🎯Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Updated 1h agoWhat's happening: WITRON posts record order intake, expands AI toolkit
WITRON announced a record‑breaking order intake, driven by new contracts with major food retailers REWE, Tesco, Walmart and Ahold Delhaize. The company also shifted to a dual‑foundation governance model to cement independence, while rolling out AI‑driven tools for master data, image recognition and equipment maintenance.
Also developing:
By the numbers: VOC Port raises ₹15,000 Cr for outer harbour project
News•Feb 24, 2026
AI-Powered End-of-Line Inspection Redefines Quality Control
Production lines face rising variant complexity and tighter delivery windows, pushing traditional visual inspections to their limits. Austrian Danube Dynamics teamed with Aspöck Systems to deploy the AI‑driven “auros for quality” platform, leveraging IDS uEye XCP cameras for end‑of‑line testing of multi‑chamber automotive lamps. The solution processes high‑resolution images on an industrial PC in real time, detecting mis‑wired chambers and other defects without cloud reliance. Adaptable algorithms and parallel camera operation cut cycle time and enable rapid re‑configuration for new product variants.
By Metrology News
News•Feb 24, 2026
From Nausea to Relief, How Beauty Founders and Execs Are Reacting to the Supreme Court’s Tariff Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled to block the Trump‑era tariffs on Chinese beauty products, ending weeks of uncertainty for the industry. Beauty founders and executives, who had been bracing for higher import costs, described the decision as a “relief” after...
By Glossy
News•Feb 24, 2026
Radiopharmaceutical Sector Shapes Supply Chain Around Fast-Decaying Products
Radiopharmaceutical manufacturers must design ultra‑fast supply chains because isotopes decay rapidly, turning each dose into a ticking clock. Companies such as NorthStar and Nucleus mitigate this by locating production near major airports, using private air freight for longer‑half‑life isotopes, and...
By BioSpace
News•Feb 24, 2026
The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored
China’s growing threat to seize Taiwan has reignited U.S. fears over semiconductor supply chains. Taiwan manufactures roughly 90% of the world’s high‑end chips, feeding Apple, AMD, Qualcomm and AI data centers. Despite billions in Biden‑era grants and Trump‑era tariff threats,...
By The New York Times — Economy
News•Feb 24, 2026
This Startup Wants to Make Chicken Cheaper in Nigeria with a Simple Solution
Cubeseed Africa is launching a digital marketplace that links Nigerian poultry farmers directly with restaurants, hotels and other buyers, bypassing traditional middlemen. By using escrow payments and a Sterling Bank‑backed credit line, the platform guarantees timely funds for farmers while...
By Techpoint Africa
News•Feb 24, 2026
Apple to Shift some Mac Mini Production to Houston From Asia, WSJ Reports
Apple announced it will begin assembling a portion of its Mac Mini desktop computers at Foxconn’s new plant in north Houston later this year, while maintaining Asian production lines. The move aligns with the company’s broader $600 billion U.S. investment commitment...
By Yahoo Finance – Top Financial News
News•Feb 24, 2026
Felton Industries Launches Manufacturing Push with Tow & Fold Mobile Grandstand Range
Australian outdoor‑furniture maker Felton Industries has introduced the Tow & Fold mobile grandstand, a towable trailer that expands into a nine‑tier, 200‑seat spectator platform. The system targets regional councils, schools and event operators seeking high‑capacity, flexible seating without the labor‑intensive...
By Australian Manufacturing
News•Feb 24, 2026
Operational Upgrades Drive Record Month for Pilbara Ports
Pilbara Ports posted a record 67.9 million tonnes of cargo in January 2026, a 12% increase over the same month last year. The surge was driven by operational tweaks at Port Hedland, including revised ebb‑tide vessel guidelines and enhancements to the...
By Australian Mining
News•Feb 24, 2026
COMAC's Reality Check: Supply Chains and Sanctions Mean Slower Output; Western Access Narrows
COMAC showcased its C919 at the Singapore Airshow, underscoring its ambition to become a global competitor. However, heightened US‑China tensions and dependence on Western suppliers have forced the Chinese OEM to cut 2025 production and delay deliveries. Supply‑chain disruptions, regulatory...
By CAPA – Centre for Aviation
News•Feb 24, 2026
Lucid Group Inc (LCID) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Lucid Group reported a record 2024 with 9,029 vehicles produced and 10,241 deliveries, a 71% year‑over‑year increase. GAAP gross margin narrowed to –114% from –225% a year earlier, signaling improving cost structure. The new Lucid Gravity SUV generated strong order...
By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
News•Feb 24, 2026
Matson Inc (MATX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Matson Inc. posted a mixed Q2 2025, with net income down 16.3% to $94.7 million and consolidated operating income falling $11.6 million to $113 million, driven primarily by a 14.6% drop in China container volumes. Hawaii and Alaska lanes showed modest growth, while...
By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
News•Feb 24, 2026
Export Bans that Weren't Really Bans: How Russia Kept Importing Military Goods
EU export bans targeting military‑relevant goods after Russia’s invasion were initially narrow, covering only specific product variants. Transaction‑level customs data show three evasion channels: partially sanctioned variants, transit shipments declared en route, and rerouting through third‑country hubs such as Turkey....
By CEPR — VoxEU
News•Feb 24, 2026
Xometry Inc (XMTR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Xometry Inc. reported fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue of $2 billion, a 5% year‑over‑year increase, driven by modest LTL growth and higher yields. Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to $312 million, with the LTL segment contributing $285 million, while adjusted diluted EPS climbed 18% to $0.88....
By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
News•Feb 23, 2026
Ethical Clothing Australia Urges Local Manufacturing for Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Uniforms
Ethical Clothing Australia has launched a campaign urging that the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic uniforms be produced locally under accredited ethical standards. A YouGov poll shows 82% of Australians support domestic manufacturing of the gear, while 85% want government...
By Australian Manufacturing
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
DHL Supply Chain Completes 1B Picks with Locus Robotics
Logistics giant DHL Supply Chain announced it has completed one billion picks using Locus Robotics’ autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) across more than 40 global sites. The deployment, which began in 2017, has delivered 30%‑180% higher pick rates and an 80%...
By Mobile Robot Guide
News•Feb 23, 2026
Clean Energy Sector Sorts Out US Tariff Ruling Impacts
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated most of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on clean‑energy imports. The decision instantly altered market expectations for solar panels, wind turbine components, and battery materials that had been adjusting to higher...
By Energy Intelligence
News•Feb 23, 2026
Chinese Ship Completes First Autonomous Docking and Cargo Handling
Four years after launching the world’s first autonomous electric feeder, China’s 300‑TEU vessel Zhi Fei completed its first fully autonomous docking at Qingdao Port, completing the maneuver in just 30 seconds. The ship, capable of crew‑managed, remote‑controlled or unmanned navigation, operates...
By The Maritime Executive
News•Feb 23, 2026
Seafood Surveillance Goes High-Tech
Seafood operators are adopting high‑tech traceability systems that assign digital identities and monitor temperature throughout the supply chain. By using QR codes, cloud platforms and sensor‑based cold‑chain monitoring, retailers can verify species, harvest location, and freshness in real time. These...
By Supermarket News
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
CN Index Remains in High Pressure Territory as Market Gradually Cools
The CN Index slipped to 512 this week, keeping global container shipping in the high‑pressure zone while showing incremental easing. Freight rates on major Asia‑US and Asia‑Europe corridors fell, reflecting improved capacity and a more balanced demand environment. Geopolitical tensions,...
By Container News
News•Feb 23, 2026
Walmart Data Ventures Launches Scintilla In-Store Platform
Walmart Data Ventures unveiled Scintilla In-Store, a mobile platform that fuses live inventory data, actionable metrics, and supplier‑assigned tasks for field representatives. The app replaces the former Volt system and aims to cut out‑of‑stock situations while improving planogram compliance at...
By Mass Market Retailers
News•Feb 23, 2026
Expanded US Mining Would Boost Manufacturing's Material Possibilities
The United States is advancing domestic mining projects in Alaska, California, Pennsylvania and Nebraska to produce critical elements such as cobalt, copper, scandium, gallium and germanium. By securing these inputs, manufacturers can revisit alloy families previously deemed too costly or...
By IndustryWeek
News•Feb 23, 2026
From Which Countries Did the US Import Solar Panels in 2025?
U.S. solar projects continued heavy reliance on imported silicon panels and cells in 2025, with 33 GW of panels and 21 GW of cells entering the market. Imports shifted toward Southeast Asian suppliers, led by Indonesia, Laos and India, while Ethiopia and...
By Solar Power World
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
T.S. Lines to Join China–Thailand NT8 Service
T.S. Lines will join the China‑Thailand NT8 service operated by CNC Line, a CMA CGM subsidiary, beginning next month. The carrier will add one 2,300‑TEU vessel to the loop and market the service as North China‑Thailand Express (NTX). NT8 currently runs...
By Container News
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
4colors Research & Partners Secure Funding to Tackle Aircraft Loading with Quantum Computing
A consortium led by 4colors Research, together with Airbus, DNV, NQCC and ORCA Computing, has received an NQCC SparQ grant to develop a hybrid classical‑quantum solution for aircraft cargo loading. The project, titled “Quantum‑Accelerated Mixed‑Integer Optimisation for Aircraft Loading,” will...
By Quantum Zeitgeist
News•Feb 23, 2026
The Hidden Costs of Cheap Suppliers: Why Ignoring Human Rights Threatens Apparel Resilience
The apparel sector faces mounting regulatory pressure as the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and EU Forced Labour and Deforestation regulations demand rigorous supply‑chain due diligence. Companies relying on cheap, subcontracted factories risk product seizures, fines, and reputational damage...
By Sourcing Journal
News•Feb 23, 2026
Supplier Profile – Fibox
Fibox Enclosure Systems, with four decades of experience, designs UL‑listed, NEMA‑rated polycarbonate enclosures that protect electrical components in harsh, chemical‑laden or high‑impact environments. The company pioneered injection‑molded polycarbonate in 1966 and now operates manufacturing sites in Finland, Korea and China,...
By AutomationDirect – The Automation Blog
News•Feb 23, 2026
Blizzard Conditions Necessitate Winter Maintenance Across Northeast
Heavy snowfall, high winds and sub‑zero temperatures swept the Northeast on February 22, prompting the MTA, NJ Transit and SEPTA to suspend or curtail services. The MTA halted Long Island Rail Road operations, shifted Metro‑North to hourly runs, and deployed de‑icer...
By Railway Track & Structures (RT&S)
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
Unity Line Launches Russia Far East Service
Unity Line, a carrier believed to be Russian, has launched a new container service linking China and South Korea with Russia’s Far East. The route uses a single 860 TEU vessel operating on a fortnightly schedule and calls at Busan, Shanghai,...
By Container News
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
The Druzhba Pipeline: Europe’s Soviet-Era Oil Artery in the Crossfire of War and Sanctions
On 27 January 2026 a Russian Shahed drone struck Ukraine’s Brody pumping station, shutting the Druzhba pipeline’s southern branch that supplies Russian Urals crude to Hungary and Slovakia. The outage, now in its 27th day, has cut 60‑70 % of feedstock for MOL...
By GeopoliticsUnplugged
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
Aveva Buys First Green Jet Fuel Certificates Five Years Early
Aveva announced it has completed its first major purchase of sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFcs) five years ahead of its World Economic Forum First Movers Coalition commitment. The certificates were bought from British Airways, which sources the fuel from renewable...
By Control Global Blogs
Podcast•Feb 23, 2026•50 min
Confessions Of Supply Chain Executives | 2026 Is the Year Supply Chain Technology Stops Being a Prediction and Starts Being...
In this episode, host Chris Walton and Amir Khoshniyadi, VP at Williott, dissect five supply‑chain trends that will define 2026, emphasizing that technology adoption is moving from pilot‑phase hype to mandatory, budget‑driven implementation. They explain "physical AI" as the fusion...
By Omni Talk
News•Feb 23, 2026
DRDGold Moots Plan to Buy Sasol’s Cyanide Facility
DRDGOLD CEO Niël Pretorius warned that South Africa’s sole cyanide producer, Sasol, is scaling back sodium cyanide output, creating a looming supply gap for gold miners. He suggested a consortium of local gold producers purchase the plant and partner with...
By Miningmx
News•Feb 23, 2026
Paris Launches Tender for up to 300 Double-Decker EMUs
Paris Île‑de‑France Mobilités and SNCF Voyageurs have issued a single‑supplier tender for up to 300 new double‑deck EMUs on the RER C line, with a firm order for 52 units valued at up to €1.5 billion. The €8 billion framework could ultimately replace...
By RailTech.com
News•Feb 23, 2026
Neolix Sets Robovan Test Miles Record
Neolix announced its autonomous robovan fleet has exceeded 100 million kilometres of real‑world driving, becoming the first company in the segment to reach this milestone. The record validates its self‑driving technology at massive scale and demonstrates reliability across diverse environments. The...
By Autonomous Vehicle International
News•Feb 23, 2026
Supply Chain Cyber Risk Strategies Shift Toward Resilience
Supply chain cyber risk is moving from a pure prevention mindset to a resilience‑first strategy. Third‑party exposure dominates, with 61% of firms reporting a supplier breach in the past year, prompting tighter transparency and governance. AI accelerates both attacks—often under...
By Supply Chain Management Review (SCMR)
News•Feb 23, 2026
Miami International Airport Reports Sixth Year of Cargo Growth
Miami International Airport announced its sixth consecutive year of cargo growth, with 2025 shipments rising 13.6% to nearly 3.5 million tons. The airport handled a record 3 million tons in 2024, a 9% increase over 2023, and 84% of volumes were international....
By Air Cargo News
News•Feb 23, 2026
The Benefits of Leveraging a Canadian Warehouse or 3PL for American Companies with Canadian Orders
U.S. companies with regular Canadian orders are re‑evaluating fulfillment strategies as border delays, rising transportation costs, and recent tariff changes erode the efficiency of U.S‑centric models. Positioning inventory in Canada—either via owned warehouses or third‑party logistics providers—removes the final customs...
By All Things Supply Chain
News•Feb 23, 2026
Glasgow Prestwick Showcases Cool Chain Capability to India
Glasgow Prestwick Airport showcased its upgraded cool‑chain infrastructure to India’s Consul General, Siddharth Malik, as part of a push to capture a larger slice of post‑Brexit UK‑India trade. The visit highlighted the airport’s integrated, in‑house cargo model, bonded warehouse space...
By Aviation Business News – Cargo
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
ZIM Revises Levant Black Sea Express Service Rotation
ZIM announced a restructuring of its Levant Black Sea Express (LBX) service, shifting to a fortnightly sailing schedule. The carrier removed Piraeus from the rotation and added Varna, Bulgaria, creating a new loop of Ashdod, Haifa, Constanta and Varna. The...
By Container News
News•Feb 23, 2026
2026 FleetOwner 500: For-Hire List
FleetOwner’s 2026 FO500 for‑hire ranking shows little movement at the top, with Schneider National edging past TFI International to claim the sixth spot while the top‑ten list remains unchanged. Growth among lower‑ranked carriers is driven largely by mergers and acquisitions,...
By FleetOwner
News•Feb 23, 2026
January Trailer Orders Hold Steady as Delayed Cycle Drives Demand
Preliminary U.S. trailer orders held steady in January, registering around 24,200 units, essentially flat month‑over‑month. While year‑over‑year figures slipped 4%, the volume remains higher than the same period in 2025 and above the ten‑year average. Analysts cite a delayed ordering...
By FleetOwner
News•Feb 23, 2026
‘Buy American’ Shifts to ‘Don’t Buy Chinese’ for Government Solar Projects
The federal government’s solar procurement is pivoting from a broad "Buy American" stance to a targeted "Don’t Buy Chinese" approach. The 2021 Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act still requires 55% domestic content, but agencies frequently seek waivers when U.S.-made...
By Solar Power World
News•Feb 23, 2026
ZigZag Partners with Vinted Go to Meet Rising Demand for Locker Returns
ZigZag has integrated Vinted Go into its carrier library, extending its out‑of‑home (OOH) returns network to more than 14,000 locker and shop locations across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. The partnership gives ZigZag‑connected retailers immediate access to Vinted...
By ChannelX (formerly Tamebay)
News•Feb 23, 2026
Tanker Carrying Russian Crude Heads for Cuba as US Pressure Grows
A Hong Kong‑flagged tanker loaded with Russian diesel used offshore ship‑to‑ship transfers near Cyprus and repeatedly altered its AIS data to conceal a planned delivery to Cuba. The vessel’s draft increase and route changes suggest deliberate evasion of U.S. sanctions that...
By TradeWinds
News•Feb 23, 2026
Zim Takeover Raises Questions for Transpac Shippers – and MSC
Hapag‑Lloyd’s pending acquisition of Zim will reshape the Asia‑US east‑coast trade, especially the five vessel‑sharing services currently run with MSC. The carrier can either keep Zim’s premium, time‑sensitive strings separate or fold them into the Gemini alliance, each option raising...
By The Loadstar
News•Feb 23, 2026
Italy Braces for Nationwide Rail Strike in Final Weekend of February
Italy is preparing for a 24‑hour nationwide rail strike from Friday night to Saturday. The walkout follows a Thursday aviation strike that was postponed to avoid clashing with the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics. Unions cite poor working conditions, safety concerns, and...
By RailTech.com
News•Feb 23, 2026
Clark: Managing Third- and Fourth-Party Cyber Risk in Trucking Operations
Third‑party vendors are now a primary attack vector for trucking firms, with 35.5% of all data breaches in 2024 traced to external partners—a 6.5% rise year‑over‑year. The report also notes that 4.5% of breaches originated from fourth‑party suppliers, highlighting deep...
By FleetOwner
News•Feb 23, 2026
Advice on Index-Linked Contracts in Ocean Container Shipping and Why You Need Xeneta – Geography and Data Granularity
The blog explains that successful ocean container index‑linked contracts require an index that mirrors the specific trade lanes and geographic scope of a shipper’s routes. Using a mismatched index, such as a Shanghai export benchmark for India‑to‑Europe shipments, can lead...
By Xeneta Blog
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
European Dominance in Global Container Shipping Market
European container carriers now control 55.5% of capacity among the top 30 operators, according to Alphaliner’s latest data for week 08 of 2026. This share eclipses the combined 38.6% held by carriers based in Asia and the Middle East. The...
By Container News
News•Feb 23, 2026
EU: ‘TRIPP Could Be 25% Faster than BTK’ and Help Secure Raw Materials
An EU report says the proposed Trans‑Caucasus Railway (TRIPP) corridor through southern Armenia could be up to 25 % faster than the existing Baku‑Tbilisi‑Kars (BTK) line. The project would create a US‑backed, long‑term lease railway linking Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave...
By RailFreight.com