Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Oman transit corridor revives India’s West Asia trade
India’s May 2026 exports to West Asia rebounded to $5.30 billion after a sharp March dip, thanks to a new transit corridor through Oman’s Sohar, Salalah and Duqm ports that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The recovery was led by the UAE, where shipments rose 3.18% year‑on‑year, and Saudi Arabia, which also saw notable gains.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
Textile Body Urges Inclusion of Spinning Segment in TEEM to Boost Competitiveness
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) is urging the government to bring the spinning segment into the Textile Expansion and Employment Mission (TEEM), a scheme announced in the Union Budget to modernise textile clusters. CITI warns that 25% of India’s spindle capacity sits idle and that only 26% of spindles are modern, well below the global average of 33%. Modernising spinning could lower yarn costs from $0.019 to $0.013 per kilogram, boost productivity by 25% and cut power use by 15%. Including spinning in TEEM would align upstream capabilities with downstream growth and improve India’s global competitiveness.
Second US Carrier Joins Strait of Hormuz Blockade
Blockade aid: A second American aircraft carrier is joining the US obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says at a news conference
Panellists Discuss the Progress Made in Rail Reform and Possible Future Actions
South Africa’s freight rail system, responsible for 11‑12% of GDP in logistics costs, is undergoing a major overhaul. The government’s Operation Vulindlela and the newly released Draft National Rail Master Plan (NRMP) outline a $108 billion, 2050‑targeted vision to transform rail...
French Firm Gets More Work with Samsung Heavy Industries for LNG Vessel Pair
Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has secured a new contract with Samsung Heavy Industries to design the cryogenic tanks for two 180,000‑cubic‑metre LNG carriers on behalf of shipowner Celsius Tankers. The vessels will employ GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system and are slated...
Vehicles, Copper, Steel Drive 4.86% Rise in FY26 Engineering Exports to $122.4 Billion
India’s engineering exports climbed 4.86% in FY26 to $122.43 billion, the highest level on record. The surge was driven primarily by motor vehicles, copper products, and iron‑and‑steel goods. While shipments to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia plunged amid the...
EU: European Parliament and Council Reach Agreement on the EU Customs Reform
On 26 March 2026 the European Parliament and Council approved the most sweeping EU customs reform since 1968, replacing the Union Customs Code with a new Regulation (nUCC). The package creates an EU Customs Authority in Lille and a single EU Customs...
Japanese Pharma Companies Turning to CDMOs Earlier in Product Life Cycle
Japanese pharmaceutical firms are engaging contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) earlier in the product lifecycle, especially for peptide programs. Over the past 12‑24 months, demand for preclinical and early‑clinical peptide services has risen sharply, driven by venture‑backed biotech spinouts...
Hapag-Lloyd Introduces Emergency Operations Charge for Feeder Services in Middle East
Hapag‑Lloyd will add a $35 per TEU Emergency Operations Charge (EOO/EOD) to offset soaring costs from third‑party feeder services in the Middle East. The surcharge, separate from its existing Emergency Fuel Surcharge, targets price pressure caused by regional geopolitical tensions...
Iran War Winners and Losers: North American Energy
The Iran‑Russia conflict has knocked roughly 13‑17 million barrels per day of Persian Gulf and Russian crude offline, pushing global oil prices higher. U.S. shale production is at record levels but costs $30‑60 per barrel, while Canadian oil‑sands extraction runs $60‑70...
The Governance Gap: Why Orbital Data Centers Need Certification Before They Scale
Orbital and lunar data centers are reaching a scaling inflection point, but their supply chains lack unified governance and certification. Without industry‑wide standards, each project remains a bespoke, high‑risk venture, inflating capital costs and deterring investors. The article argues that...
Editor’s Comment: Navigating Supply Chain Chaos Together
Drapers editor Jill Geoghegan warns that the war in Iran is intensifying supply‑chain disruptions for fashion retailers, pushing freight rates higher and extending lead times. She argues that isolated responses are no longer viable and that industry players must collaborate...
Iranian FM to Arrive in Islamabad for US Peace Talks
#Pakistan: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night for a possible second round of peace talks with the US, according to officials in Islamabad familiar with the matter. 👀
China’s Maritime Code Revision a ‘Substantive Change’ for Cargo
The revised Article 295 of China’s Maritime Code, effective 1 May, expands Chinese court jurisdiction over cargo contracts that transit Chinese ports, even when parties have selected foreign law. It codifies the practice that Chinese law governs carriage contracts lacking explicit jurisdiction...
Rolls-Royce MT30 Selected to Power Australia’s New Frigate Fleet
Rolls‑Royce has won the contract to supply its MT30 marine gas turbine for up to 11 new Australian general‑purpose frigates based on Japan’s upgraded Mogami‑class design. The first vessel, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, is slated for delivery...
Babcock Offers Toyota-Based Truck to Succeed British Army Land Rover
British defence contractor Babcock International is positioning its Toyota‑based General Logistics Vehicle (GLV) as the successor to the Army’s 70‑year‑old Land Rover fleet. The company hosted a supplier engagement day in Dorset, bringing together about 30 UK SMEs to outline...
US Carriers See Mixed Q1 for Cargo as United Adds ‘Disruption Fee’
U.S. airlines posted mixed cargo results in Q1 2026. United Cargo’s revenue slipped 1.6% to $422 million and it announced a new weight‑based “Market Disruption Fee” effective May 1 to offset rising jet‑fuel costs. In contrast, American Airlines saw cargo revenue surge...
Trump’s Policy Flip Stalls US Chip Manufacturing Revival
Efforts to revive local chip manufacturing have been left in limbo by Donald Trump’s sudden upending of US semiconductor policy over the past year. Incredible reporting, by @MActon93 https://t.co/QkbBYaE5fT
EXCL: DSIT Mothballs AI Tools and Pauses Digital Procurement Strategy in ‘Strategic Changes’ to Delivery Plans
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced it is mothballing several internal AI pilots and pausing the Digital Sourcing Strategy to re‑focus on replacing legacy systems. AI tools such as Parlex, Caddy, Redbox and Medguard are being...
The U.S. Finally Has Two New Nuclear Projects Underway
The United States finally has two commercial nuclear projects breaking ground: Kairos Power’s demonstration reactor in Tennessee and TerraPower’s grid‑scale plant in Wyoming, each slated for completion within four years. Both builds mark the first new reactors in over a...
Ukraine’s Top Drone Commander Calls Out Warhead Quality Problems
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert Brovdi publicly accused domestic warhead makers of systemic quality failures after a strike on a Russian command post in Kadiivka required six FP‑2 drones with 100‑kg warheads instead of the two he says should have...
Oil Markets Heed Flows, Not Rhetoric, for Relief
The market isn’t listening to rhetoric anymore. It’s watching flows. Until there’s real change on the water—more barrels moving, not fewer—tightness persists. Talk doesn’t ease supply. Only flows do. #OilMarkets #CrudeOil #Hormuz #EnergyCrisis #Shipping https://t.co/JfaJv5JqX3
MRO Americas: AerFin and National Air Cargo Agree to Partner on Teardown Activity
AerFin has partnered with National Air Cargo to manage aircraft teardown logistics between Marana, Arizona and Miami, creating a more efficient, integrated flow for component transfer. The agreement expands National’s role from material purchasing to full‑scale logistics, covering dismantling, transportation,...
Skip Congress, Master Trade Wars Now
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The Cracks in Mineral Traceability
Mineral traceability is emerging as a critical compliance and financing issue as governments worldwide tighten regulations. A recent survey shows 11% of mining companies still have no plans to implement traceability systems, despite pressure from U.S. tax credits, EU due‑diligence...
AvTalk Episode 367: We’re Worried About Availability, Not Just Cost
In this episode, hosts Ian Pechnick and Jason Rabinowitz discuss recent near‑miss incidents at JFK, Nashville, and Bogota, highlighting the crucial role of TCAS and ATC procedures in preventing collisions. They then shift to a broader industry challenge: jet‑fuel scarcity...
US and Iran Stuck in Tense Limbo, Hormuz Risk
Told @business News Now: both the US and Iran are in purgatory. There’s no war, but there’s nothing close to peace. Tensions are high and the risk of escalation in the Strait of Hormuz is real, with major implications for...
Kyodo News Digest: April 24, 2026
Japan announced the release of an additional 20 days of strategic oil reserves from May 1, extending a March‑initiated 50‑day drawdown to cushion supply risks from the Strait of Hormuz. The government is also weighing a trade‑minister visit to China for...
Trojan Driver Scam Infiltrates Legitimate Trucking Companies
The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) warns that a new “Trojan Driver Scam” is infiltrating legitimate trucking firms by hiring drivers through normal channels and then using them to divert high‑value freight during routine breaks. The scheme relies on a...
Green Gold Is Getting More Precious in Wartime
A war‑related export blockade in Iran has left millions of pounds of pistachios stranded in warehouses, creating a sharp supply shock for global food manufacturers. Prices for shelled pistachios have jumped roughly 30% since the conflict escalated, squeezing margins for...
Export Collapse Boosts US/Canada Prices, yet Halts Risk Oversupply
As Persian Gulf and Russian exports collapse, global prices will rise, which should benefit the U.S. and Canada. However, if exports are halted to keep gasoline prices down, then North America would become oversupplied. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/9vsV5HAcmy https://t.co/34b7yklfSr
Dallas Fed: Executives See Prolonged Hormuz Disruption, Modest U.S. Supply Gains
Oil and gas executives surveyed by the Dallas Fed expect the Strait of Hormuz disruption to persist for months, with 39% forecasting a return to normal shipping only by August and many seeing risk extending into late 2026. They anticipate...
EU Bans Funding for Energy Projects Using Chinese Inverters—Will It Move the Needle on Cybersecurity?
The European Commission has barred EU financing for energy projects that use inverters sourced from "high‑risk" nations, chiefly China, as well as Russia, Iran and North Korea. The prohibition applies to all EU funding instruments, including the European Investment Bank,...
Proof 8 Partners with Raer’s Jackton Distillery
Jackton Distillery in Scotland has adopted Proof 8's blockchain‑backed platform to secure its cask inventory with digital deeds linked to QR codes. The immutable records provide clear provenance, ownership and location data, addressing rising cask‑investment fraud concerns. Implementation slashed cask‑management...
Top Links 1082 China's Oil Reserves. Global Hunger. America's Megadrought & Adorno V. Gehlen.
The latest roundup highlights four distinct developments: China’s proven oil reserves have expanded, pushing the nation closer to energy self‑sufficiency; the United Nations warns that global hunger now affects over 800 million people, a record high; the United States is grappling...
K+N Sees Airfreight Revenues and Profits Slide in Q1
Kuehne+Nagel reported a 9% year‑on‑year decline in Q1 airfreight revenue to Sfr 1.6 bn (≈$1.76 bn) and a 4.3% drop in EBIT to Sfr 111 m (≈$122 m), even though volumes nudged up 0.4% to 516,000 tonnes. The revenue dip was partly due to a weaker...
Kuehne + Nagel – Give Me a Reason…
Kuehne + Nagel (K+N) posted its first‑quarter 2026 results, which fell short of consensus forecasts, prompting a sharp sell‑off in its shares. The company narrowed its earnings guidance range but did not deliver the steep growth investors expected. Meanwhile, overland freight...
The Strait of Hormuz Energy Crisis Shows the EU’s Carbon Pricing Is the Right Approach
Recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up global energy prices, forcing Europe to spend an additional €24 billion (about $26 billion) on fossil fuel imports. In response, the European Commission unveiled the AccelerateEU package, a set of non‑binding short‑term...
Critical Metals Secures 92.5% of Greenland Rare‑Earth Deposit, Boosting Western Supply Chain
Critical Metals (CRML) acquired the remaining 50.5% stake in Greenland's Tanbreez project, raising its ownership to 92.5%. The deal is supported by a $120 million Letter of Intent from the U.S. EXIM Bank and a $30 million board‑approved budget to accelerate drilling...
Iran War, U.S. Court’s Tariff Ruling Delays India Trade Deal — but a Bigger Risk Lies Ahead
The India‑U.S. trade agreement remains unsigned, with negotiations stalled by the Iran war and a recent U.S. court ruling that upheld a 10% baseline tariff for all partners. India faces a June deadline for the Section 301 investigation, after which higher...
Aleksejs Halavins Shares Insights on Handling Mega Cultural Events At Sea
Latvian entrepreneur Aleksejs Halavins has turned luxury yacht voyages into recurring mega‑cultural events, gathering actors, musicians and other high‑profile guests on the Ionian Islands. The gatherings blend exotic dining, live performances and a playful wedding show, while offering a fully...
Copper Supply Squeeze Deepens, Threatening Auto and Tech Makers
New data from analysts and miners shows the global copper gap widening to a 10 million‑metric‑ton shortfall by 2040, with 2026 deficits already exceeding 400,000 tons. The squeeze is pushing prices toward $12,650 per ton and forcing automotive, electronics and renewable‑energy manufacturers...
Nike Trims 1,400 Jobs, Targeting Tech Division in Global Operations Overhaul
Nike will eliminate roughly 1,400 roles across its Global Operations team, with the bulk of reductions hitting the technology division. The move, outlined by COO Venkatesh Alagirisamy, is the latest step in the company’s Win Now turnaround strategy aimed at...
European Buyers Circle Chinese Feeder Ships as Supply Tightens
European liner operators are intensifying outreach to Chinese feeder ship owners as the market faces a shortage of small and mid‑size vessels. Brokers report that owners of ships like Shishi Hengtong’s Heng Hui 5 and Heng Hui 6 are fielding inquiries from European buyers...
Samsung Boosts GDDR6 Output for Tesla as Auto Memory Demand Rises
Samsung Electronics has tripled its monthly output of 8GB GDDR6 memory chips to satisfy Tesla’s growing in‑vehicle computing needs. Production was redirected in April to the Hwaseong plant, where capacity now supports Tesla’s infotainment and autonomous‑driving platforms. The ramp‑up follows...
Premier Energies Unveils ESG Roadmap Targeting 10 GW Capacity and Decarbonisation
Premier Energies Limited announced a Mission‑2028 ESG strategy that places decarbonisation, circular manufacturing and supply‑chain control at its core. The plan targets 10 GW of integrated solar capacity, a 95% reduction in water use at cell facilities and a 34% women...
Apple’s M4 Mac Mini Sells Out on Apple.com, Sparking Supply Worries
Apple’s latest M4‑chip Mac Mini 2026 model sold out on its website, prompting supply‑chain worries as memory chip shortages and AI demand strain inventory. The stockout underscores broader challenges for Apple as it prepares for a CEO transition and an...
India's FY26 Growth Forecast Slashed to 5.9% as West Asia War and Tariff Doubts Bite
Goldman Sachs and Moody’s cut India’s FY26 growth projection to 5.9%–6% after the Iran‑Israel war drove energy prices higher and trade‑policy doubts resurfaced. RBI policymakers kept the repo rate at 5.25% citing the same geopolitical shock, warning that prolonged supply‑side...
Mediterrania Capital Partners in Packaging Deal
Mediterrania Capital Partners (MCP) has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of Société Marocaine des Manufactures de Mohammedia (SMMM), the holding company of Amcor Flexibles Mohammedia (AFM). AFM is a Moroccan producer of flexible packaging serving dairy, pharmaceutical,...
Eurozone PMI Shows April Contraction, Manufacturing Holds Up Amid War‑Driven Cost Surge
Eurozone business activity slipped into contraction in April, as the composite PMI fell below the 50‑point growth line and Germany’s private‑sector index dropped to 48.3. Manufacturing, however, posted a surprise expansion at 52.2, buoyed by export demand but weighed down...
ABS, PIL to Collaborate on Emissions Verification for Marine Fuels
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Pacific International Lines (PIL) have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide third‑party verification of emissions from alternative marine fuels. ABS will audit PIL’s fuel consumption, transport activity and emissions data, enabling the...