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
Adapting, Evolving to Serve a Changing Market
Greenbrier is accelerating vertical integration and footprint flexibility to counter pandemic‑era supply chain shocks. The company completed a new insourcing facility in ten months, boosting in‑house steel processing by 225% at its Mexico plant. Proximity to suppliers improved, with 52% now within a 40‑mile radius, while CO₂ emissions fell roughly 45 tons per month. These moves position Greenbrier to mitigate tariff volatility and sustain railcar production across North America.
Hyundai Turns to Cape of Good Hope to Avoid Strait of Hormuz
Hyundai Motor Co. is rerouting its cargo ships around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran‑Israel conflict, adding several weeks of lead time. The automaker has shifted to weekly supply‑chain meetings and higher...
Evergreen Adds to Order Book with Deal for Six 24,000-TEU Vessels
Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine announced a contract for six ultra‑large 24,000‑TEU container ships to be built at South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean shipyard. The LNG‑fuelled vessels are valued between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion, bringing Evergreen’s cumulative spend on new ships since November to...
CSconnected Extends Deadline for Fourth Funding Round of Supply Chain Development Program
CSconnected, the world’s first compound‑semiconductor cluster, has pushed back the deadline for the fourth and final round of its £1 million (≈$1.25 million) supply‑chain development programme to 4 pm on 23 April, six days later than originally planned. The programme, co‑funded by UKRI’s Strength...
Powering the North American Economy
Canadian National Railway (CN) highlighted its recent completion of a multi‑year investment cycle that added significant capacity at a lower cost per unit. The railway has focused on operational productivity, delivering faster, more resilient service as supply chains and trade...
Flexible, Agile, Growing—And Safe
BNSF highlighted a year of record operational gains, cutting railcar dwell time by three hours and delivering a 10% network velocity boost in 2025. The railroad added over 60,000 service days across 615 customer sites while maintaining its decade‑long safety...
MODEX 2026: Toyota Industries Corporation Announces Global Leadership of Toyota Automated Logistics
Toyota Industries Corp. announced Toyota Automated Logistics (TAL), a new global warehouse‑automation business that consolidates Bastian Solutions, Vanderlande’s warehousing unit, and viastore under a single brand. The company appointed Hitoshi Matsuoka as global CEO, Thomas Hibinger as CEO for EMEA/APAC, and...
Exol Launches U.S. Robotic Fulfillment Network with Six Sites
Exol announced the launch of a U.S. robotic fulfillment network, beginning with a fully‑occupied California site and a one‑million‑square‑foot facility in Atlanta. The company plans to operate six locations totaling six million square feet, backed by SoftBank Group and Symbotic...
A Silver Lining in the Stormy Digital Cloud
The October AWS outage and November Cloudflare disruption highlighted how cloud failures can instantly erode revenue, customer trust, and brand reputation. The article argues that these incidents are a procurement wake‑up call, urging firms to embed redundancy, clear recovery metrics,...
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Launches India-US Trade Facilitation Portal
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri inaugurated the India‑US Trade Facilitation Portal during a virtual event in Washington, marking a concrete step toward deepening commercial ties. The portal is designed to streamline interactions between Indian and American firms, reinforcing existing supply chains...
FedEx Freight Sets Goalposts for Standalone Business
FedEx Freight outlined its standalone strategy ahead of a June 1 spin‑off from FedEx Corp, positioning the pure‑play LTL carrier for focused growth. Management forecast 4‑6% revenue CAGR and 10‑12% adjusted operating‑income growth, targeting a mid‑term operating margin of roughly...
MODEX 2026: Jacobi Robotics, ABB Robotics Collaborate to Bring AI-Powered Palletizing to ABB’s Integrator Network
Jacobi Robotics and ABB Robotics announced a partnership to embed Jacobi’s OmniPalletizer AI software into ABB’s robotics hardware and software suite. The integration offers ABB’s global network of system integrators a repeatable, brownfield‑ready solution for mixed‑case palletizing without the need...
Kenya Retains Control of Sugar Imports Despite End of Comesa Safeguards
Kenya ended its 24‑year COMESA sugar safeguard regime in November 2025, shifting to a duty‑free framework for COMESA and EAC partners while retaining licensing controls. Retail sugar prices fell to $1.28 per kilogram in March 2026, down from $1.42 in...
Amazon Cuts USPS Deliveries By 20%, Deal Averts Deeper Postal Crisis
Amazon announced a new agreement with the U.S. Postal Service that trims its package volume by 20%, leaving roughly 80% of deliveries intact. The deal safeguards about $6 billion in annual revenue for USPS, which operates on an $80 billion budget and...
Rainforest Distribution Opens Fort Pierce, FL Facility, Expanding Coverage
Rainforest Distribution opened a 62,817‑square‑foot distribution center in Fort Pierce, Florida, featuring ambient, refrigerated and frozen temperature zones. The site gives the company access to 37 % of Florida’s population within two hours and 92 % within four hours. It expands Rainforest’s...
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration Against Maersk Over Panama Canal Port Dispute
Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison has initiated arbitration in London against Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller‑Maersk, accusing the carrier of breaching a contract by collaborating with Panama to replace Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company as operator of the Balboa terminal. The...
Advanced Packaging Forces US Chips Back to Taiwan
Choke Points: Why even the best chips made in the U.S. take a round trip to Taiwan? It’s because of Advanced Packaging facility… World has woken up to the supply chain choke points… Katie Tarasov @KatieTarasov of CNBC explains moe...
Alaskan Legislators Pass Resolution Urging Continued Ban on Russian Seafood Imports
Alaska’s Senate passed a resolution urging the federal government to keep and strengthen the ban on Russian seafood imports that President Biden first imposed in 2022 and expanded in 2023. Lawmakers argue Russian subsidies and lax environmental standards keep fish...
Ocean Alliance Launches Direct Container Service with Jacksonville
Ocean Alliance has launched the Chesapeake Bay Express (CBX), a weekly direct container service linking Jacksonville’s JAXPORT with major Asian ports in Vietnam, China, South Korea and Japan. The service is jointly operated by four of the world’s top‑10 carriers—CMA CGM,...
Think You Know Where Most US Oil Comes From? It's Changed Drastically Over The Last 30 Years
Canada now provides more than half of U.S. petroleum imports, delivering 4.42 million barrels per day, while traditional Middle‑East sources have dwindled to single‑digit shares. A surge in domestic output, especially from Texas and the Dakotas, has turned the United States...
Samsung, SK Hynix Secure Long-Term U.S. Helium Supply Deals
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have secured long‑term helium supply agreements with Germany's Linde and U.S. Air Products, shifting their procurement to U.S. sources. The contracts were accelerated after Iran’s attacks on Qatar’s Ras Laffan complex raised fears of a...
Don’t Call It a Comeback: Can Containerboard Still Rebound in 2026?
Containerboard producers trimmed roughly 10% of North American capacity in 2025, hoping to correct a multi‑year oversupply. Early 2026 data showed modest demand upticks, but the Iran‑Israel conflict that began in February reignited fuel and logistics cost pressures, dampening optimism....
Trump Announces 50% Tariffs on Nations Supplying Iran With Weapons
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the United States will impose an immediate 50% tariff on all imports from any country that supplies Iran with military weapons, without any exemptions. The declaration came hours after a cease‑fire agreement...
Iranian Media Reports Passage Of Oil Tankers Stopped In Strait Of Hormuz After Israeli Strikes On Lebanon; Trump Calls Lebanon...
Iranian state media reported that several oil tankers were stopped in the Strait of Hormuz after Israel launched strikes on Lebanon, prompting concerns over a sudden disruption of a key shipping lane. President Donald Trump responded on social media, describing...
Taiwan Chip Industry Calls for Helium, LNG Reserves Amid Iran War Risks
The Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) urged the Taiwanese government to build strategic reserves of helium and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and to consider reopening nuclear power plants. The call follows heightened risk that the ongoing Iran‑related conflict could choke...
Virginia Governor Signs 4 Laws Establishing Manufacturing Grant Programs
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed four bills establishing manufacturing grant funds that together allocate up to $448 million toward new projects. The grants support Avio USA’s solid‑rocket motor plant, Hitachi Energy’s transformer facility, Eli Lilly’s active‑pharmaceutical‑ingredient site, and AstraZeneca’s drug‑manufacturing complex. Combined,...
Trump’s New Pharmaceutical Tariffs Will Hit Small Drugmakers Hardest
The Trump administration revived pharmaceutical tariffs, imposing a 100% base duty on imported patented drugs and their active ingredients. While generic medicines and UK imports are exempt, firms with Most Favored Nation (MFN) agreements—such as Pfizer and Eli Lilly—are shielded, and...
FTL or LTL? How to Choose the Right Shipping Mode
Choosing between Full Truckload (FTL) and Less‑Than‑Truckload (LTL) hinges on shipment size, delivery speed, and product sensitivity. FTL becomes cost‑effective when a load fills most of a trailer—typically 10 to 12 pallets—or when handling oversized or high‑value items that require...
Iran Conflict and Tariffs Push U.S. Import Volumes Down While Fuel Costs Rise, Reports Port Tracker
U.S. container imports dropped 7.5% in February to 1.95 million TEU, reflecting the combined impact of higher fuel costs tied to the Iran‑Hormuz conflict and a series of new tariffs. The NRF and Hackett Associates report projects modest recovery in May‑June...
Shipping Stalls in Hormuz Until Iran Halts Attacks
The last plot is through 9:43 AM ET today (April 8th). It is on track to be the highest of the last month. Again, this has to go to zero for shipping to start moving through the Strait. Note that the uptick...
Taking the Jobs Humans Don’t Want: The Ironic Promise of the Humanoid Robot
Humanoid robots, such as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, are moving from labs to auto factories, with Hyundai showcasing a $250,000 unit that can work two shifts and plans to build 30,000 units per year by 2028. Proponents argue the machines will...
Palmetto Railways Advances Camp Hall Industrial Project
Palmetto Railways, a South Carolina Department of Commerce short‑line, is nearing completion of a 23‑mile industrial rail corridor serving the 6,800‑acre Camp Hall Commerce Park. The $190 million project, 75% finished, will link Volvo Cars’ facility and other tenants to CSX...
Trump Again Proposes Eliminating Manufacturing Extension Partnership
President Donald Trump’s FY 2027 budget proposal seeks to eliminate the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a NIST‑run program that aids small and medium‑sized manufacturers. The cut is part of a broader $993 million reduction to NIST, which would also scrap its Circular...
America's Fastest Highway Could Become A Hotbed For Driverless Semis
Texas State Highway 130, the nation’s fastest 85‑mph corridor, is becoming a testing ground for driverless semi‑trucks. Companies including Einride, Aurora Innovation and Waymo aim to begin trials by late 2026, leveraging the road’s low traffic and high speed. The SH 130...
Supermicro 'Committed to Protecting America’s Advanced Technologies and Intellectual Property' As Investigation Into Former Employees over Alleged AI Tech Shipments...
Supermicro, a leading U.S. server maker, is under investigation after three former employees were charged with conspiring to ship AI servers to China in violation of export laws. The DOJ alleges that between 2024 and 2025 the employees facilitated about...
Misinformation Swirls as Iran Denies Strait of Hormuz Traffic
How long will this last? The misinformation around this conflict is crazy. First ships were passing through strait of Hormuz; now Iran saying they aren’t. 😵🙄
Iran Limits Hormuz Traffic to 12 Ships Daily
Iran. Controlling the Strait of Hormuz. Permit a dozen ships a day. Clearing the backlog of ships stuck in the Strait and waiting to enter. How long to rest “normal”?
Trump's Iran Ceasefire Is a Win for Iran
After six weeks of intense fighting, the United States and Iran agreed to a cease‑fire that hands operational control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran and Oman, which will now charge $2 million per ship. The conflict left thousands dead,...
Key Takeaways From UK PEM Rules of Origin Review
A couple of points on the recently published outcome of the call for evidence on UK rejoining PEM rules of origin agreement. (This time not on origin). /1 https://t.co/p137Tj946v
Guest Joins Leah and RoadDogTrucking for Freight Forward Update
That was fun. Thank you again to Leah and @RoadDogTrucking for having me on the show to share this week's Freight Forward news. 😀 Just in case, here's the link to the latest Freight Forward...https://t.co/p8546eE6u3
Ceasefire Changes Little for Shipping in Strait of Hormuz, Experts Say
A two‑week conditional cease‑fire between the United States and Iran includes a provision to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran announced it will allow safe passage only for vessels that obtain explicit permission, warning that unauthorized ships will be...
Market Will Adjust to Iran’s Transit Fee Pressure
Let’s assume Iran will impose a hefty transit fee, creating incentive for others to build new pipelines. It also increases pressure for the world to diversify their energy supply. -> the market will "solve" this over medium term regardless...
Iran's Hormuz Closure Raises Global Energy Security Concerns
Iran has closed the Strait. What can be done with their having control of Hormuz? What is next?
Pen Aviation, Nandina REM Pave the Way for rCF in Flight in UAV/UAS Platforms
Pen Aviation and Singapore‑based Nandina REM are accelerating the use of recycled carbon fiber (rCF) in UAV and UAS platforms. By leveraging risk‑proportionate certification frameworks such as SORA, Pen can integrate rCF without the full data set required for type‑certified...
Rusal Redirects Aluminum From China to Japan Amid Iran Conflict
Exclusive: Rusal plans to reroute aluminum from China to Japan as Iran conflict reshapes trade, sources say https://t.co/Rn0kOg7gVj
Pipeline Attack Exposes Ceasefire Fragility and Oil Risk
SAUDI ARABIA's East-West pipeline attacked - underscoring fragility of ceasefire and threat to oil supplies without a durable end to hostilities: https://t.co/aWAqTMRNY7
X-Bow Secures RATO Kits Contract for AEVEX Disruptor Drone
X‑Bow Systems has secured a $12.2 million contract with defence firm AEVEX to supply rocket‑assisted take‑off (RATO) kits for the Disruptor drone. The agreement calls for hundreds of kits and thousands of solid‑rocket motors to be delivered between March and August...
Tolls on Iran, Oman, DJT
Well, an Iranian toll -- Or an Iranian, Omani and DJT toll -- Would create a financial incentive to build this alternative export infrastructure for the GCC's oil and (more difficult) gas
What’s Behind Tehran’s Tollbooth?
Iran briefly shut the Strait of Hormuz and began levying steep fees on transiting tankers, effectively turning the waterway into a tollbooth. Although a ceasefire has been brokered, the fee‑collection mechanism remains active, targeting vessels that are not subject to...
Merck Adjusts Its Vaccine Supply Deal in China; Soleno Withdraws EU Application
Merck and its Chinese partner Zhifei have revised their COVID‑19 vaccine supply agreement, lowering the committed volume and adding a flexible delivery schedule to reflect waning demand. The updated contract preserves Zhifei’s exclusive distribution rights but shifts risk back to...