry of Textiles has created a monitoring cell to coordinate exporters, industry bodies, and government agencies as the West Asia conflict drives raw‑material and logistics costs higher. In Surat, shipping rates have surged up to 400% and polyester fibre...
China’s Sanctions Hit Europe’s Emerging Drone Doctrine
On April 24, China’s Ministry of Commerce placed seven European defence firms on an export‑control list, banning dual‑use items over alleged arms links to Taiwan. The sanctions target Germany’s Hensoldt, Belgium’s FN Herstal and FN Browning, and four Czech companies, cutting off...
Policy Divide Widens Over Cotton Import Duty Amid Cost Pressures and MSP Concerns
India’s cotton value chain is split over the 11% import duty reinstated in January 2026. Textile manufacturers argue the duty inflates raw material costs and hurts export competitiveness, while farmer groups warn that lowering the duty could flood the market with...
Competition Is Shifting Control: Rethink Global Supply Chains
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥. In Boston, we will spend two hours examining what I call the 90% Model: how industries are being reshaped, how dependencies are being built, and what this means...
Iran's Storage Capacity Far Exceeds Admin's Short‑term Estimates
This is the key calculation here - how much room in floating storage and in onshore facilities. Admin’s calc that Iran will have no room in a few days is clearly just wrong
OOIL Orders a Dozen LNG Dual-Fuelled Container Ships Worth $2.2bn
Orient Overseas International Ltd (OOIL) has placed a $2.2 billion order for twelve 13,600‑TEU neo‑panamax container ships powered by LNG dual‑fuel engines. The vessels will be built by Hudong‑Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a Chinese state‑owned yard under CSSC, at roughly $185 million each. The...
China's New Supply‑Chain Rules: Security or Bureaucratic Delay?
China adds regulatory layer to supply chains. For security and resilience. Really? Or just more bureaucracy and chop marks? And supply chain delays?
Truck Found Empty; Vehicles Still Missing, Driver Unlocated
“On April 17, the truck was located in Port Wentworth, Georgia, however Gonzalez was not located in the truck. Additionally, several vehicles were missing from the hauler. Since the discovery of the truck, three vehicles have been located in Florida....
Fuel Surcharges and Slow-Steaming Making Waves for Shippers
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced carriers to adjust fuel surcharge practices, with Hapag‑Lloyd moving to monthly emergency fuel surcharges and reporting an extra $50 million in weekly fuel costs. Japanese carrier ONE lifted its EFS to $160...
Chinese Goods Rerouted Through Asia Dodge $40B US Tariffs
"Increased trade volumes from China to Mexico via intermediary Asian nations last year demonstrated a new path for US-bound goods that were able to avoid steep tariffs — an estimated $40 billion — on imports from China" More tariffs =...
Hormuz Blockade Drives Fertilizer Surge, Threatens Planting
Strait of Hormuz. Fertilizer prices. Hitting countries at what should be planting times. Pending food supply shortages and high prices. Hormuz—a global supply chain disaster.
CASE STUDY - 3D PEOPLE HELP IN CREATION OF GEOMETRICALLY COMPLEX HEAD-MOUNTED POV CAMERA
James Medcraft’s Cyclops is a head‑mounted POV camera that captures exactly what the operator sees, using custom optics and a lightweight 3D‑printed housing. The device’s geometrically complex parts are produced in PA12 via additive manufacturing, eliminating the need for costly...
Reshoring Index Stays Negative Despite Trump Tariff Surge
Kearney's annual Reshoring Index, which measures imports from 14 Asian countries as a share of US manufacturing output, "remained in negative territory in 2025 despite a surge of Trump administration tariffs aimed at reviving American assembly lines" https://t.co/AJkVit3Iwx https://t.co/r9GzEb8Wji
Spirit Electronics Named Authorized Distributor for Microchip Technology, Expanding High Reliability Semiconductor Access for Defense and Aerospace Programs
Spirit Electronics announced it is now an authorized distributor for Microchip Technology in the Americas, giving defense and aerospace customers direct, DFARS‑compliant access to Microchip’s high‑reliability semiconductor portfolio. The partnership covers radiation‑tolerant and radiation‑hardened MCUs, MPUs, FPGAs, power devices and...
Innovative FAULHABER Drive System for Smart Logistics
FAULHABER unveiled DualGear, a compact drive that fuses its BX4 brushless motor with GPT planetary gearheads, delivering two synchronous movements from a single unit. The system is offered in 42 mm and 68 mm motor lengths, allowing flexible integration into tight conveyor...
Markets Price Oil, Ignore Systemic Supply Chain Risks
Markets are pricing oil, not the system, writes @annerquaye Chips, chemicals, logistics… all exposed. Markets are calm because nothing’s broken yet. That’s not the same as safe. #Markets #SupplyChains #Semiconductors #Oil #Geopolitics https://t.co/ENxhdTgdv5
Swissport Acquires Majority Stake in CV Handling
Swissport has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a majority stake in CV Handling, the primary ground‑handling provider at seven airports in Cabo Verde. The deal emerged from a competitive privatization process that named Swissport the preferred bidder. Adding...
Leaders Are Trying to Reduce Supply Chain Environmental Impact
Two‑thirds of supply‑chain leaders are actively working to cut emissions, yet only one in five feels confident they will hit their sustainability targets. Nearly half of large enterprises have formed dedicated sustainability teams, but sustainability now ranks lower among top...
Woodside LNG Trading Shielded From Iran War
Woodside Energy reported that its LNG shipments remained unaffected by the Iran‑Israel conflict, thanks to a strategy of securing term shipping contracts. Q1 LNG sales rose to 22 MMboe, up from 20.47 MMboe in the prior quarter, while realized LNG prices were...