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
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 workforce on the shop floor, signalling a major shift for India’s solar manufacturing sector.
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...
Infrabel Reassigns €124.5M as Flagship Projects Are Postponed
Belgian rail manager Infrabel is shifting €124.5 million (≈$136 million) from the postponed Ghent‑Terneuzen line and Antwerp‑Berchem station to four smaller projects, and adding €52 million in EU subsidies for a total of €176.5 million (≈$192 million). The re‑allocated money will largely boost rail freight,...
How Castore and GXO’s Partnership Led to ‘More Sustainable Growth’
At the Drapers Supply Chain Summit on April 22, Castore’s chief supply chain officer Adrian Harris explained how the Manchester‑based sportswear brand accelerated growth by partnering with third‑party logistics provider GXO. The collaboration streamlined inventory management, reduced lead times and...
Indian Rupee Slides to 10‑Year Low as Oil Prices Surge and Iran War Fuels Outflows
The Indian rupee slipped to a 10‑year trough of 94.25 per U.S. dollar, driven by a surge in crude oil prices above $105 a barrel and heightened capital outflows linked to the Iran conflict. The slide marks a 4.5% depreciation...
Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire While Keeping Hormuz Blockade, Sending Oil Prices Higher
President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the Iran ceasefire while preserving a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The move tightens Iran's oil exports, lifts Brent crude by several percent and fuels higher pump prices worldwide. European...
Sandvik to Supply Three DR413i Rotary Drill Rigs to Glencore for Alumbrera Restart
Sandvik secured a Q1 2026 order from Glencore to supply three DR413i rotary blasthole drill rigs for the restart of Argentina’s Bajo de la Alumbrera copper mine. The first rig arrives in April 2026, with the remaining two slated for Q4...
Nissan Plans $45m Egypt Expansion for African Exports – Report
Nissan Motor announced a $45 million investment to expand its Cairo‑area plant, adding a new line capable of producing at least 10,000 extra vehicles per year. The upgrade will lift total output by roughly one‑third and deepen the automaker’s export pipeline...
ABS Signs Pact with Fleet Robotics on Maritime Robotics
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Fleet Robotics have signed a memorandum of understanding at Singapore Maritime Week to develop autonomous robotic systems for hull cleaning and inspection. The partnership will assess robot suitability, validate sensor data and imagery,...
Why Supply Chain Resilience Now Defines the Survival of Fast Casual
Fast‑casual chains are confronting a prolonged sales decline and rising costs, with same‑store sales falling for the 11th month. Consumers are demanding higher‑quality, fresher ingredients while tightening budgets, forcing operators to balance price and value. Supply‑chain discipline has become the...
The Best Inventory Management Software of 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed
The 2026 roundup of inventory management software highlights five platforms that cater to distinct business models, from retail to manufacturing and enterprise. Odoo emerges as the top pick with a free standalone inventory app that scales into a full ERP,...
California's Jet Fuel Stockpile Hits Two-Year Low, Putting 'Black Cloud' Over Summer Travel
California’s jet‑fuel inventory has plunged more than 25% to 2.6 million barrels, the lowest level since 2023, as the Iran‑related war chokes global oil flows. Prices have doubled, pressuring low‑margin carriers such as Spirit and prompting airlines to trim summer schedules....
BelAZ Teams up with Nornickel as Russia's Equipment Shortage Bites
BelAZ, the Belarusian maker of ultra‑large dump trucks, has entered a joint venture with Russia's Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) to construct a new mining‑equipment factory near Krasnoyarsk in Siberia. The partnership responds to a growing shortage of heavy‑duty trucks and other...
India Subcontinent Gains in Liner Middle East Conflict Restructuring
The war in the Arabian Gulf is prompting a restructuring of global liner services, with the Indian Subcontinent emerging as a new transshipment hub. MDS Transmodal data shows ISC container traffic up 19.6% month‑over‑month between February and April 2024, while capacity...
Trimco Group, Retraced Partner for Integrated Transparency Solutions
Trimco Group and sustainability platform Retraced have formed a partnership to deliver an end‑to‑end transparency solution that links verified upstream supply‑chain data to individual products via QR‑code labels. The joint offering combines Trimco’s labeling, packaging and RFID capabilities with Retraced’s...
Geosky Airlines Begins China-Denmark Freighter Flights
Geosky Airlines, a Georgian cargo carrier, has launched regular freighter services linking Xi’an, China, with Copenhagen, Denmark, via a stop in Tbilisi, Georgia. The route is operated with Boeing 767‑300 passenger‑to‑freighter aircraft and expands Geosky’s network that already reaches 66...
Transparency Data: CMA: Spending over £500, March 2026
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a transparency dataset covering electronic purchasing card (ePCS) transactions exceeding £500 in March 2026. The CSV file, only 166 bytes, lists each qualifying spend, enabling public scrutiny of government procurement. At current exchange rates,...
Bundeswehr Launches Loitering Munition Spending Spree with $2.16 Billion Unassigned
Germany’s Bundeswehr has opened a €2.4 billion (≈US$2.75 billion) framework for loitering‑munition systems, kicking off with a €300 million (US$344 million) contract to Rheinmetall for its FV‑014 autonomous reconnaissance‑strike drone. The deal, delayed for months, schedules qualification in Q2 2026 and initial deliveries in the...
Warehouse Software Delays Cost Clicks R175m
Clicks disclosed that delays in rolling out a new warehouse management system at its Cape Town distribution centre shaved roughly R175 million ($9.2 million) – about 0.9% – off retail turnover during the festive period. The shortfall was amplified by aggressive discounting...
China’s Energy Storage Battery Exports Hit 27.3GWh in Q1 2026
China’s energy‑storage battery exports reached 27.3 GWh in Q1 2026, representing 32.4% of total battery shipments and a 15% year‑on‑year increase. Combined power and storage battery exports climbed to 84.1 GWh, up 36.7% YoY, with March alone posting a 96.9% month‑on‑month jump to...
Poland Launches New Tender for a Section of the Warsaw–Łódź High-Speed Rail Line
Poland’s state‑run Port Polska has issued a new tender for the 14.3‑kilometre stretch of the Warsaw–Łódź high‑speed rail line linking the new central airport hub to the Bolimów hub. The competitive‑dialogue process, with expressions of interest due by June 12, will...
Suzuki: India Production to Offset Decline in Japan, Hungary
Automotive World projects Suzuki will build about 3.5 million vehicles in 2026, a 2‑3 % increase from 2025. Growth will be driven primarily by expanded output in India and Indonesia, while output in Japan and Hungary is expected to fall further. Over...
SDVs Pose Challenges to Automotive Supply Chains, Moody’s Says
Moody’s warns that software‑defined vehicles (SDVs) will expose automotive supply chains to heightened cost pressures and security risks. As cars become updatable software platforms, traditional hardware‑centric quality controls no longer apply, creating uncertainty over code provenance and cyber‑vulnerability. The surge...
Under Armour Joins US Cotton Trust Protocol for Sustainable Sourcing
Under Armour announced it will pilot cotton sourced through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, starting with graphic tees in its Freedom collection this fall. The voluntary program supplies field‑level data on water use, greenhouse‑gas emissions, soil health and land use,...
FS Logistix Launches New Link to Provide Relief Amid Fuel Crisis
FS Logistix, the Italian state‑owned rail freight operator, has launched a new service called Rail4Truck linking Marcianise near Naples with Bologna. The twice‑weekly round‑trip aims to provide a diesel‑free logistics alternative as Italy’s diesel prices jumped 16.85% between February and...
Ranked: Which Countries Have Had the Worst Fuel Price Spikes Since the Iran War?
Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel after the Strait of Hormuz blockage, triggering the sharpest fuel‑price spikes in Europe since the Iran conflict began. Eurostat data show a 13.5% rise across the EU between February and March 2026, with...
Forest Industry Shifts Toward AI and Sustainability, Pulp & Beyond Speakers Say
The Pulp & Beyond conference in Helsinki highlighted a rapid shift in the forest sector toward an integrated strategy that blends resilience, artificial intelligence and sustainability. AI is now deemed essential for pulp and paper operations, delivering measurable gains in...
Croatia Signs €280 Mln Contract with Spanish Company for Zagreb – Rijeka Railway Upgrade
Croatia’s rail infrastructure manager HŽ Infrastruktura signed a €280 million (≈$300 million) contract with Spanish contractor COMSA to upgrade the 44‑kilometre Zagreb‑Rijeka line between Hrvatski Leskovac and Karlovac. The project will add a second track, fully electrify the route and replace signalling...
Spain’s Mediterranean Corridor: EUR 3 Billion in 2024–2026
Spain’s Mediterranean Corridor has secured roughly $3.1 billion in new investment between January 2024 and March 2026, accelerating construction, adaptation and modernization of rail sections, stations and port accesses. The network now has 870 km under construction, raising the overall work share from 45%...
What Hormuz Exposed About Our Semiconductor Supply Chain
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early March has halted Qatar’s Ras Laffan helium plant, sending spot helium prices soaring and exposing a critical dependency in the semiconductor supply chain. South Korea and Taiwan source roughly two‑thirds of their...
Value Based Procurement on Target for June Launch, but Challenges Remain
The UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is on track to launch its new value‑based procurement (VBP) assessment methodology in June, with senior officials slated to present at the Med‑Tech Expo and NHS Confederation events. Workshops and training...
£36bn Abandoned at Checkout as Mystery Shop Exposes Delivery Failures
A joint study by Retail Economics and GFS found that roughly £36bn (about $45bn) of non‑food online sales were abandoned at checkout in 2025 due to delivery‑related issues. High‑value shoppers—those who spend the most online—left 29% of their carts, compared...
Splash Wrap: Why the Hormuz Conflict Is a World War
The Hormuz shipping crisis has sent freight slot prices soaring to $385,000, with some bids exceeding $1 million, while disrupting global fertilizer and sulphur supplies. The International Maritime Organization’s secretary‑general called for immediate de‑escalation to safeguard freedom of navigation. Panama Canal...
Russia Offers the CKU Railway Help and a Snarky Remark
China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are advancing the CKU railway, a cross‑border link that will join China’s standard‑gauge network with Central Asian routes. Russia’s deputy transport minister Dmitriy Zverev visited Bishkek and pledged Russian technology, staff training and rolling‑stock assistance. He...
BNDES Funds CBA Aluminum Upgrade for Efficiency and Sustainability
Bndes will fund CBA’s aluminum unit upgrade in Brazil to improve efficiency, logistics, and environmental performance. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/brazil-aluminum-unit-upgrade-gains.html
Iran Conflict Depletes US Weapons, Cuts China Rare‑earth Supply
Iran War Has Drained U.S. Supplies of Critical, Costly Weapons Amazingly, no mention of rare earths magnets. All the missile system use, produced all now cut off from China sources. https://t.co/6vpOGXJPZt via @NYTimes
Hyundai Auto Profits Strained by yet Another Economic Crisis
Hyundai Motor Company reported a 30.8% year‑on‑year decline in Q1 2026 operating profit, falling to KRW 2.5 trillion (≈$1.9 billion). The slump is linked to U.S. import tariffs and the ongoing war in the Middle East, which threaten export corridors to Europe, Africa and...
Prioritize True Supply Chain Effectiveness Over Urgent Fads
“Rather than focusing on the things that are truly important for our #supplychain *effectiveness*, too many of us in SCM expend time and energy on things that are urgent, may improve efficiency, or are simply the latest fad.” 📌 https://t.co/7AG1EKl4LF #procurement #purchasing...
Kollmorgen Launches Layout Analysis Tool to Improve Mobile Robot Performance
Kollmorgen unveiled the NDC Layout Assistant, a software tool that evaluates and optimizes routes for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in factories and warehouses. By breaking down routes into smaller sections, the assistant highlights travel‑time, speed...
‘Certain Reluctance’ of Shippers to Adopt Intermodal Transport
Portmann, together with DB Cargo France, launched a daily intermodal shuttle linking Metz and the Valenton rail hub, primarily serving IKEA. The service can move up to 44 containers per day but currently transports only 26‑30, leaving excess capacity on...
China Wafer Declines Narrow as Demand-Side Regulation Lifts Market Sentiment
China's photovoltaic wafer prices saw their steepest weekly declines narrow, with n-type M10 and G12 wafers falling only 0.71% and 0.59% respectively. Despite the modest pull‑back, trading volumes remain weak as solar‑cell manufacturers operate at reduced capacity, dampening downstream demand....
Chile Braces for Bad Acid Trip
Chile’s mining sector is confronting a looming shortage and price surge for sulphuric acid, a critical reagent for copper processing. The disruption stems from the Iran‑Israel conflict and the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which have choked global...
Jamaica Moves to Stabilise Cement Supply After Weather Disruption
Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) has rolled out emergency measures to steady cement supplies after heavy rains halted production at Caribbean Cement Co. An incoming vessel originally bound for the Bahamas will be redirected to Jamaica on...
A New Contract for TER Rail Services in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
France’s Nouvelle‑Aquitaine region awarded SNCF Voyageurs a 10‑year contract to operate TER services in Poitou‑Charentes, covering six lines that serve about 14,000 passengers daily. The €965 million (~$1.05 billion) deal, effective December 2027, creates a dedicated subsidiary, SNCF Voyageurs Terre Atlantique, and adds 22 extra weekday trains...
Geneva Dry Dialogues: Devbulk
Hakki Deval, CEO of Istanbul‑based Devbulk, says the dry‑bulk market remains cautiously optimistic, especially for handysize and supramax vessels where supply favors owners. He warns that new‑build orders are best delayed until yard prices soften and fuel regulations clarify, preferring...
Why Supply Chain Resilience Is Under the Spotlight
Supply‑chain security has become a top priority as third‑party breaches surged, with Verizon reporting 30% of incidents linked to vendors—double the previous year—and SecurityScorecard finding over 70% of firms faced a material supplier breach. High‑profile attacks on NHS supplier DXS...