Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Strait of Hormuz closure stalls oil price surge despite 100‑day shutdown
The strategic waterway has been shut for 100 days, yet oil prices have not spiked. Prices fell after a U.S.–Iran deal was announced, and analysts warn that any relief to the oil market could take months to materialize.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
Amtech Issues RFP for Microcontainer Feeder Vessels
Alternative Marine Technologies (Amtech) has issued a request for proposals to three major U.S. shipbuilders for a 2+2 series of 230‑TEU microcontainer feeder vessels. The ships will be built to the Conoship CIP230TEU design, which is already in service in Europe and includes a virtual walkthrough and production‑ready drawings. Vega Reederei will handle commercial operations, and the diesel‑electric vessels will meet EPA Tier IV and IMO Tier III emissions standards. The program has garnered support from East Coast terminals and Great Lakes authorities, targeting freight growth in Chicago, Indiana, Detroit and beyond.
Bluerock TMS Targets Last Mile’s Costliest Blind Spots
Bluerock TMS unveiled a cloud‑native Last Mile Distribution solution at Modex 2026, delivering end‑to‑end visibility from order intake to proof of delivery in a single system. The platform replaces fragmented routing tools with an AI‑assisted, execution‑centric control layer that plugs...
Mercedes-Benz Accelerates Factory Automation Using Private Networks
Mercedes‑Benz is deploying dedicated mobile private networks (MPNs) to eliminate latency spikes that plague public 5G in its highly automated factories. The private 5G slices enable real‑time coordination of robotics, automated guided vehicles and edge‑compute quality‑control systems, treating the network...
Indian Spacetech Startups Shift Gears From R&D to Scalable Manufacturing
Indian spacetech startups are moving from pure research to large‑scale manufacturing as demand for low‑Earth‑orbit constellations accelerates. Bellatrix Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos and Red Balloon Aerospace have each built regulated, additive‑manufacturing and assembly‑line processes to shrink build cycles from months to...
How Tanker Insurance Became the Real Blockade of Hormuz
A two‑week ceasefire announced by President Trump has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic. In the first 48 hours only five to nine bulk carriers were recorded, a fraction of the pre‑war average of over 100 vessels...
Former GSA, NASA Leader on Federal Acquisition Leadership
Mary Davie, a former senior executive at the General Services Administration and NASA, reflected on her more than 30‑year federal career focused on procurement and acquisition leadership. She oversaw major purchasing platforms, shared‑services initiatives, and helped shape acquisition policy and...
2026 Leaders Interview – Paweł Zakielarz – Shopreturns
Shopreturns, founded by Paweł Zakielarz, provides a streamlined cross‑border return service for UK retailers selling into the EU, addressing the post‑Brexit landscape. The interview outlines how the removal of de‑minimis thresholds and the new €3 (≈$3.30) import fee have reshaped...
USP Adds Tamiflu, Trulicity to Vulnerable List as Upstream Analysis Reshapes Supply Concerns
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has refreshed its vulnerable medicines list, adding Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) after expanding its risk assessment to include key starting materials (KSMs). The new analysis shows 48 of the 100 flagged drugs depend on...
Las Vegas to Host New MODEX West Trade Show in October 2028
MHI announced the launch of MODEX West, a three‑day supply‑chain trade show slated for October 18‑20, 2028 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The new event adds a West Coast foothold to MHI’s portfolio, which already includes MODEX in Atlanta and ProMat in...
Railways, Bharat Petroleum Ink Pact to Develop Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal in Jammu
Indian Railways and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited have signed an agreement to build a Gati Shakti multi‑modal cargo terminal near Jammu. The facility at Bajalta will feature 109,225 kilolitres of storage and handle two rail rakes per day, delivering roughly 162,000 metric tonnes...
Shipbuilding: Changing Shipyard Dynamics in Japan
Japan’s shipbuilding sector has seen its global market share plunge from roughly 40% in the 1990s to about 10% today, as China and South Korea dominate new‑build orders. A new government‑backed Shipbuilding Industry Revitalization Roadmap aims to double annual construction...
Icelandirect Expands CDMO Footprint with SOMA LABS Solid Dosage Acquisition
Icelandirect announced the acquisition of SOMA Labs, a New Jersey‑based solid‑dosage CDMO, expanding its capabilities beyond lipid‑based liquids into powders, tablets, capsules and chewables for both human and pet supplements. The deal doubles Icelandirect’s turnkey offering, allowing customers to source...
Japan Post Lifts Suspension of US-Bound Merchandise
Japan Post announced it will resume accepting merchandise destined for the United States starting April 14, 2026, ending an eight‑month suspension triggered by the U.S. de minimis rule change. Under the new protocol, senders must prepay customs duties and related charges through a...
Gulf Blockade Piles Pressure on Textile Chemicals
The ongoing Gulf blockade is tightening the supply chain for textile chemicals, as the Strait of Hormuz—responsible for about 20% of global oil—faces operational disruptions. Senior executives from major suppliers, including Transfar and Tanatex, say the crisis has moved from...
Daily Memo: Developments in the Middle East
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will commence a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on April 13. The operation will prohibit all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports while allowing traffic to non‑Iranian ports to pass unimpeded....
Aluminum Hits 4-Year High on Trump’s Blockade of Hormuz
Aluminum prices surged to a four‑year peak on the London Metal Exchange, reaching $3,570 a ton after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports. The spot‑cash spread widened to $95.50 a ton, the strongest backwardation since 2007, reflecting...
Chinese Miner Boosts Rare Earth Prices
China Northern Rare Earth Group, the world’s largest producer of light rare earths, announced a sharp increase in concentrate prices for the second quarter of 2026. The company lifted prices for 50% rare earth oxide concentrates, signaling tighter supply in...
Memory Shortage Pushes Supply Normalization to 2027
Summary of key points from a memory tracker I'm running weekly: Supply normalization now looks pushed to late 2027. New capacity is delayed, DRAM bit supply growth is only ~16% YoY, and that is still below historical norms. Demand Destruction: Memory inflation...
KUKA to Highlight Advanced Automated Welding Solutions at FABTECH Canada 2026
KUKA will showcase its new arc_cellerate Index robotic welding cell and the mobile Edu_ArcWelding training cart at FABTECH Canada 2026 (June 9‑11). The Index is a compact, pre‑engineered solution for high‑mix, low‑volume welding, featuring real‑time Xiris weld cameras and a KR CYBERTECH...
Meyer Turku: Cruise Vessel Demand Drives Strong Orderbook
Meyer Turku posted a 17% revenue jump to €2.14 bn (about $2.3 bn) and adjusted EBIT of €105.1 m ($115 m) in 2025, signaling a solid post‑pandemic rebound. The yard delivered *Star of the Seas*, the second Icon‑class cruise ship for Royal Caribbean, and...
Anschütz SYNAPSIS Nav Tech for New Multipurpose Vessel
Anschütz has secured a contract to provide Integrated Navigation and Bridge Systems (INBS) for three multipurpose vessels built for Germany’s Waterways and Shipping Administration at the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard. The first vessel, Scharhörn, has completed sea trials and is...
Hormuz Crisis Triggers Localized, Bumpy Demand Destruction
Normally I talk about the two main types of demand destruction: Price elasticity (i.e., gasoline is really expensive so I'll drive less or buy an EV) vs Income elasticity (high oil prompted a financial crisis and I lost my job) But given how...
How Manufacturers Are Testing Physical AI Before Making Big Investments
Manufacturers are turning to dedicated AI testing labs—such as TCS’s Gemini Experience Centers, Microsoft’s AI Co‑Innovation Lab, and Deloitte’s Smart Factory—to evaluate physical AI before committing to costly deployments. These sites let firms experiment with robots, sensors and data‑ops platforms...
Jessica Ledesma on Navigating the New Era of Hospital Cold Storage Resilience
The rapid growth of biosimilars and high‑value specialty drugs is straining hospital pharmacy cold‑storage capacity, according to Jessica Ledesma, product manager at Swisslog Healthcare. Aging refrigeration units now pose a heightened risk of costly inventory loss and treatment interruptions. Hospitals...
The U.S. Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Begins
On April 13, the United States launched a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, deploying more than 15 warships to enforce a cordon around Iranian ports and coastal waters. The operation, coordinated by U.S. Central Command, applies only to...
Estonian Solutions Support Cruise Industry’s Green Transition
Estonia is presenting a practical, state‑backed maritime transition ecosystem at Seatrade Cruise Global 2026, featuring a $29.3 million retrofit fund, smart‑port digital tools, and a suite of local companies offering green technologies. The initiative focuses on retrofitting existing cruise ships with efficiency...
Textile Sector Gets a Boost with 52 New PLI Approvals
The Indian government has cleared 52 new applications in Round III of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles, bringing the total approved firms to 148. These companies will collectively invest about Rs 6,708 crore ($718 million) and aim for a turnover of...
Norfolk Southern Focuses on Freight Growth in Latest Partnership
Norfolk Southern announced a partnership with Jaguar Transport Holdings to expand capacity at its Doraville transload facility near Atlanta. Jaguar will manage local switching and fund yard upgrades, boosting freight handling and truck‑to‑rail connections. The initiative aligns with NS’s strategy...
J&T Express Posts 26% Q1 Parcel Volume Rise, Southeast Asia Near 80% Surge
J&T Express announced a 26.2% year‑on‑year increase in first‑quarter parcel volume to 8.326 billion, driven by a 79.9% surge in Southeast Asia. The company added 6,200 line‑haul vehicles and expanded sorting capacity, signaling aggressive scaling across its core markets.
Global Airfreight Tonnage Drops 4% in March
WorldACD data show global air‑freight tonnage slipped 4% year‑on‑year in March, reversing the double‑digit gains recorded in January and February. The Middle East and South Asia (MESA) region bore the brunt, with a 21% volume drop, while Africa, Europe and...
U.S. Pushes America‑First Trade Policy to Bolster Chemical Supply Chains
The American Chemistry Council is urging the Biden administration to adopt an America‑first trade framework for chemicals, highlighting a $156 bn export surplus and 545,000 direct jobs. The push aims to shield the sector from unfair foreign competition, especially as China...
Kafuwell Expands Low‑cost Channel Partnership for Power‑tool Dealers and Hardware Retailers
Kafuwell, the 26‑year‑old power‑tool maker, announced an expanded authorized partnership program that lets dealers and big‑box hardware stores order as little as one mixed carton and enjoy wholesale prices more than 30% below mainstream brands. The tiered system starts at...
Iran War Fuels Energy Surge, Disrupts Global Mining Supply Chains
The 2026 US‑Israel war with Iran is driving up energy prices and creating logistics bottlenecks that jeopardize mining operations worldwide. Analysts say the conflict is exposing a structural weakness in the sector, from power‑intensive smelters to fragile transport routes, and...
Redwood Materials Scales Second‑Life Battery Storage to Power 24 Data Centers
Redwood Materials, the battery‑recycling firm founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, announced a rollout of its second‑life energy‑storage system to 24 data centers, adding 20 MW of solar power and 12 MWh of repurposed EV batteries. The move marks the company’s...
VFabTech Launches to Help Solve the Semiconductor Capacity Bottleneck Behind the Next Wave of AI and Advanced Manufacturing
VFabTech, a new semiconductor engineering and consulting firm, launched to address the growing capacity bottleneck that’s limiting AI, robotics and advanced manufacturing growth. The company offers end‑to‑end services—from cleanroom planning and equipment qualification to process integration and workforce training—covering the...
Lean Solutions Group Unveils New AI-Powered Capabilities for Its LeanTek Platform Including LeanTek AgentEdge and LeanTek Connect at MODEX 2026
Lean Solutions Group announced at MODEX 2026 a suite of AI‑powered extensions for its LeanTek platform, including LeanTek AgentEdge and LeanTek Connect. The new features add decision intelligence, automated email processing, AI‑driven contract analysis, interview screening, and wellbeing monitoring, aiming to...
Oil Shortage Pushed Japan Toward Dutch East Indies Invasion
“…if we cut off Japanese supplies of oil…and she cannot obtain sufficient oil from other commercial sources to ensure her national security, she will probably send her fleet down to take the Dutch East Indies.” - Ambassador Joseph C. Grew, May...
Experts Deem Blockades Unsafe Despite War History
But all the “xperts” told us a blockade would be too dangerous despite the fact Sal I have explained how distance blockades worked in both world wars.
U.S. Blockade Hits Hormuz; China, Russia May Intervene
All Eyes on Hormuz as U.S. Maritime Blockade on Iran Enters Enforcement Phase. What happens when Chinese and Russian ships show up? https://t.co/orWD3pBD3c
China-Bound Soybean Inspections Top at 12.7M Bu
Export inspections in the week ending April 9 for shipment to China specifically (mln bu): #corn 0.0, grain sorghum 8.0, #soybeans 12.7, #wheat 0.0 #oatt
Fewer Direct Container Routes, Hubs Boost Carriers, Frustrate Shippers
Container shipping. There became fewer container lines. While they shifted to transshipment hubs--borrowing from airlines on reducing direct flights. Carrier benefits vs customer frustration.
Strait Blockage Guarantees Oil Halt, Worsening Ahead
Whether it's the US or Iran, blocking the Strait still means no oil, writes. Expect things to get worse before they get better: https://t.co/CB5YXrF87b
US Builds First Aluminum Smelter in 50 Years
We are building the first aluminum smelter in the US in over 50 years and you are bearish re-industrialization? The combination of tariffs (Trump), incentives (Biden), and fragile supply chains (China) made it worthwhile. https://t.co/3E0BDNJxHq
Blocking Iranian Ships Near Hormuz Raises Stakes
Boarding seven Venezuelan oil tankers over the course of several weeks is one thing, blockading Iranian-linked ships near Hormuz is an entirely different ballgame. We’ll see how it works out
Hormuz Blockage Fuels Fertilizer Crisis; Policy Aid Needed
Ships still aren’t moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Fertilizer delays are forcing farmers to pay more or cut use. They need timebound, targeted help. With right policy and diplomacy, nations can still avert a global food crisis. Watch our...
Russia Urges BRICS Food Reserves to Offset Middle East Crisis
Russia calls for joint food reserves with BRICS to counter Middle East crisis risks https://t.co/g3JsxUHPEN
Ford Stays Local because Community Math Matters
People ask why @Ford fights so hard to keep assembly here when our competitors profited by moving production offshore. It’s because we understand the math of a community. My op-ed today on @Ford’s commitment to America: https://t.co/GCBzRn1QqH
US‑Australia Invest $
Australia and US boost support for critical minerals with $3.5 billion Not clear where processing will be done, or where mine to magnet chain happens.... https://t.co/OpCtNNHYup
Iran Faces Imminent Well Shutdowns, Negotiations Uncertain
Looking at the limited empty oil tankers inside the Persian Gulf, plus Tehran’s onshore storage, Iran will need to shut in wells in 10-15 days (the same process its neighbours faced 5-6 weeks ago). Would that prompt Iran to change...
Distribution Firms Evolve Into Tech Startups Amid Shifting 3PL Search
On the Does Logistics Matter? podcast, Ryan from @Warematch shares how a distribution company accidentally became a tech startup,and why the way buyers search for 3PL partners is changing faster than most of the industry realises. #logistics #podcast 🎧 https://t.co/VRCyCBQ7lz