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
Golden Pass LNG Exports First Cargo Into Wartime Market
Golden Pass LNG’s Al Qaiyyah vessel loaded 174,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas and departed the Texas export terminal, marking the first cargo destined for a wartime market. The shipment arrives as global gas supplies are strained by the Ukraine conflict and heightened demand in Europe. By delivering U.S. LNG, Golden Pass helps diversify supply and supports energy security for import‑dependent nations. The move underscores the rapid scaling of U.S. export infrastructure.
Landlocked Nations Need Diverse Links, Not Single-Partner Dependence
I'm afraid you can build a highway from Kyrgyzstan to western China but not from Kyrgyzstan to California. So if you're a landlocked economy, you do build infrastructure links to contiguous countries like China, especially when they have been growing,...
ASCO Wins New Offshore and Gas Support Contracts in Australia
ASCO announced it has won a suite of Australian contracts worth AUD 33.2 million (approximately US$22 million). The awards span offshore decommissioning, gas‑plant support and logistics services across Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Projects include NORM radiation‑safety work, marine transport for a...
Tesla’s Delivery Outlook Remains Vague, Limited Growth Expected
What about $TSLA deliveries for this year? The comment in the shareholder deck on delivery outlook was not helpful. I'm not expecting much from the call. Here's what the outlook on volume reads: "We are focused on maximum capacity utilization...
Canada Signs over 20 Critical Mineral Deals but Faces $12-Billion U.S. Challenge to Turn Diplomacy Into Mines – by Staff...
Canada has signed more than 20 critical‑mineral agreements, including 30 new partnerships that together unlock roughly US$9 billion in project capital. The deals cover India, Peru, Greenland, Italy, the EU and a domestic memorandum linking western provinces with northern territories. Despite...
MODEX 2026: Fives Intralogistics Corp. Reinforces Global Automation Leadership with Caja by Fives GTP Robotic Solution
Fives Intralogistics Corp showcased its new Caja Goods‑To‑Person (GTP) robotic solution at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, marking a strategic push into warehouse and retail distribution automation. The software‑first system pairs an AI‑driven Warehouse Control System with a dual‑robot fleet—ground‑level and...
6,000 Meters Under the Pacific, Japan Seeks Independence From China on Rare Earths – by Lorenzo Lamperti (Wired Magazine –...
Japan’s research team successfully extracted rare‑earth‑rich sediments from the seabed 6,000 meters beneath Minamitorishima, a remote Pacific atoll. The operation, carried out with the Chikyu deep‑sea drilling vessel, marks the world’s first sampling of rare‑earth deposits at such extreme depth. By...
Iran Again Tightens Its Grip on Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran renewed its campaign in the Strait of Hormuz, striking two cargo vessels on Wednesday after traffic fell to a single ship on Tuesday—the lowest level since the conflict began eight weeks ago. The attacks effectively halted most shipping through...
U.S.-Iran Tensions Spark Sharp Swings in U.S. Stocks, Oil and Treasuries
U.S. President Donald Trump’s extension of a cease‑fire with Iran, coupled with a continued naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, sent the S&P 500 and Nasdaq tumbling while oil prices surged. Traders scrambled for liquidity as Treasury yields rose...
Bessemer-Backed Tencarva Acquires WWaterTech, Expanding Municipal Reach in Texas and Oklahoma
Tencarva Machinery Company, a Bessemer Investors portfolio firm, announced the acquisition of WWaterTech Services, a Texas‑based representative for water and wastewater equipment. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, adds roughly 60 OEM relationships and deepens Tencarva's municipal market...
Competitors Accelerate to Undermine China’s EV Battery Supply Chain Lead
Chinese companies continue to dominate the electric‑vehicle battery supply chain and are expanding production beyond China, while rivals scramble to adopt alternative chemistries and new sites to close the gap.
Tesla's New Outlook Highlights Infrastructure Edge, Possible Terafab Role
The only change in the $TSLA outlook section compared to last quarter was the language: "Capacity build out and ramp related to our multi-year infrastructure initiatives, including AI compute, solar, battery material and semiconductor manufacturing are underway". My take: more infrastructure is...
How Much Rare Earths Does an F-35 Really Contain?
The long‑cited claim that each F‑35 Lightning II contains about 920 lb (≈417 kg) of rare‑earth elements stems from a single, unreleased 2012 Department of Defense study and has never been substantiated. Inspector General reports later flagged the underlying data as unreliable,...
Norway Takes State Control of Fens Rare‑Earth Deposit Planning, Boosting Domestic Neodymium Supply
Norway's central government has taken over planning for the Fens rare‑earth deposit in Telemark after the local municipality requested state intervention. The move targets the continent's largest documented neodymium resource and aims to smooth land‑use conflicts while advancing a domestic...
Lockheed Martin’s $2 Trillion F‑35 Program Exposes Rising Defense Manufacturing Costs
Lockheed Martin’s flagship F‑35 fighter program is now projected to cost $2.1 trillion through 2088, with sustainment alone accounting for roughly 75% of that sum. The staggering figure reflects deep‑seated cost pressures in advanced aerospace manufacturing, from high‑priced parts to a...
Prometheus Group Acquires Tamarack to Add Procurement Services for Asset-Intensive Industries
Prometheus Group announced the acquisition of Tamarack, a procurement advisory firm serving mining, oil and gas, and construction sectors. The deal, terms undisclosed, adds a group‑purchasing model and data‑driven sourcing tools to Prometheus' enterprise asset management software, aiming to give...
BALLAS Raises $15.5M Series B to Expand Japan's Construction‑material Platform
BALLAS announced a ¥2.4 billion ($15.5 million) Series B round led by SMSM Edge and Z Venture Capital. The funding will accelerate its BALLAS SCM marketplace, AI‑driven LINKS product, and partnerships with major construction and finance firms.
Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth
Roland Betancourt’s new book chronicles how Disneyland transformed post‑war industrial automation into immersive attractions. By repurposing technologies such as missile‑grade magnetic tape and automotive PLCs, Disney engineers created iconic rides like the Enchanted Tiki Room, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Space Mountain. The...
Ships Use Territorial Waters to Bypass US Blockade
How can dozens of ships defeat the US Blockade, as the FT repost below says is happening? The map shows how a tanker can travel from Kharg Island to Mumbai while remaining within the territorial waters of Pakistan and India. The US...
Japan's Naphtha Shortage Threatens Global Semiconductor Production
Semi Market, show me you care. "Japan is short on naphtha → Japan can't produce semiconductor materials → This could bring the world's semiconductor fabs to a halt."
Breakbulk26: Trade Lane Shifts, Policy Changes Among Evolving Challenges for Breakbulk Cargo
Breakbulk cargo volumes are rapidly shifting, with Asian shipments flooding North America as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East reshape trade lanes. Logistics firms like GE Power and COLI Group report capacity constraints and cargo shortages in Europe, forcing more...
Revealed Vulnerability Shifts Bargaining Power; Iran's Capabilities Now Known
Bottom line: the issue isn't only what Iran can do. It's that everyone now knows what Iran can do. Revealed vulnerability changes bargaining power. https://t.co/icf9axhcM0
US Threatens Canada Over Wine Ban Amid USMCA Talks
Carney Asada: Canada will get chopped up by USMCA renegotiation. From our early March note 👇 https://t.co/Eca6Me0P8D
The Shadow Fleet Is Undermining the Maritime Order More Brazenly than Ever
In 2026 Baltic Sea nations, France, India and others intensified inspections, detaining more shadow‑fleet vessels than ever before. Russia responded by deploying naval escorts for shadow ships through the English Channel and Baltic Sea, while Iranian vessels continued to evade...
EU Finally Admits Oil and Gas Still Essential
The EU finally realizing it’s going to need oil & gas for long enough to justify frontier exploration.
SMCI Nears Resolution of Nvidia Chip Smuggling Allegations
$SMCI is getting close to filling the “allegations of smuggling Nvidia AI chips into China” gap https://t.co/wRUyCxU5ij
NewPower Worldwide Named a Partner of the Year at HPE 2026 Partner Summit
NewPower Worldwide was named HPE’s Spares Supply Chain Partner of the Year at the 2026 HPE Operations Partner Summit. The award recognizes the company’s ability to secure critical components, execute rapid fulfillment, and maintain reliability for HPE’s global customers. NewPower’s...
June 1 Traffic Normalization Odds Dip to 46%
Meanwhile, probability that the traffic in the Strait will return to normal by June 1st lowest level since April 13th (46%) https://t.co/ZSS8VlOSXs
US Munitions Arrive in Israel as Carrier Group Approaches
Is May 1, end of the ceasefire, going to be the date when Trump acts instead of settling new fallback dates? And ships in the Strait?
Mideast Gulf War May Dent Brazil Asphalt Demand
The Middle‑East conflict has pushed global asphalt prices sharply higher, lifting Brazil's delivered asphalt costs by more than 50% since the US‑Israeli war with Iran began in late February. Domestic refiners Acelen and Ream raised prices 25% and 40% in...
Priority Technologies
The edited volume "Priority Technologies" outlines a strategic roadmap for the United States to maintain security and prosperity in a volatile global landscape. It identifies six priority technology sectors—critical minerals, semiconductors, biomanufacturing, quantum computing, drones, and advanced manufacturing—as essential for...
Cargill Opens Regina Canola Facility
Cargill announced that its new canola processing plant in Regina, Saskatchewan, is now fully operational. The facility can handle up to 1 million metric tons of canola each year, serving growers in Saskatchewan and western Manitoba. Situated at the Global Transportation...
Somalia's Israel Ship Ban Threatens Bab Al-Mandeb Stability
Somalia. Ban on Israel ships. Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Ban or more pirate attacks? Global maritime is showing signs of upheaval.
Avoid Costly Heat‑Treat Failures with Proven Practices
What is heat treating? Why do some parts fail? How can machinists and manufacturers avoid costly mistakes? Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/9vEAAzKbfc 📽️ https://t.co/So0R3DfOyg 🔗 https://t.co/DmYp21NDA3 #Manufacturing #MachineShop #HeatTreating #SkilledTrades #QualityControl https://t.co/FarfWuXZhz
Port of Oakland March Volumes Rebound
The Port of Oakland handled 198,667 TEUs in March 2026, up from 163,254 TEUs in February, as vessel calls rose to 86 from 72. Imports and exports were nearly balanced, each around 99,000 TEUs. Year‑on‑year March volume fell 8.6%, and...
Indonesia's Strait Fee Sparks UNCLOS, Supply‑Chain Turmoil
Indonesia. Impose fee on ships going thru the Strait of Malacca. Learned money lesson from Iran. UNCLOS? Will there be military action to stop it? More maritime and supply chain hell.
The End of the Neutral Stack: Choose Your Ecosystem
The automotive industry is abandoning the long‑standing neutral stack model as OEMs begin locking in compute and software platforms early in the vehicle development cycle. Simultaneously, data‑sovereignty regulations are forcing a split between China and non‑China vehicle architectures. Suppliers that...
Can Local Governments in Western Australia Use AI to Assess Tenders and Expressions of Interest?
Western Australian local governments are exploring AI to evaluate expressions of interest and tender submissions. Generative AI can sort, summarise and highlight gaps in large bid packages, but the law still mandates procedural fairness, confidentiality and human accountability. Councils must...
ASOS Exec Reveals How Flexible Fulfillment Is Changing Fashion Retail | RTS 2026
In this OmniTalk Retail interview, ASOS Brands Director Shazmin Malik explains how the company’s flexible fulfillment models—Partner Fulfill and ASOS Fulfillment Services—enable a global, multi‑brand ecosystem that serves 18 million customers across 200 markets. She highlights the rapid growth of these...
Ship Seizures Signal Iran’s Growing Control of Hormuz
Ship Seizures Mark New Phase in Iran’s De Facto Control of Hormuz. With extended ceasefire. The situation looks shaky. https://t.co/pThf20VEbW
Asian Shipowners Set to Cross Hormuz Ahead of Western Firms
Asian Shipowners to Cross Hormuz Before Western Firms, Executives Say. Fee? Maritime safety/security? Country affiliation and negotiating release. https://t.co/wDf0p1uk9P
The 17-Year Orderbook Nobody’s Tracking — Inside Shipbuilding’s Quiet Supercycle
A veteran LNG shipping CEO warned in December 2025 that the global orderbook of 234 new LNG carriers for 2026‑2030 will fall far short of the 229 million tons of liquefaction capacity slated for completion by 2030, creating a 70 Mt shortfall....
Unitree's Supply‑chain Mastery Teaches US Robotics Competition
Sam is right about the importance of robotics for the US but Unitree offers a real lesson to US companies hoping to compete at the bleeding edge. It has risen thanks to a true mastery of China’s supply chain. https://t.co/JyNQZSycxJ
Breakbulk26: Loss of Persian Gulf Oil Supplies Difficult to Replace Quickly
At the Breakbulk26 conference, S&P Global Energy’s Amy Groeschel warned that the war in the Middle East could trap roughly 16 million barrels of crude and refined product in the Strait of Hormuz each day, a volume that cannot be replaced quickly....
Sustainable Supply Chains: Plan Smarter, Waste Less, Move Efficiently
Earth Day: sustainability is built into the daily supply chain choices - plan smarter, waste less, move efficiently. #EarthDay #SupplyChain https://t.co/As8cZeuhSD
Adamas Launches Western CIF Price Forecasts
Adamas Intelligence has launched Western CIF price forecasts for nine rare‑earth oxides, including NdPr, Nd, Pr, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Lu and Y. The forecasts aim to fill a data vacuum as virtually no separated oxides are produced or traded...
SMMT Urges EU to Amend Made in Europe Rules to Protect U.K. Auto Trade
On April 15, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) urged the EU to amend its draft Industrial Accelerator Act so that UK‑built vehicles, parts and batteries receive the same “Made in Europe” treatment as EU products. The SMMT...
Mapping Hormuz Bypass Easy, Execution Far More Challenging
Bypassing Hormuz: “You can draw beautiful lines on the map. To try to make it happen in reality is something else.” @QamarEnergy @ColumbiaUEnergy @rfelliott https://t.co/JKNGbORqzA
CMA CGM Adjusts BAF on France–Tunisia Ro-Ro Service
CMA CGM will revise its Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) for the ro‑ro South service linking France and Tunisia, effective May 1 2026. The new surcharge sets full rolling units at €649 (≈$708) per unit, empty units at €430 (≈$469), other rolling cargo...
New ISO Standards Bring Clarity to Chain of Custody
The International Organization for Standardization released ISO 22095‑2 and ISO 22095‑3, expanding the ISO 22095 framework to provide concrete operational requirements for the mass‑balance and book‑and‑claim chain‑of‑custody models. These standards harmonize how companies account for recycled, renewable, or otherwise certified material throughout complex,...