Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Shipowners stay cautious despite US‑Iran Hormuz reopening deal
President Trump announced a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ending the naval blockade that had closed the oil conduit since late February. Shipowners, however, remain wary, pointing to 57 recorded security incidents and lingering mines, and are opting for lower‑risk routes until safety can be assured.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
Rethinking Australia’s Sovereign Manufacturing
Australia’s manufacturing sector has shrunk from 19% of GDP in the 1980s to under 5% today, prompting calls for a sovereign manufacturing push. Industry leaders argue that rebuilding on‑shore capacity is less about patriotism and more about resilience, especially as global supply chains face volatility. Epicor’s Graeme Evans stresses that modern ERP data, low‑code AI tools, and digital traceability can give small manufacturers the productivity needed to compete in strategic sectors such as defence, critical minerals and clean energy. A selective, government‑enabled approach that couples data‑driven efficiency with sustainability is presented as the roadmap for Australia to become “value‑rich” rather than merely resource‑rich.
China’s Oil Stockpile Fuels Profit Amid Global Price Surge
In speaking with oil traders (and checking the data) it is clear that China went on a buyer's strike due to the ongoing high crude and LNG prices. Which means that Beijing loaded up its storage with low oil prices...
Hormuz Traffic Normalization Odds Plunge to 23%
According to Polymarket, the probability that Strait of Hormuz traffic will return to normal by the end of April is FALLING LIKE A STONE. It is now 23%. TRUMP = A PRESIDENT OF FOREVER WARS. https://t.co/nt979qNG1g
Canada Sets Four‑Year Deadline for Port of Churchill LNG Expansion
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says Prime Minister Mark Carney has given the province a four‑year timeline to expand the Port of Churchill and start liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports by 2030. The deadline ties into Canada’s goal of 50 million tonnes...
India and Vietnam Rice FOB Prices Slip 2‑3% as Ample Stocks Cushion Market
India and Vietnam saw rice FOB prices ease 2‑3% over the past week as abundant harvests and steady government stocks left exportable supplies comfortable. The price softening, driven by weaker demand from the Philippines and Indonesia, signals a stable supply...
Sprott Debuts Rare Earths Ex‑China ETF as Investors Chase Critical‑Material Exposure
Sprott (TSX:SII) launched the Rare Earths Ex‑China ETF, a thematic fund that follows rare‑earth miners outside China. The move coincided with a jump in Sprott’s stock to CA$203.94 ($151), a 25.65% gain over 90 days and a 184.54% total return...
US Fires on Iranian Vessel Breaking Blockade
US Opens Fire, Disables & Seizes an Iranian Ship Attempting to Break the Blockade | 19 April 2026 https://t.co/nM6dHkHTfb
CAPE Refunds Illegal Tariffs; 56k Importers Register
Monday, April 20, 8 am ET US program (CAPE) to refund the now-recognized as illegal tariffs will begin. Some 56k companies--importers of record--have reportedly registered. The largest importers (e.g., #WMT, #COST, #TGT, #AAPL,#AMZN, and #FDX) (1/4)
Diesel Prices Jump $1.75/Gallon, Outpacing Gasoline as Middle East Tensions Hit Supply
U.S. diesel prices surged $1.75 per gallon, outpacing gasoline's $1.11 rise, as heightened Middle East tensions choke tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The gap reflects diesel’s commercial demand elasticity and thin global inventories, signaling higher freight and logistics...
Industry Invited to View CDE Sand Processing Facility at PF Formation Site
CDE and PF Formation will host an industry open day on 30 April at the sand‑washing plant in Maroota, showcasing a high‑efficiency facility that processes up to 400 tonnes per hour. Over the past year the plant produced more than...
Cargill Upgrades Hydrocolloids Site to Cut Emissions and Improve Efficiency
Cargill is investing €25 million (US$29.5 million) to modernise its Baupte, France, hydrocolloids plant with Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) technology. The upgrade is projected to slash site emissions by roughly 45 % – about 13,700 tons of CO₂ each year – while preserving production...
As World Clamors for Its Critical Minerals, Kazakhstan Ups Control and Seeks Bigger Cut
Kazakhstan is tightening control over its critical‑minerals sector by amending tax, royalty and sub‑soil laws, aiming to secure a larger share of future profits. New royalty rates, effective for licences granted after 2027, are roughly double those in Western Australia,...
Pineapple Prices up Despite China Ban
Taiwan’s pineapple farm‑gate prices have risen to NT$12‑NT$15 per jin (about $0.38‑$0.48) as domestic demand peaks during the harvest season. Wholesale prices reached NT$39.1 per kilogram ($1.25), outpacing the three‑year seasonal average of NT$31.95/kg. After China’s 2021 import ban, Taiwan...
Flexsteel Industries Inc (FLXS) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Flexsteel Industries posted fiscal Q1 2026 net sales of $110.4 million, a 6.2% increase, and lifted operating margin to 8.1%, up 230 basis points year‑over‑year. The company recorded $2.4 million of tariff‑related pricing and raised product surcharges to 15% as Section 232 duties climb...
211. How One Small American Manufacturer Is Dealing with Trump's Tariffs
In this episode, host Chad Bowne visits Clearview Corporation, a small Massachusetts maker of chair cushions, to explore how the firm navigated the wave of Trump-era tariffs on Chinese textile imports. Co‑owner Sam Cooper explains that the company relies on...
The Paradox of Improving Air Cargo Safety in Africa
Africa accounts for just 2% of global air traffic yet suffers nearly 20% of serious accidents, making it the world’s most accident‑prone region. While passenger airlines have improved safety, the rapidly expanding air‑freight segment—driven by e‑commerce, pharmaceuticals and perishables—remains vulnerable...
Volatility, Technology, and Sustainability
Air freight in 2026 is confronting heightened volatility from soaring fuel, labour and regulatory costs, prompting carriers and forwarders to rethink network design and pricing. Operators are shifting capacity toward high‑value, time‑critical cargo while using belly‑hold and multimodal options for...
Rethinking Europe’s E-Commerce Gateways
E‑commerce parcel volumes into Europe are straining traditional air‑cargo hubs such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Liège, where congestion, higher handling fees and slot shortages are mounting. At the same time, regulatory scrutiny of low‑value shipments is increasing, prompting carriers to...
Middle East Oil Pricing Is Cracking Under Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz shutdown has crippled the Platts Dubai benchmark, forcing Platts to cut its deliverable basket from five grades to just Murban and Oman, a roughly 40% reduction in pricing coverage. Thin liquidity and concentrated trading, highlighted by...
Oil and Gas Jump After US Seizure of Iranian Ship Imperils Talks
U.S. Navy forces seized an Iranian vessel, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz again over accusations of a U.S. blockade. The move sparked a sharp rally in energy markets, with Brent crude jumping up to 7.9% and European...
Iran's Hormuz Takeover Spikes Oil Risk, Boosts Gold Demand
🇮🇷 Iran Intel Brief | Pre-Asia ─────── Iran seizes control of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil shipments and elevating energy market risks. US Navy intercepts and disables Iranian cargo ship Touska, prompting Tehran to vow retaliation that could spike oil prices. Iran...
US Fires on Iranian-Flagged Cargo Vessel in Strait of Hormuz
On April 19, US forces in the Arabian Sea fired on an Iranian‑flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Strait of Hormuz. The engagement was part of a naval blockade aimed at enforcing sanctions and...
US Warship Fires on Blockade Violator Before Boarding
The statement from @CENTCOM is very enlightening. Instead of conducting a boarding, USS Spruance warned Touska for 6 hours it was in violation of the blockade. It is not clear if the ship was suppose to divert or stop to be...
China's 11 M Bpd Crude Imports Dominated by Gulf
11 million barrels a day and most of it from the Gulf… Source: Visual Capitalist http://visualcapitalist.com/chinas-crude-oil-imports-by-country/
The Strait that Shook the World
The ongoing conflict in the Gulf has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly 30% of global fertilizer exports and 20% of liquefied natural gas flow. The Gulf region produces about 40% of the world’s exported urea...
Can Lean Manufacturing Really Help Supply Chain?
Lean manufacturing, long associated with factory floors, is increasingly being applied to supply‑chain operations. Core lean tenets such as eliminating waste, defining customer value, and using Just‑In‑Time (JIT) production help firms cut excess inventory and reduce costly rush periods. The...
H.I.G. Capital Acquires Inventus Power to Grow Global Battery Portfolio
H.I.G. Capital announced that an affiliate has completed the acquisition of Inventus Power, a global lithium‑ion battery maker. The deal adds manufacturing sites in the U.S., Mexico, China and Brazil to H.I.G.’s $74 bn alternative‑investment platform, underscoring private‑equity appetite for clean‑energy...
WTO Reviews Safeguard Actions as Major Members Push to Suspend Trade Concessions
The WTO's safeguard committee, chaired by Peru's Milagros Miranda Rojas, reviewed notifications from 14 members and debated proposals from the EU, Japan, India and the UK to suspend trade concessions. The United States rejected the premise that its own tariffs...
Lithium Rush: Nations and Corporations Scramble for the White Gold as EV Demand Soars
China, the United States, Europe and South American producers are locked in a race to secure lithium as global battery demand climbs to over $150 bn. Production is projected to hit 290,000 t in 2025, while China is set to control roughly...
IFR Report Shows Robot Density Hits Record 267 per 10,000 Workers in Western Europe
The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) released its 2025 World Robotics Report, revealing that Western Europe reached a record 267 industrial robots per 10,000 employees in 2024, outpacing North America (204) and Asia (131). The data underscores a tightening race...
China’s Massive Cargo Drones Outpace U.S. and EU
While the U.S. and Europe debate regulations and run subscale demos, China is already flying serious tonnage: CY-8 (3,500 kg / 3,000+ km), HH-200 (1,500 kg / 2,360 km on 500 m runways), W5000 (5 t target). These aren’t toys......
Loop Secures $95 Million to Deploy AI That Predicts Supply‑Chain Disruptions for E‑commerce
Loop announced a $95 million financing round to accelerate its AI platform that predicts supply‑chain disruptions. The capital will be used to expand the service for e‑commerce merchants seeking more reliable fulfillment and inventory management.
IBM Announces 511,000‑sq‑ft Quantum Computing Facility in New York
IBM revealed a 511,000‑square‑foot quantum computing facility at its Poughkeepsie campus, slated to manufacture its next‑generation Starling systems and employ roughly 200 staff. Officials hailed the project as a historic investment, even as community leaders question its electricity demand.
Asean Seas Lines Splits Vietnam–China–Philippines Service
Asean Seas Lines has restructured its HHX1‑SVP2 pendulum service, splitting the former Vietnam‑China‑Philippines loop into two dedicated routes. The HHX1 loop will focus solely on Vietnam, using two 1,100 TEU vessels that call at Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Hai Phong and Da Nang...
Humanoid Robots Will First Thrive in Business, Not Homes
Why most in robotics in San Francisco tell me it will be years before we will be able to really trust a humanoid to work in our homes without supervision safely. The average is about five years. I say three....
Custom Dump Trucks Double Capacity for Shallow Bauxite Mines
Easily one of the most unique trucks I've seen over the years. Rio Tinto runs these custom bottom dump bodies to haul over twice what a standard 777 is rated for. The reason? Bauxite is shallow, so the mine grows outward over...
How Chinese Satellites Have Boosted Iran’s War Effort
Since the launch of Iran’s Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, U.S. satellite coverage over the conflict zone has been intermittently denied, creating an intelligence gap. Beijing stepped in by providing Chinese satellite imagery, allowing Tehran to monitor battlefields and coordinate...
Hormuz Tensions Lock Gas Prices Through 2027
Strait of Hormuz uncertainty isn't just pushing up today's gas prices — it's lifting futures through 2027 and beyond. The energy secretary's optimism may already be outdated. Until we get resolution, expensive gas isn't going anywhere soon. https://t.co/NZ4lVvoG5p
WrestleMania Meets Corporate Drama: LinkedIn Debates CBS Report
WrestleMania may be on ESPN, but the arguments are starting to rage on LinkedIn over CBS report on CH Robinson https://t.co/LVxpTnbt2t
Tesla Fab Chip Partners Are Critical for the Next Few Years
Tesla is turning to a set of chip partners to bridge shortages of CPUs, GPUs, and memory over the next two to four years. Intel will supply the central processing units, while Nvidia provides graphics processors for AI workloads. Advanced‑node...
Prabowo Praises Putin for Oil Aid Amid Iran War
My take on Indonesian President Prabowo’s statement on Putin: @MarioNawfal: “According to Prabowo, Putin is playing a positive role in the Iranian war affair because he is supplying countries like Indonesia with oil and gas." https://t.co/wGOTQHe1fg
Oil Spikes 6.5% Amid Iran‑U.S. Ship Attacks
Oil prices jump 6.5% after Iran and U.S. attack ships as tensions escalate over Strait of Hormuz: https://t.co/aZcReIm6Eb
Finance Ministry May Review MOOWR Benefits for Battery Storage Imports
India's finance ministry is set to consult the power and renewable energy ministries about the future of MOOWR customs‑warehousing benefits for imported battery storage systems. The scheme currently defers about 44 % of customs duty and 12 % GST, cutting upfront costs...
Strait Closure Triggers Supply Shortages and Price Spikes
For the first time, the Strait is completely closed. Nothing moving does not help the related supply shortages. And their prices.
US Destroyer Boards Iranian Vessel, Imposes Sanctions
Announcement from @POTUS that @US5thFleet destroyer USS Spruance has fired upon and boarded the Iranian containership Touska in the Gulf of Oman. The ship was enroute from Port Klang, Malaysia. Previous, the ship loaded in Shanghai and Macau, China. The...
Peru Sought Closer US Ties With F-16 Fighter Jet Deal That Is Now in Limbo
Peru’s interim president halted a $3.5 billion contract to purchase 24 Lockheed Martin F‑16 fighter jets, postponing the signing ceremony that was slated for last Friday. Officials had favored the U.S. aircraft on price and the prospect of deeper defense cooperation. The...
Debunking the Case for Tariffs and Exposing Corruption
Pleased to see the WSJ publish my & @AlfredCObregon's letter responding to a(nother) weak op-ed trying to make "The Case for Tariffs". (We hit on more than corruption, but that's what they chose for the title.) Read it all here: https://t.co/BAIWkel6oT...
Lean Principles From Ohno's TPS Transform Any Production
📘 Refuel your knowledge: My favorite leadership read this week. 📚 Add this to your list: Toyota Production System (1988) by Taiichi Ohno 💡 Ohno's book explains how Lean principles can improve any production endeavor. Helpful resource: 🔗 https://t.co/uVgxW4LNd1 https://t.co/CbkuapaexX
A Strategic Case for AI Adoption in Combination with Robotics
Distribution firms in retail, CPG and food operate on razor‑thin profit margins, typically 1‑5% net after accounting for warehousing, transportation, labor and financing costs. Gross margins sit higher at 15‑30%, but operating expenses erode most of the upside. Labor is...
Iran War Derails India’s IMEC & INSTC Trade Routes: Hormuz Closure Pauses Delhi’s Connectivity Ambitions
The escalating Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict has forced the Strait of Hormuz shut, halting progress on India’s flagship land‑sea corridors – the India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North‑South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Both projects rely on Iranian cooperation and Gulf‑side...