Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Half of Hormuz oil flow restored as US pledges full reopening
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said roughly 7 million barrels per day have resumed flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, representing half of the volume stranded when the waterway was effectively shut. He pledged that the United States will fully reopen the strait, with or without Iran’s assistance.
Also developing:
By the numbers: EasyGroup acquires Svelta Courier to launch easyCourier
AMD Gains Ground on Intel as CPU and GPU Revenues Diverge, While Intel Leans Into AI Partnerships
AMD is expanding its share of the CPU and GPU market, bolstered by a $60 billion AI chip agreement with Meta, while Intel's revenue stalls despite a surge in its stock price above $60 as it pivots to AI‑focused foundry work and a partnership with Elon Musk’s Terafab project.
Progressive Sues to Deny Coverage for Fatal Truck Crash over Missing Safety System
Progressive filed a lawsuit on April 8 in federal court seeking a ruling that it owes nothing for a January 9, 2024 fatal crash involving a Freightliner Cascadia that lacked the Detroit Assurance Safety System. The insurer argues the missing technology and a...
Iran War Triggers Biggest Gas Price Jump in Six Decades, Fueling U.S. Inflation Surge
U.S. gasoline prices leapt 21% in March, the largest monthly increase in six decades, as the Iran war disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The surge drove consumer inflation to 3.3% year‑over‑year, raising concerns for the Federal Reserve...
Andon Market Opens as First Fully AI‑Managed Retail Store in Bay Area
Andon Market opened Friday in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow, operated solely by Luna, an artificial‑intelligence manager that hires staff, orders inventory and handles payments. The AI has full financial authority up to a $100,000 cap, putting autonomous decision‑making at the...
NozzlePro Rolls Out B2B E‑Commerce Storefront for Distributors
NozzlePro, a division of SuperKlean Washdown Products, launched an e‑commerce site on April 1 that lets distributors and end users purchase pressure‑wash nozzles directly. The upgrade promises instant ordering, standardized pricing and greater procurement transparency, signaling a shift toward direct‑to‑consumer channels...
MODEX 2026: ORBIS Showcases Packaging for Automated Systems
At MODEX 2026, ORBIS unveiled a suite of reusable packaging engineered for seamless integration with robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and autonomous material‑handling equipment. The showcase featured the 40 × 48 Odyssey pallet line, precision‑molded AROS totes, OpteBulk sleeve packs...
Iran Situation Update - A Show of Good Faith on Hormuz?
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Thursday to lead a delegation in cease‑fire negotiations with Iran, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and former White House adviser Jared Kushner. The talks come after Iran has ignored all...
Metal Shock: Gulf's Largest Aluminum Producer Declares Force Majeure
Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA), the Gulf’s largest aluminium producer, has declared force majeure on portions of its contract book after Iranian missile and drone strikes damaged its Al Taweelah smelter, forcing a shutdown. The outage removes roughly 4% of global aluminium...
Cellular IoT Antenna Shipments Hit 757m Units in 2025, Signalling a New Scaling Phase for Device Hardware
Berg Insight reports cellular IoT antenna shipments jumped 23% in 2025, reaching 757 million units. The surge signals that IoT hardware is moving from niche pilots to consumer‑electronics‑scale production. Antenna volumes, unlike module counts, map directly to the number of connected...
Paying Iran in Crypto Could Put Shippers at Sanctions Risk: Chainalysis
Shipping companies that consider paying Iran’s transit fees with cryptocurrency face heightened sanctions exposure, according to Chainalysis senior analyst Kaitlin Martin. Under U.S. and international sanctions, any crypto payment to the Iranian regime could be deemed material support, risking violations....
Piyush Goyal Holds Talks with Saudi Arabia Trade Minister on Stronger Supply Chains
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with Saudi Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi to reinforce supply‑chain links amid disruptions from the West Asia crisis. The dialogue, part of broader talks with UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, highlighted...
Why East Africa Fuel Crisis Will Linger After Iran War Ceasefire
East Africa's fuel shortage will persist despite a two‑week Gulf ceasefire, as the region depends on refined imports from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda's reserves are expected to run out by mid‑May, prompting rationing...
Circle and Setramar Launch Digital Logistics Project in Ravenna
Circle Group and Setramar have launched a joint digital logistics project at the Port of Ravenna, upgrading the terminal operating system (TOS) and transport management system (TMS). The initiative introduces electronic transport documents such as e‑CMR and e‑DDT to comply...
Schaeffler Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with ROKAE
Schaeffler and Chinese robotics firm ROKAE signed a strategic cooperation agreement on April 7 to co‑develop core components for humanoid robots, including joint modules. The partnership blends Schaeffler’s high‑performance sensors, harmonic drives and precision manufacturing with ROKAE’s full‑stack robotics expertise and...
Seeds | Henan State-Owned Assets + Luxshare Precision Jointly Invest in a 10-Billion-Yuan Robotics Company
EngineAI Robotics Technology Co. closed a $200 million Series B round, lifting its valuation above 10 billion yuan (≈$1.4 billion). The round was co‑led by Henan Investment Group’s Huirong Fund and Luxshare Precision, with participation from numerous state‑backed platforms and family offices. Henan plans...
Chery's First Overseas Operations Center Opens, European Localization Enters Functional Integration Phase
Chery Auto launched its first European Operations Center in Barcelona, paired with a Spanish research institute focused on electrification and smart mobility. The move marks a shift from market testing to systematic regional management, centralizing compliance, finance and supply‑chain functions....
Ukraine Can Play Useful Role in Strait of Hormuz, Britain Says
Britain says Ukraine can play a useful role in securing the Strait of Hormuz, praising its drone technology as among the world’s best. The UK has convened more than 30 nations to discuss reopening the strait after Iran’s blockade choked...
How Ottonomy Robots Are Mapping Last-Mile Delivery With Contextual AI
Ottonomy, a US‑based deep‑tech startup manufacturing in India, has raised $7.8 million to commercialize Contextual AI‑powered delivery robots for indoor‑outdoor logistics. Its two SKUs, Ottobot 2.0 and 3.0, can carry up to ten parcels per trip and adapt to hospitals, airports, malls...
Iran War Triggers Strait Toll, Helium Shortage and 20% U.S. Gas Spike, Stoking Global Inflation
The Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a new toll regime and choking oil‑linked supply chains. Helium shipments from Qatar, India’s LPG imports and U.S. gasoline prices have all surged, driving U.S. inflation up...
Amneal Sets $3.1B 2026 Revenue Target, Leverages GLP‑1 Manufacturing Partnership
Amneal Pharmaceuticals announced a 2026 revenue outlook of $3.05‑$3.10 billion, anchored by a manufacturing partnership with Pfizer for GLP‑1 therapies and a push toward complex injectables. The plan relies on a 20‑30 product launch cadence, margin discipline and a reduced net...
Mundra Becomes India's Largest Auto Export Hub, Adani Port Ships Record 6,008 Cars in Single Vessel
Mundra Port, operated by Adani’s APSEZ, set a national record by loading 6,008 cars onto a single roll‑on/roll‑off vessel, cementing its status as India’s largest auto export hub. The port now ships vehicles to more than 100 countries, reflecting the...
India Permits Iranian Oil Tankers to Berth for Reliance, Say Sources
India’s shipping ministry granted a one‑time exemption for four Iranian‑sanctioned tankers to berth at the western port of Sikka at the request of Reliance Industries. The decision follows a temporary U.S. waiver on Iranian oil purchases that expires on April 19,...
India's Hormuz Dependence Exceeds Global Average, Raising Energy Security Concerns
India's import routes for crude oil, natural gas and especially LPG rely on the Strait of Hormuz at rates higher than the global average, exposing a strategic vulnerability. Officials say diversification of supply sources and domestic gas expansion are under...
Handala Hackers Shift Focus to Water, Energy and Tourism, Raising CIO Cyber‑Risk Alarm
Iran‑linked hacker collective Handala announced a new campaign against water, energy and tourism infrastructure, following high‑profile attacks on medical‑tech firm Stryker and FBI director Kash Patel. The shift intensifies cyber‑risk concerns for CIOs tasked with protecting critical‑infrastructure supply chains.
Ascend Elements Files for Chapter 11, Erasing Nearly $900 Million in Investor Capital
Ascend Elements announced Chapter 11 bankruptcy, eliminating close to $900 million of capital that investors poured into its battery‑recycling venture. The filing follows a softening U.S. EV market, a revoked $316 million federal grant and mounting delays at its Kentucky plant.
“From Russia of All Places” — B.C. Premier Hits Out at U.S. Lumber Tariffs
British Columbia Premier David Eby used the BC Council of Forest Industries conference to condemn U.S. softwood lumber tariffs, urging American buyers to source timber from Canada rather than Europe or Russia. He noted that U.S. demand outstrips domestic production,...
PortSide Stories: Tema
The Port of Tema, Ghana’s largest container hub, processes millions of TEUs each year and serves as a key transshipment gateway for West Africa. Recent upgrades, including the expansion of Terminal 3, have boosted its handling capacity and attracted ultra‑large vessels....
India-Flagged LPG Tanker Jag Vikram Crosses Strait of Hormuz After US-Iran Ceasefire
India‑flagged LPG tanker Jag Vikram became the first Indian vessel to cross the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week ceasefire. The carrier, owned by Great Eastern Shipping, moved roughly 20,000 tonnes of LPG from the Gulf...
The China 5 Iran Shock Export Pivot and Tighter Control
The Iran‑Russia conflict forces China to buy oil at higher costs while it touts a vague peace plan, creating a logistics split where sea freight remains flat but air freight spikes nearly 95% on Asia‑Europe routes. Domestic demand weakness hits...
Americans May Be Stuck with $4 Gas for a While
U.S. drivers are now accustomed to paying around $4 per gallon as the Iran‑Israel conflict keeps the Strait of Hormuz largely closed. A two‑week cease‑fire was announced, but shipping firms still deem the waterway too risky, limiting oil tanker traffic...
Week in Review: Whither the Ceasefire
The episode examines the fallout from the tentative US‑Iran cease‑fire, focusing on how limited tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is keeping oil prices volatile despite market optimism. It highlights the logistical challenges, including Iran’s demand for $2 million cryptocurrency...
UP LPG Distributors Association Introduces 5 Kg Small LPG Cylinders for Labourers
The Ghaziabad LPG Distributors Association has begun distributing 5 kg LPG cylinders to address the cooking‑fuel needs of daily‑wage laborers, small families and temporary residents. Eighty‑five gas agencies in the district each received a quota of 50 cylinders, launching a rollout...
New Scheme in Works to Support Domestic Critical Mineral Processing Plants: Mines Secretary
India's Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal announced a new scheme to fund domestic critical mineral processing plants, initially targeting two minerals. The program will sit alongside existing specialty‑steel and battery‑manufacturing incentives. A public‑sector consortium will also submit bids for four Chilean...
China Industrial Automation & Robotics: The Convergence
China’s industrial automation and robotics sector has entered a rapid expansion phase as five converging forces reshape the market. Robot output rose nearly 30% year‑over‑year, while domestic manufacturers now command 57% of the local robot market. Humanoid robots surged 500%...
Energy‑GDP Link Means Hormuz Blockade Threatens Global Economy
Here is what data tells over 50 years of my tracking. Energy and world GDP track perfectly 1:1. Full shock incoming if Hormuz still stays choked. War not only risks global shortages, but exposes the fragility we’ve ignored. More information in the...
Thailand Feels Heat as Iran War Sparks Energy Shock
Iran’s war with Israel has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, choking the main oil transit route into Asia. Thailand, heavily reliant on imported crude, is experiencing an acute fuel shortage that is rippling through tourism, farming, street‑food...
Germany Mulls €1bn Emergency Gas Reserve for Two‑Week Supply
Good Morning from Germany, which is weighing a strategic natural gas reserve to protect supplies in a worst-case crisis. The proposed emergency reserve would total ~24TWh, equal to ~10% of the country’s gas storage capacity. In the event of a...
Japan Approves Additional 631.5 Billion Yen for Chipmaker Rapidus
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry approved an additional 631.5 billion yen (about $4.2 bn) for chipmaker Rapidus, bringing total government R&D support to 2.354 trillion yen (~$15.7 bn). The funding is aimed at accelerating Rapidus’s development of 2‑nanometre logic semiconductors, with mass...
Maharashtra Ends Cleaner Rule for Trucks, Brings Relief to Transporters
Maharashtra’s government issued a notification on April 10 ending the mandatory cleaner rule for most heavy motor vehicles. The change eliminates daily fines of ₹1,500 (≈$18) and reduces paperwork for truckers, with exemptions only for articulated and hydraulic trailers carrying oversized...
S Plus Production Slumps, Edge Model Likely Replacement
Galaxy S Plus is not lasting another generation. Might not even last this one. Production breakdown: S26 Ultra: 1.5 Million S26 Plus: 200K S26: 1.3 Million S26 Plus is getting dangerously close to S25 Edge level production. At this point I'd just launch the S26...
US-Israeli Conflict Severely Disrupts Gulf Fertil
Fertilizer flows from the Gulf continue to be disrupted. THE US-ISRAELI WAR ON IRAN = MAJOR DAMAGE. https://t.co/jiYKxSmV7U
‘Cancelling Orders’ in China: How Hormuz Oil Crisis Is Hitting Transport, Manufacturing
The reopening and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven Brent crude to $100‑$105 a barrel, inflating fuel and petroleum‑based raw material costs for Chinese manufacturers. Higher freight rates—up to four times normal—are prompting firms to delay or...
Hormuz Crisis: Shipping Stalled, Energy Flows Disrupted
The Strait of Hormuz isn’t “closed.” It’s worse than that. Shipping isn’t returning. Energy flows are broken. Confidence is gone. Dispatch 107 - Hormuz Reality Check, is out now. Exclusive to gCaptain Club Members: https://t.co/k7iXw2TSrB
AI Boosts Supply Chain Traceability and Transparency
Leverage #AI for Enhanced Traceability and Transparency in the #SupplyChain by @antgrasso #Logistics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #DL https://t.co/Nig6HIsyKj
US Intelligence Indicates China Preparing Weapons Shipment to Iran, CNN Reports
U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that China is preparing to deliver shoulder‑fired air‑defence missiles, specifically MANPAD systems, to Iran within the next few weeks. The shipment is expected to be routed through intermediary countries to obscure Beijing’s involvement. The development...
Norfolk Southern Restores Old Fort Loops After Hurricane
🥳 Norfolk Southern has run a train on the Old Fort Loops for the first time since the route was devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, marking the completion of rebuilding and repair to this section of the...
Three Supertankers Mark Record Oil Transit Day
Three supertankers appear to move through the Strait of Hormuz, in what may be the biggest day of oil transits since the start of the Iran war. https://t.co/3lv3KUtjOp
Japan Bets $16 Billion to Propel Rapidus in Global AI Chip Race
Japan approved an additional $4 billion in subsidies for Rapidus Corp., raising total government support to $16.3 billion through March 2027. The funding is earmarked to accelerate Rapidus’s AI chip production for early client Fujitsu and follows a positive review of its Hokkaido...
5‑Axis Toolpath Enables Seamless Spiral Deposition
Mesmerizing Time-Lapse of Smooth, Continuous Spiral Deposition with a 5-Axis Toolpath via @WevolverApp #EmergingTech #Innovation #TechForGood #Technology #Tech https://t.co/Z3hYSb3UNk
Fallout of War Piles Economic Pain Onto Europe’s Political Stress
Europe is increasingly isolated from its traditional partners—Russia, China and the United States—creating a perfect storm of economic strain. Russian sabotage and reduced oil flows have rattled energy security, while a flood of low‑cost Chinese goods is eroding manufacturing margins...