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
Duisport Closes “a Very Successful” 2025
Germany’s Duisport, the world’s largest inland terminal, posted strong financial and operational growth in 2025. Revenue climbed 9.6% to €390.5 million (≈$426 million) and TEU throughput rose 5.1% to 5.1 million containers, while total cargo volume held steady at 50.8 million tons. EBIT and net profit increased by roughly 19%, reaching €27 million and €23.4 million respectively, supported by €79.8 million in capital investments. The year also saw strategic expansion with the first eastbound rail service to Chengdu and a joint venture with Turkey’s Arkas Holding to launch the country’s first private intermodal terminal.
UNIFE Supports the Rollout of ERTMS Through the Adoption of Measures
UNIFE’s Director General Enno Wiebe urged EU rail stakeholders to adopt concrete measures that simplify authorisation, harmonise technical requirements and accelerate the phase‑out of legacy systems, aiming to unblock the rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The call...
War Turns Sulphur Market Toxic in Acid Supply Shock
Global seaborne sulphur shipments plunged in March 2026, falling 31% month‑on‑month to 1.5 million tonnes, the sharpest decline in a decade after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed. The Gulf, which supplies over half of the world’s sulphur, saw exports...
Explainer-Hormuz Crisis Throws Spotlight on World's Largest 'Chokepoint' - the Malacca Strait
The Hormuz shutdown has sharpened focus on the Strait of Malacca, the world’s busiest maritime chokepoint, handling roughly 22% of global trade and 29% of oil flows in 2025—more than the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic rose to over 102,500 vessels...
Malaysia Taps Roketsan for Atmaca Anti-Ship Missiles
On April 22 2026, Turkey’s Roketsan signed a contract with Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence to supply 24 Atmaca anti‑ship missiles for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 2 corvettes being built in Istanbul. The deal, announced at the DSA 2026 exhibition,...
Amazon Opens First Distribution Center in Spain, Investing €100 Million in Zaragoza
Amazon is opening ZAZ8, its first dedicated distribution center in Spain, investing roughly €100 million ($108 million) in La Muela, Zaragoza. The 30,000‑square‑meter hub will serve as a regional inventory buffer for high‑velocity essentials and is slated to start operations in September 2026,...
Micron Pushes US Lawmakers To Restrict China Sales
Micron is spearheading the MATCH Act, a congressional bill that would tighten U.S. export controls on chipmaking equipment to China. The legislation, cleared by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, targets advanced tools used by Chinese memory producers such as CXMT,...
Telematics Solutions Help Businesses See Waste, Cut Costs, and Run Smarter
Telematics has evolved from basic GPS tracking into a real‑time operating layer that delivers visibility into location, driver behavior, fuel use, maintenance needs, compliance and service proof. A 2024 Teletrac Navman survey shows 98% of fleets now use telematics, with...
Incoming Alstom CEO Warns of Further Fallout From Delayed Projects as Shares Fall
Alstom reported record €27.6bn (≈$30bn) order intake and a €100bn (≈$110bn) backlog, but free cash flow slumped to €330m (≈$363m), far below the €1.5bn (≈$1.65bn) target it had set. Adjusted EBIT margin fell to about 6%, and the company’s shares...
United Cargo, Airlink Inc. And Good 360 Deliver Urgent Aid to Hawaii
United Cargo, Airlink Inc., and nonprofit Good360 teamed up to deliver emergency relief to Hawaii after the Kona Low storms devastated Maui and Oahu. A United Airlines Boeing 787 departed Chicago on April 10 carrying generators, baby wipes and other...
Amazon India to Invest Rs 2,800 Cr to Boost Logistics, Quick Commerce Push
Amazon India announced a Rs 2,800 crore (~$300 million) investment to upgrade its logistics network and accelerate its quick‑commerce vertical, Amazon Now. The funding will double Amazon Now’s footprint, add new micro‑fulfilment centres and expand warehouses and last‑mile stations nationwide. Part of a...
What Would a Permanent ‘Tehran’s Tollbooth’ on Oil Mean for the World?
Iran’s peace plan proposes a $2 million toll per tanker—about $1 per barrel—for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The charge would add roughly $7 billion a year to global oil costs and could keep Brent crude near $100 per barrel through...
UK Looked at Ways to ‘Open Doors’ to US Chlorinated Chicken, FoI Request Shows
British officials quietly examined how UK food law could be altered to permit chlorine‑washed chicken imports from the United States, a practice banned in the EU since 1997. The documents, released to campaign group 38 Degrees via a freedom‑of‑information request, show...
Russian Federal Passenger Company Signs USD 5 Billion Contract
Russia's Federal Passenger Company (FPC) has inked a $5.1 bn agreement with Tver Carriage Works (TVZ) to supply 2,700 passenger railcars by 2030, including 449 single‑deck coaches. TVZ will deliver 480 cars in 2026, leveraging recent plant upgrades. The contract deepens...
Escaping the Strait of Hormuz – Not Worth the Risk
The US‑Israel‑Iran conflict has left roughly 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Arabian Gulf as Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed. A brief window of openness on 17 April prompted a rush of transits, but within 24 hours Indian‑registered...
Aldi Commits £1.1bn to British Egg Suppliers in Five-Year Farming Push
Aldi announced a £1.1 billion (≈$1.4 billion) investment in British egg production over the next five years, backed by long‑term contracts with suppliers through 2030. The retailer currently sells more than 1,500 tonnes of UK eggs each week, roughly 2.5 million packs, and is...
Iran Releases Footage of Seized Container Ships in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released video showing the IRGC Navy seizing two civilian container vessels, the Liberia‑flagged EPAMINONDAS and the MSC Francesca, in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. The ships were immobilised earlier that day before Iranian...
What We Did in the Shadows: DB Cargo’s Bright Idea
DB Cargo UK has installed LED track‑side lighting at 17 freight yards, a project funded by Network Rail’s Freight Safety Improvement Programme. The lights, first trialled for three months at Margam Knuckle Yard, improve roll‑by examinations by illuminating the underside...
MacGregor Equipment Ordered for Ultra-Large Türkiye-Built CLVs
MacGregor secured a contract to supply offshore and merchant deck machinery, including high‑performance winches, for ultra‑large cable‑laying vessels being built at Turkey’s Tersan Shipyard. The order, booked in Q1 2026, targets delivery in 2027. The vessels are part of LS Marine...
Shipments Stranded in Strait of Hormuz as Security Risks Halt Vessel Movements
Escalating security threats in the Strait of Hormuz have halted vessel movements, leaving several container ships stranded. Maersk reports that cargo bound for and from South Africa is transshipped at Jebel Ali, while the CMA CGM Antonio remains anchored off Dubai. Shipping lines...
Panama Canal Prices Surge as Iran War Disrupts Strait of Hormuz — Why Oil Shipping Costs Are Soaring
The Iran‑Israel conflict has crippled traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Asian refiners to seek U.S. Gulf Coast crude via the Panama Canal. Auction bids for canal slots have surged to an average of $837,500, with some offers reaching...
Hormuz Stalls After Iran Made First Ship Seizures
Iran escalated its maritime campaign on Thursday by firing on commercial vessels and seizing two ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, marking the first seizures in eight weeks of conflict. Only one bulk carrier, LB Energy, managed to transit...
Trelleborg Costa Rica Site Earns ISO 13485 Certification
Trelleborg Medical Solutions' Costa Rica manufacturing site earned ISO 13485:2016 certification, confirming its quality management for medical devices. The 107,600‑sq‑ft facility, opened in December 2025 in the Evolution Free Zone, is the company’s first Central American plant and supports nearshoring and supply‑chain...
JHI Steamship Deepens Tanker Push with VLCC Newbuild
Greek shipowner JHI Steamship has placed an order for a 320,000‑dwt VLCC newbuild at South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, with delivery expected in 2029. The order expands JHI’s ongoing fleet build‑out, which already includes three Aframax/LR2 vessels and two Suezmax tankers...
Vossloh to Supply Equipment for a New Railway Line in Tanzania
Vossloh has secured a roughly €30 million (about $33 million) contract to provide switches and fastening systems for Tanzania’s new standard‑gauge railway. The deal covers Sections 3 (Makutupora–Tabora, 294 km) and 4 (Tabora–Isaka, 130 km), totaling 424 km of track. Vossloh will deliver around 130 switch sets...
LHM Transforms Botswana Mine House as FATs Due
LH Marthinusen (LHM), a division of Actom, has finished manufacturing two 30 MVA high‑voltage transformers for a mining house in Botswana. The delivery comes after the existing power infrastructure proved insufficient for the mine’s growing energy needs. LHM’s engineered transformers are...
Vital Rail Freight Tunnel in Spain to Partially Reopen Next Week
Spain’s Rubí rail freight tunnel, a key link between Barcelona and France, will partially reopen on the night of 28‑29 April after months of closure caused by extreme weather damage. Adif will operate a single track, offering 12 hours of service Wed‑Sun...
Hortons Gets Green Light for 175,000 Sq Ft Pre-Let Leicestershire Warehouse
Birmingham‑based developer Hortons has obtained planning permission for a 175,000 sq ft fleet‑management centre in Old Dalby Business Park, Leicestershire. The warehouse is already pre‑let to Toyota Material Handling UK (TMHUK) on a 15‑year lease, with construction underway and practical completion targeted...
Curious Timing: Ukraine Declares Druzhba Pipeline Repaired After New Hungarian PM Elected
Ukraine announced on Tuesday that it has completed repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline, allowing Russian crude to flow again to Hungary and Slovakia. The restoration comes just days after Peter Magyar was elected prime minister of Hungary, ending Viktor...
Ukrzaliznytsia Is Launching Six More Children’s Railcars This Spring
Ukrzaliznytsia is adding six refurbished children’s railcars this spring, expanding the first three already operating on Lviv‑Odesa and Kharkiv‑Ivano‑Frankivsk routes. Developed with Visa, the cars feature safety‑focused amenities, themed "Ukrainian Fairy‑Tale Forest" interiors, and interactive financial‑education games. Tickets are sold...
Ammonia Gains Momentum Across East Asia
The maritime sector’s push for zero‑carbon fuels accelerated this week with two landmark developments in East Asia. ClassNK issued the world’s first Approval in Principle for an ammonia‑powered Panamax bulk carrier, featuring an IMO Type B independent fuel tank on deck—a...
China Is Expanding Its Trade War Toolbox
China has enacted a sweeping industrial and supply‑chain security law that establishes an early‑warning system to monitor disruptions and empowers the government to retaliate against foreign firms perceived as threatening Chinese interests. The regulation gives Beijing the authority to prohibit...
How the Shadow Fleet Keeps Outrunning Its Regulators
The Container News investigation reveals that the illicit "shadow fleet" of vessels is increasingly using registries in Nicaragua and Equatorial Guinea to mask true ownership and tonnage. In the latest quarter, fraudulent ship registrations rose 17%, indicating a rapid expansion...
‘A Blatant Lie’ — NSW Supply Chain Paid $70M for ‘Free’ Timber Last Year
The New South Wales native timber industry paid roughly AU$70 million (about US$46 million) for logs in the 2023‑24 financial year, refuting claims that mills receive timber for free. The payment came under Wood Supply Agreements, which were introduced after former Premier...
Rocklink India Opens Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Plant in Uttar Pradesh
Rocklink India has inaugurated a lithium‑ion battery recycling plant in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh, capable of processing 10,000 tonnes of battery feedstock annually and producing up to 6,000 tonnes of black‑mass. The facility extracts critical metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare‑earth...
Vietnam and South Korea Agree to Boost Cooperation on Supply Chains, Nuclear Energy
Vietnam and South Korea signed 12 agreements to deepen cooperation in nuclear energy, advanced technologies, and supply‑chain resilience, seeking to offset economic fallout from the Middle East conflict. The partners set a target of $150 billion in bilateral trade by 2030,...
Can Iran Keep Pumping? The Blockade’s Impact on Oil Production, Exports, and Storage
The United States has instituted a naval blockade of Iranian ports to halt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran can maintain its current production level for roughly two months before onshore storage fills, after which output must be...
Iron Ore Consolidates as Investors Weigh Higher War-Induced Costs Against Rising Supply
Iron ore prices held steady on April 23 as investors weighed higher freight and input costs from the Iran war against a growing supply outlook. The Dalian Commodity Exchange price stayed at 785.5 yuan (≈$115) per ton, while Singapore’s benchmark hovered just...
Brent Tops $100 Again Amid Supply Fears After Iran Seizes Vessels in Hormuz
Brent crude futures surged past $100 a barrel on Thursday, reaching $103.40 as Iran seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, heightening supply‑risk concerns. U.S. crude and refined‑product exports climbed to a record 12.88 million barrels per day, up 137,000...
Escape From Hormuz: The Oil Tankers Running the Iranian Gauntlet
Oil tankers continuing to transit the Strait of Hormuz are confronting heightened Iranian threats, prompting insurers to raise coverage costs and shippers to consider longer detours. The U.S. Navy has stepped up escort operations, but the risk of seizure or...
India’s Maritime Ambition: Rewriting the Bay of Bengal
India is accelerating its maritime strategy in the Bay of Bengal to counter China’s growing port network across the Indian Ocean. The government has announced plans for multiple deep‑water ports, a new naval base at Sagarika, and a strategic partnership...
West Asia Crisis: Govt Considering Customs Duty Cut on Critical Induction Cooktop Components
The Indian government is weighing a customs‑duty cut on critical induction‑cooktop components and a GST reduction from 18% to 5% to curb price spikes triggered by the West Asia crisis. The crisis has disrupted oil and gas shipments through the...
ARENA Funding Targets Manufacturing Advances in Battery Pack and Materials Projects
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has earmarked more than $4 million under its Battery Breakthrough Initiative to fund two domestic battery‑manufacturing projects. PowerPlus Energy will receive $2.32 million to automate its pack‑assembly line, tripling annual capacity from 50 MWh to 150 MWh. Firebird...
Strait of Hormuz: Global Internet at Chokepoint Risk
“Red Sea cable incidents” is about to trend. Trump-Netanyahu’s War on Iran can quickly escalate from oil chokepoint to digital-data center chokepoint soon. Better to be safe than sorry: Know what you own.
Oil Prices up Amid Stalemate over Next Round of Peace Talks, Continued Blockade of Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices edged higher on Thursday as the United States and Iran maintained naval blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, keeping roughly one‑fifth of global oil supplies disrupted. Brent settled at $102.40 a barrel and WTI at $93.51, reflecting a...
Tesla Semi Set for 2026 Volume Production, Optimism Rises
I’ve been critical of the Semi in the past, but I’m becoming more optimistic looking at Musk’s track record of eventually getting it right. The Semi timeline pushed out 7 years late, but I’m confident they wouldn’t ramp production without addressing...
SAP Rollout Backfires, Derailing Inventory Visibility and Revenue
An SAP implementation intended to boost inventory visibility backfired, causing chaos in distribution centers. This led to missed orders, affected invoicing, scheduling, and transportation, ultimately impacting revenue. #SAP #SupplyChain #BusinessImpact https://t.co/NDKJmvbned
Firebird Metals Awarded $2m Grant to Advance Manganese-to-Cathode Processing Technology and Demo Plant
Firebird Metals has secured a $2 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to accelerate its manganese‑to‑cathode processing technology and build a demonstration plant in Perth. The integrated process will convert raw manganese ore directly into lithium‑manganese‑iron‑phosphate (LMFP) cathode material,...
Studds to Invest ₹150 Crore in Fifth Faridabad Plant, Capacity to Hit 12 Million Units
Studds Accessories Ltd announced a $18 million (₹150 crore) investment to build a fifth manufacturing plant in Faridabad, raising its total capacity to roughly 12 million helmets and luggage boxes. The new facility will be commissioned in two phases, adding 1.5 million units in...
Only One Ship Exited Hormuz—Unsustainable Trend
Number of ships that left Strait of Hormuz today: ONE. Singular. This is not sustainable. https://t.co/AMsiEvpfVy