Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Logistics volatility declared permanent in 2026 State of Logistics Report
The report finds supply‑chain volatility now a permanent condition, with U.S. logistics costs falling to $2.4 trillion, or 7.8% of GDP, down from $2.6 trillion in 2025. Five structural forces—uneven global growth, tighter financial conditions, geoeconomic realignment, labor constraints, and energy price swings—drive the new normal, while AI and automation reshape operations.
Also developing:
By the numbers: US IDFC partners with Chubb on $20B maritime reinsurance plan
EU Continues to Push for Shipping Carbon Levy
European Union countries have reaffirmed their commitment to a global carbon price for shipping at the upcoming International Maritime Organization meeting, vowing to oppose any attempt to drop the measure. The United States, which previously threatened sanctions against pro‑levy delegates, remains firmly against the proposal, creating a likely transatlantic clash. While the EU is open to tweaking the original design to win broader support, Norway’s environment minister suggested a phased rollout, and a coalition of ship registries and oil‑tanker firms continues to push alternative frameworks. The last IMO vote saw 57 states delay the levy and 49 favor a deal.
How Warehouse Automation Solves Peak Season Challenges (Fast, Scalable, Accurate)
Peak season drives a surge in retail and e‑commerce orders, with Q4 accounting for over 40% of annual volume and holiday sales hitting $1.05 trillion, $380 billion of which online. Traditional reliance on temporary labor is increasingly untenable due to shortages, rising...
LogiPharma Europe: Quickfire Questions With Nico Vandaele
Nico Vandaele, a professor of Operations Research at KU Leuven, warned that pharmaceutical supply‑chain disruptions have become structural, driven by geopolitics, energy limits and climate events. He argued that traditional safety‑stock buffers are losing potency and that companies must adopt...
What Are Pallet Shuttle Systems? Key Applications, Benefits, and Use Cases Explained
Pallet shuttle systems are semi‑automated, rail‑mounted devices that move pallets within high‑density racking, eliminating the need for forklifts inside the rack. By placing pallets at an entry point, the battery‑powered shuttle transports them to storage locations and retrieves them on...
Covenant Sees Tightening Capacity, Rate Momentum Building in 2026
Covenant Logistics Group posted a first‑quarter loss, with net income slipping to $4.4 million ($0.17 per share) amid winter weather and higher fuel costs. Executives highlighted a tightening driver market—the first time in 40 months—fueling renewed wage discussions and setting the...
Iran Keeps Exporting One Million Barrels Daily Despite Blockade
despite the us blockade, iran remains on track to export about one million barrels of oil per day in april. half of what they exported in march. but still a lot of money.
Autonomous Truckers Pitch Self‑Driving as Highway Safety Solution
Nobody loves this talk about ELP enforcement, scam foreign truckers, and highway carnage more than the autonomous trucking companies Don’t be surprised to see them lean harder with their media partners into the messaging the autonomy is the only road...
Iran’s Top Diplomat Travels to Pakistan for Ceasefire Talks with the U.S.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Pakistan on a diplomatic tour that includes Oman and Russia, aiming to restart a second round of US‑Iran ceasefire negotiations. Pakistan is pressing Washington to send a delegation, hoping to revive momentum stalled...
Two Months In, Hormuz Closure Signals Escalating Fallout
This week marks the war’s two-month anniversary. The Strait of Hormuz has been closed most of that time. But we’re only now transitioning from the f*ck around phase to the find out phase. Read my thoughts about the fallout headed...
Cavotec Reports Strong Order Intake but Weaker Q1 Financial Performance
Cavotec said its Q1 2026 order intake more than doubled, reaching €59.7 million (about $65 million), driven by strong demand in its Ports & Maritime division. Despite the surge, revenue slipped 15.3% year‑on‑year to €32.8 million ($36 million) and the company posted an operating...
Supplier Profile: RuB Inc
RuB Inc., a family‑owned Italian valve and actuator maker, has been engineering fluid‑control solutions for more than 70 years and operates a North‑American headquarters in Minnesota. The company produces roughly 45,000 silicone‑free brass ball valves per day in Brescia, Italy, and...
Deregulation Endangers Highways, Undermines Truckers' Livelihoods
I wrote a NY Times Op Ed today about the erosion of safety on our highways, caused by a lack of enforcement, under funding, and efforts by a power lobby arm to deregulate whom can become a truck driver. ...
SAF Insights: European SAF Market Holds Breath on Jet Price Surge
The episode examines how the Middle East conflict has driven European jet fuel prices from about $800 to over $1,900 per tonne, more than doubling them and widening the gap with crude and diesel. SAF (HEFA-SPK) prices also rose, but...
Sourcing Excellence IS Optimization!
The article argues that true sourcing excellence hinges on rigorous optimization rather than emerging AI tools. It highlights a dwindling pool of seasoned professionals capable of delivering such optimization, naming Paul Martyn as one of the few remaining masters with...
Jefferies Steps Back Into Shipping Research Game with Seven Names
Jefferies has re‑entered shipping research after a five‑month pause, launching coverage of seven companies compared with the 28‑name portfolio previously managed by Omar Nokta. Stephanie Moore will head the new team, expressing optimism on tanker earnings while urging caution on...
Guest: Helaine Rich of ePost Global on Rising Fuel Costs; Truck Stops Work to Accommodate Women Drivers; Changing Shopping Patterns
In this episode, Helene Rich, VP of Strategic Sales at ePost Global, explains how rising fuel costs—especially kerosene and new USPS surcharges—are reshaping parcel shipping, prompting shippers to adopt multi‑carrier networks and pass costs to consumers. The discussion then shifts...
Disrupted: Food Supply For 3.5+ Billion Depends On Nitrogen Fertilizer
The ongoing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz has halted shipments from the Persian Gulf, which produces roughly 35% of global nitrogen fertilizer. With no strategic stockpiles and the northern‑hemisphere planting season underway, farmers face a sudden shortfall of this...
New York Launches Fresh Renewables Procurement
New York’s NYSERDA has opened a new procurement round for large‑scale, land‑based renewable projects, focusing on on‑shore wind, solar and hydroelectric assets ready to start construction. The drive seeks to capture expiring federal Production and Investment Tax Credits, with eligibility...
American Industrial Partners to Acquire Honeywell Warehouse Automation
Private equity firm American Industrial Partners (AIP) announced it will acquire Honeywell’s Warehouse and Workflow Solutions (WWS) unit. WWS, which posted roughly $935 million in 2025 revenue and employs over 3,300 people, provides sortation, robotics and software under the Intelligrated and...
Rubio, EU Sign MoU to Diversify Critical Mineral Supply Chains
Rubio and EU Trade Commissioner Sefcovic sign MoU says It will 'be important for economic vibrancy of global economy', 'We need diversity in supply chains of critical minerals'.
Gebrüder Weiss Opens Logistics And IT Center Vorarlberg
Gebrüder Weiss inaugurated its Logistics and IT Center in Wolfurt, Austria, committing roughly €100 million (≈$108 million) to the project. The 31,000 m² campus houses a 34‑metre‑tall automated high‑bay warehouse with 68,000‑pallet capacity, office space for about 400 employees, and the company’s central IT...
Hyundai Accelerates EV Push in China, Targets 500,000 Annual Sales
Hyundai Motor announced an $1.1 billion joint investment with BAIC, unveiled the IONIQ V and set a 500,000‑unit annual sales target in China, while Q1 sales grew 3.4% to $34.5 billion. The moves aim to revive the automaker’s China performance and expand its...
ARKothari Explores Texas Plant to Supply High‑Purity Semiconductor Chemicals
ARKothari Corporation announced a feasibility study for a high‑purity semiconductor chemicals plant in Texas, targeting domestic chip makers. The effort, backed by potential partners such as Exyte, Jacobs and Air Liquide, underscores a push for supply‑chain localization amid ongoing chip...
GE Appliances Deploys 800 AI Agents to Turbocharge Manufacturing and Supply Chain
GE Appliances has installed more than 800 AI agents across its factories, logistics hubs and supplier network using Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise. The rollout, which includes a 25% drop in backorders and minutes‑long shift summaries, marks one of the most...
Middle East War Tightens Mining Inputs, Driving Diesel, Sulphur and Aluminum Supply Crunch
The war in the Middle East has sharply reduced seaborne sulphur and diesel supplies, pushing sulphur prices to $1,200‑$1,400 per ton and inflating diesel costs. China’s acid export halt and attacks on Gulf aluminium smelters further strain copper, cobalt and...
US Needed War‑Risk Escort From Day One, Not Week Eight
Allow me to say this again. US War Risk Insurance was needed on DAY 1 and not WEEK 8! Ships have war risk insurance. They had it after the first week. What ships are looking for is...
Volvo AB Q1 Profit Falls 15% as Sales Slump and Supply‑chain Woes Bite
Volvo AB posted a 15% year‑over‑year decline in first‑quarter profit to SEK8.315 billion ($791 million) and a 9.1% slide in revenue to SEK110.765 billion ($10.5 billion). The Swedish automaker blamed weaker vehicle sales and ongoing supply‑chain disruptions for the downturn, underscoring broader challenges in...
WTI Crude Futures Hover Near $95.60 Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions
WTI crude futures traded near $95.60 during Asian hours on Friday, trimming earlier losses as geopolitical friction in the Strait of Hormuz raised supply‑risk concerns. The price rebound follows U.S. interceptions of Iranian supertankers and stalled US‑Iran peace talks, reigniting...
Descartes Launches René, a New AI Agent for Fleet Data Intelligence
Descartes Systems Group introduced René, an AI‑driven conversational agent built into its new Fleet Data Intelligence platform that taps the Global Logistics Network’s execution data. The tool lets dispatchers ask natural‑language questions and instantly receive real‑time and long‑term insights without...
Japan's Shipyards Full, US Must Prioritize Domestic Build
"Japan shipbuilding slots vanish amid order surge" We just witnessed the Secretary of the Navy get fired, over the issue of shipbuilding. One of the issues that Secretary Phelan stated was the option to build ships overseas. Meanwhile, in Japan, they...
Iran War and Jet Fuel: Lufthansa Cuts 20,000 Flights
Lufthansa announced it will cancel 20,000 short‑haul flights across its network by October 2026, aiming to save more than 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel. The airline says jet fuel costs have doubled since the Iran conflict erupted, pressuring margins...
LNG Shock, Coal Myths, & the Real Winners
The recent Strait of Hormuz LNG disruption sparked predictions that coal would surge as gas supplies tightened. However, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air’s March 2026 real‑time electricity analysis shows global fossil generation fell 1% year‑on‑year, with...
Trump's Jones Act Waiver Is a Fossil Fuel Handout
The Trump administration issued a 60‑day waiver of the Jones Act in April 2026, citing an immediate national‑defense need. The waiver temporarily suspends the century‑old requirement that domestic maritime shipments use U.S.-built, flagged, and crewed vessels. Critics argue the move...
Third Airo Trainset Making Its Way East
Amtrak’s third Airo trainset for the Cascades service has departed Siemens Mobility’s Sacramento plant and is en route to the Northeast Corridor for static and dynamic testing. The eight trainsets earmarked for the Pacific Northwest are part of a larger...
Bollore Posts 6.5% Organic Q1 Revenue Rise, Highlighting B2B Logistics Strength
Bollore Group announced a 6.5% year‑over‑year organic revenue increase to €815 million in Q1 2026, underscoring robust demand for its B2B logistics services. Energy revenues rose 7.9%, while the company signaled an exceptional interim dividend later this year.
South African Citrus Shipments Challenge Geopolitical Disruptions in the Middle East
South Africa’s citrus season is now delivering fruit to the Middle East, which represents 19% of its seasonal exports. Exporters face longer transit times and higher freight costs due to rerouted shipping after the Strait of Hormuz closure. The Citrus...
Why the Effects on the Iran Conflict Will Be Felt on the US Grid – This Week in Cleantech
The cleantech briefing highlights four emerging trends reshaping the U.S. power grid. Utilities are moving from traditional AMI 2.0 to NextWave AMI, turning meters into a platform for real‑time visibility and distributed energy resource (DER) integration. An offshore‑wind project once targeted...
Major SAP Partner Bristlecone Plans Acquisitions, New Investments To Grow Supply Chain Business
Bristlecone, a Mahindra‑owned SAP partner, announced its first acquisition plans and a major investment program to expand its end‑to‑end supply‑chain business. The firm reported 30% revenue growth last year, with 70% of earnings coming from U.S. customers. It will triple...
Freeport Confident on Acid Supply, Eyes 2027 Risks
Copper giant Freeport-McMoRan isn't worried—yet—about access to sulfuric acid, a key chemical for processing. $FCX Freeport operates four smelters. Each one produces sulfuric acid as a byproduct and the company sells acid in Europe and Asia. The company does buy...
China Polysilicon Prices Hit Floor as Output Drops
China polysilicon hits cost floor as producers curb output amid weak demand #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/jGWoOcYhf9
Crude Awakening: Why Energy Shocks Demand More than Quick Fixes
A sudden closure of the Strait of Hormuz has reignited a global energy supply crunch, pushing Brent crude, diesel and jet fuel prices sharply higher and tightening LNG markets. The spike has already lifted fertilizer costs by roughly 25%, threatening...
Bessent's Swap Lines Risk Accelerating US Deindustrialization
Unless Bessent also extends “permanent swap lines” to the US defense industrial base, this would only accelerate the de-industrialization of the US. Why invest in manufacturing in the US while Bessent is giving cheap USDs to support lower cost competitors around...
Indonesia's Three Straits Outpace Pre‑War Hormuz Traffic
Very interesting table from @ByMeganONeil on some other maritime chokepoints that could theoretically become toll ways. Interesting how Indonesia is adjacent to three distinct Straits that each have more ship traffic than Hormuz did pre-war. https://t.co/FpJ3aWYqyd
Oil Tanker Stocks Are Soaring Amid Iran Conflict. Jefferies Likes These Three the Best
Jefferies has initiated coverage of three oil‑tanker operators—International Seaways, Scorpio Tankers and Navios Maritime Partners—citing a 50% year‑to‑date rally in the sector driven by the U.S.–Iran war and Hormuz closures. The brokerage assigns buy ratings and $90 price targets to...
Intel's CPU Foundry Must Match TSMC to Meet Demand
I still maintain my CPU foundry of choice thesis here for $INTC. They don't have to be better than TSMC, just parity, and increasingly aid to fill CPU demand. https://t.co/dKqm16myKH
Iran's Hidden Tanker Fleet Keeps Oil Flowing Despite Pentagon Denial
While the Pentagon scrambles to deny it, Iran’s ‘dark fleet’ of tankers remains intact and is still moving oil. HANKE’S 95% RULE: 95% OF THE STATEMENTS FROM THE PENTAGON ARE EITHER WRONG OR IRRELEVANT. https://t.co/le11vToaZG
LogiPharma Europe: A New Model for Cold Chain Decision-Making
At LogiPharma Europe 2026, Roche’s global head of Distribution Technology, Raquel Vazquez, outlined a shift from experience‑based to data‑driven cold‑chain decision‑making. She highlighted the need to contextualize fragmented sensor data across lanes, products and environmental conditions to select the right packaging...
AMD Likely to Use Intel Foundry Amid Capacity Crunch
I’m not going to die on this hill, for a ton of reasons lol but hard to see AMD not making CPUs at Intel Foundry before too long. Capacity is scarce, Intel is the floor space to ramp capacity.
India Procures Spot LPG Cargoes From the US as West Asian Supplies Still Under Cloud
India’s state‑run oil marketing companies are boosting spot LPG purchases from the United States to offset supply uncertainty from the Middle‑East Gulf region. The OMCs already hold a long‑term US contract and have expanded their source pool from 10 to...
Collaboration Beats Solo: Rethink Procurement Partnerships
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." 2 million years of human history say collaboration wins. So why does procurement still treat suppliers as names on a screen? New read 👇https://t.co/tYERkizpoN