Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Logistics volatility declared permanent in 2026 State of Logistics Report
The report finds supply‑chain volatility now a permanent condition, with U.S. logistics costs falling to $2.4 trillion, or 7.8% of GDP, down from $2.6 trillion in 2025. Five structural forces—uneven global growth, tighter financial conditions, geoeconomic realignment, labor constraints, and energy price swings—drive the new normal, while AI and automation reshape operations.
Also developing:
By the numbers: US IDFC partners with Chubb on $20B maritime reinsurance plan
Trump Floats US Toll on Hormuz
President Donald Trump suggested the United States could levy tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that moves about 20 % of global oil and LNG. The proposal would require a U.S. military presence despite the strait lying mainly in Iranian and Omani waters, echoing earlier Trump rhetoric about controlling strategic chokepoints. At the same time, the strait has split into a dual‑corridor system, with a new southern route along Oman’s coast complementing the IRGC‑controlled northern lane. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has also blocked two Qatari LNG tankers, signaling heightened security risks.
Big-D Expands Construction Operations with FieldAI as Robotics Adoption Accelerates
US construction firm Big‑D Construction is scaling its partnership with robotics provider FieldAI, moving from pilot tests to broader deployment across multiple sites. FieldAI’s map‑free, GPS‑independent robots can perform inspection, documentation, and material handling, integrating with Big‑D’s existing digital platforms....
Black Sea Oil Hubs in Crosshairs After Drone Strikes
Ukraine intensified drone attacks on Russian oil export hubs in the Black Sea, striking the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk. The strikes damaged a single point mooring, loading infrastructure, four storage tanks, and six of seven berths at...
Stadler Withdraws Its Appeal Against the SBB Contract Awarded to Siemens
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has made the award of its double‑decker train contract to Siemens Mobility legally final after Stadler withdrew its appeal. The contract covers 116 trains, with an option for 84 more, and SBB projects savings of hundreds...
ATI Boosts Jet Engine Alloy Supply with New NC Furnace
ATI will add a new VIM furnace in North Carolina to expand nickel superalloy capacity for jet engine demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/ati-nickel-superalloy-capacity.html
India Secures Its First Ammonia Dual-Fuel Bulk Carrier Order
India’s Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) has secured its inaugural order for ammonia dual‑fuel vessels, signing a contract to construct four 92,500 dwt bulk carriers for Energy ONE Limited. The ships, 229.5 m long and 37 m wide, will feature South Korean‑designed...
Time to Price New Grain Amid Iran Conflict?
U.S. farmers face sharply higher fertilizer costs as anhydrous ammonia rose 30% and urea jumped nearly 47% between February and early April, driven by supply chain constraints, tariffs and the Iran conflict. The country relies heavily on imports for key...
Regional Blocs Form New Multi‑Hub Global Trade Order
In case you missed the posting of my new eBook over Easter weekend👇https://t.co/AzOGN20mu3 The April 2025 US tariffs triggered global trade conflict. This column introduces World War Trade: Conflict, Containment, and the Emergent World Trading Order, a new CEPR Rapid...
Serbia, Hungary and North Macedonia Sign MoU with Focus on BuBe Railway
Serbian rail freight operator Srbija Kargo, Hungary’s Rail Cargo Hungaria and North Macedonia’s railway signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a synchronized rail service focused on the Budapest‑Belgrade line. The corridor, opened for freight in February, is positioned as...
Secretive Eskom Gets Walloped in Court by AfriForum
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal upheld a high‑court order compelling state utility Eskom to disclose all coal and diesel supply contracts after a four‑year legal battle by civil‑rights group AfriForum. The court rejected Eskom’s blanket claim that the agreements...
Peter Döhle Extends Boxship Run with Chengxi Contract
German shipowner Peter Döhle Schiffahrts has placed an order for two 3,100‑TEU feeder vessels at China’s Chengxi Shipyard, each priced around $48 million with delivery slated for 2029. The contract extends a series of recent boxship orders in China, including four...
Australian Government Brings Forward $6.15B to Support Manufacturing and Business Resilience
The Australian government has fast‑tracked AU$6.15 billion (~US$4.1 billion) of concessional finance to shore up manufacturing and supply‑chain resilience. The package bundles a AU$1 billion (~US$660 million) Economic Resilience Program, a AU$5 billion (~US$3.3 billion) Net Zero Fund, and a AU$150 million (~US$99 million) Forestry Growth Fund under...
Grower Group Makes Plea to Supermarkets over Price Increases
The National Farmers Federation’s Horticulture Council has sent an open letter to Australia’s major supermarkets, demanding a swift response to supplier price‑increase requests triggered by the oil crisis. Rising fuel and freight costs, with surcharges reaching up to 65% of...
Carlova Expands Tankers Newbuild Slate
Carlova Maritime is expanding its tanker fleet by ordering a second 300,000‑dwt VLCC from South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, slated for delivery in Q3 2029, and securing an early‑construction slot for a 114,000‑dwt Aframax at China’s Hengli Heavy Industries for Q2 2028. The...
Fuel Crunch: Does Australia Have Enough Cards to Keep up Supply?
Australia faces a fuel crunch as global oil supplies dip 20% and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The government has secured enough refined fuel to last until May, but without sizable domestic stockpiles it must lean on alternative sources,...
Lahori Zeera Targets ₹1,300 Crore Revenue in FY27; Expands Capacity, Pushes South India Entry
Chandigarh‑based Lahori Zeera, part of Archian Foods, is targeting ₹1,200‑₹1,300 crore (approximately $145‑$157 million) in revenue by FY27, up from ₹770‑₹780 crore ($93‑$94 million) in FY26. To achieve this, the company is adding five third‑party bottling units in Bihar, Bengaluru, Muzaffarnagar, Agra and Bhopal,...
THE ARMAGEDDON PRESS CONFERENCE: DONALD TRUMP AT WAR
Former President Donald Trump held a press conference demanding Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a 24‑hour air campaign that could cripple Iran’s power plants, bridges and desalination facilities. The analysis outlines three possible paths: a forceful seizure of...
New Government Commercial Agency Launches DOS 7
The Government Commercial Agency (GCA) launched Digital Outcomes and Specialists 7 (DOS 7) shortly after its formation on 1 April, merging the previous DOS 6 and Digital Specialists agreements. DOS 7 uses an open‑framework model that reopens every 18 months, allowing new suppliers to join and...
Zeus Adds Catheter Components to Chamfr Marketplace
Zeus, a global polymer and catheter manufacturer, has added over 100 liner and heat‑shrink components to Chamfr’s online marketplace. The catalog now includes PTFE liners, FEP heat‑shrink tubing and the FluoroPEELZ peelable shrink, giving engineers on‑demand access to critical materials....
Novatek Creates Shipbuilding Arm
Novatek, Russia's largest independent gas producer, has launched a shipbuilding subsidiary, Severny Inzhiniring, to build and maintain ice‑class LNG carriers and condensate tankers. The move aims to circumvent Western sanctions that have cut off access to Asian yards like Hanwha...
Flags of Convenience: The Hidden System Behind Global Shipping
The podcast explains how flags of convenience let ship owners register vessels in countries like Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands, regardless of any real connection. This practice began in the 1910s to dodge U.S. Prohibition and labor laws, then...
Designing Supply Chains for Measurable ROI, Improved Automation
Warehouse leaders are rushing into robotics and high‑density storage without first defining success metrics, cleaning processes, or ensuring data integrity. This strategic misalignment leaves 92% of supply‑chain executives reporting that automation investments fall short of expected ROI. Experts advise a...
Precision Measurement at the Heart of Advanced Optoelectronics
Crytur, a Czech maker of synthetic crystals for optoelectronic and optomechanical assemblies, has equipped its quality‑control labs with a fleet of high‑end Mitutoyo measuring machines. The company uses STRATO‑Apex coordinate measuring machines, ROUNDTEST circularity gauges, and Quick Vision visual systems...
Event to Spotlight Distributed Large Volume Metrology for Dynamic Manufacturing
The National Physical Laboratory and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre are hosting a one‑day workshop on 11 May 2026 in Sheffield to accelerate adoption of Distributed Large Volume Metrology (DLVM). The event will present NPL’s new dynamic performance test method and feature...
MATS 2026 Showcases Industry Strength in Louisville
The Mid‑America Trucking Show (MATS) returned to Louisville for its 54th edition, drawing thousands of carriers, suppliers and fleet managers. Exhibitors showcased heavy‑duty trailers, advanced driver‑seat ergonomics, wear‑resistant liners and connectivity platforms aimed at boosting efficiency and uptime. Hands‑on demos...
East Coast Tour Bus Operators Face Shutdown over Diesel Price Hike
Around 1,000 East Coast Malaysian tour‑bus operators, excluded from the Subsidised Diesel Control System, face possible shutdown after diesel surged to RM6.02 per litre (about $1.32). Rental fees jumped 30‑40%, pushing a Kota Bharu‑Kuala Lumpur round‑trip from RM3,000 to RM5,000 (≈$660‑$1,100), prompting...
Prepare Now: 2026 Hormuz Shock Will Upend Budgets
We‘ve Only Just Begun in the words of Carol Carpenter. This is a long game. Risk managers need to be preparing their boards now for a traumatic 2026. Ditch your budget from 2025 and your growth targets. Run a strategy...
China's Secret Grip on Strait of Hormuz Challenges US
🤔😱😨I just heard something that left my head spinning: China has outmaneuvered the US and seized effective control over the Strait of Hormuz. If true, it explains why direct military action against Iran won’t reopen the strait, why the Trump team is...
SPEED Wins Three Awards for Procurement Technology
Malaysia’s digital procurement platform SPEED, operated by CDC International, secured three industry awards in April 2026, including Excellence in Computer Software and Initiative in Digital Transformation Consulting at the Malaysia National Business Awards, and Enterprise Software for Government Organisations at...
Amazon Updates MCF and Buy with Prime Packaging Starting April 1
Amazon is updating packaging defaults for Multi‑Channel Fulfillment (MCF) and Buy with Prime orders in the United States, with changes rolling out from April 1 through April 30. Packing slips will no longer be included unless sellers opt in, and...
Ukrainian Troops Flew a Cat and a Dog 7.5 Miles by Drone to Evacuate Them From the Front Lines, Animal...
Ukrainian troops used a small FPV drone to transport a cat and a dog 7.5 miles from the front lines to a shelter, according to animal‑rights group UAnimals. The operation followed the injury of a soldier who had been caring...
Bridal Manufacturers Face Tariffs and Rising Prices Amid Strong Appetite for Wedding Gowns
U.S. bridal manufacturers are grappling with rising fabric costs and 15‑20% tariff‑driven price hikes, yet designers like Sareh Nouri maintain stable pricing by emphasizing American‑made quality. The wedding market remains robust, projected to exceed $100 billion in 2025, with average dress...
Tariffs Causing Companies to Rethink Logistics Networks
Tariff volatility in 2025 prompted U.S. importers to front‑load shipments, with 85.6% of surveyed cargo owners moving cargo ahead of duty hikes. While 52.3% avoided higher tariffs, the strategy raised storage costs and strained working capital for over 40% of...
Air Liquide Launches Advanced Materials Plant in Taiwan – Just Now, the Chemistry Behind AI Chips Is Becoming a Strategic...
On March 25, 2026 Air Liquide inaugurated its first large‑scale advanced materials plant in Taichung, Taiwan, dedicated to deposition and etch chemicals essential for sub‑2 nm semiconductor nodes. The facility focuses on atomic‑layer‑deposition precursors needed for AI and high‑performance‑computing chips. The launch...
Iran War Delays Vital Reproductive Aid for Women Across the Globe
Disruptions from the Iran war are delaying critical reproductive health supplies to more than a dozen countries, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Shipments of labor‑room equipment, surgical tools, assisted‑delivery devices and over 1.2 million male condoms for 45...
‘Global First’ in London Tram Track Renewals
London’s tram network has completed a world‑first automated track renewal, replacing 5 km of line while keeping services running. The new system installed pre‑fabricated track panels in just 12 weeks, slashing typical downtime from days to a few hours. The project, costing...
Ocado Calls Police on Trade Show Booth After Patent Injunction
Ocado, the UK‑based online grocery leader, secured a German preliminary injunction against Brightpick's Gridpicker technology, alleging patent infringement. The company brought police to Brightpick's LogiMAT trade‑show booth to enforce the order, forcing the startup to halt its live demo. Brightpick...
EU Lumber Exports to UAE Slid 14% — Then the Strait of Hormuz Closed
European lumber exports to the UAE fell 14% in January, dropping to 29,500 cubic metres, while the average price rose 6% to $332 per cubic metre, 20% above a year earlier. The decline coincides with the closure of the Strait...
The Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) Playbook for 2026
Supply chain talent scarcity is driving salaries higher, rewarding CSCOs who can deliver resilience and visibility. However, 2026 brings a paradox: confidence can breed misallocation, as firms pour money into numerous resilience projects and AI tools without rigorous proof. Executives...
Floating Ports of the Future
Michael Priv, founder of Blue Vector Ocean Alliance, proposes modular floating ports as a sustainable alternative to traditional, dredge‑dependent terminals. These anchorless platforms use ballast tanks, thrusters and renewable energy to maintain precise positioning while avoiding seabed impact. Integrated eco‑restorative...
Panama Canal Remains Open Despite Shore Tank Explosion
Okay...the Panama Canal is not closed. They halted traffic through the canal at the north end, but shipping is still moving under the Bridge of Americas. MV Luna Maersk is outbound right now. The explosion appears to have come...
American Hardwoods Are Finding a New Home in India and Vietnam
A three‑day inbound trade mission organized by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and SUSTA brought Indian and Vietnamese hardwood buyers to three Appalachian mills, resulting in multiple export contracts. U.S. hardwood shipments to India reached a record $12.28 million in...
Oil Price Shock Boosts March Prices-Paid PMIs
An oil‑price shock linked to escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed the combined prices‑paid indexes for the March ISM Manufacturing and Non‑Manufacturing PMIs back to late‑2022 levels. The surge signals that both producer‑price and consumer‑price inflation are...
Allies’ Trust in U.S. Plummets, Eyes Turn Away
It will be a while before America can look another ally directly in the eye Source: Visual Capitalist https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/ig02-countries-losing-trust-in-the-u-s/
CATL Appoints Former Zijin Mining Founder as Mining Adviser
Top EV battery maker CATL has tapped the founder and ex-chairman of Zijin Mining as an adviser for its growing mining business, according to people familiar with the matter https://t.co/bIslk5SVG8
Demand Forecasting Is Only First Step in Supply Chain
Forecasting customer demand is just the start. You also need to map out the raw materials and components required for production. For example, making an iPhone involves sourcing thousands of parts – from chips to glass. #SupplyChain #Procurement #DemandForecasting https://t.co/zBDBcUm8Py
Strait Opening Won’t Quickly Resolve Aluminum Supply Disruptions
The opening of the strait doesn't automatically fix the supply problems. As with oil - aluminium. EGA's is saying its giant aluminum plant could take a year to start back up after the strikes a few days ago. The strikes...
China Buys Iran's Oil, Sustaining Sanctions‑busting War Funding
How China Helped Iran Cushion the Blow of Sanctions and Fund Its War Machine—Over the past half decade, China has provided Iran with a financial lifeline by buying most of its oil @RoryWSJ @BrianSpegele @austinramzy https://t.co/36s4JdH6hU https://t.co/36s4JdH6hU
Foldable iPhone Faces Engineering Snags, May Delay Shipments
Ouch for Apple. Another big scoop from @Lauly_Th_Li & @ChengTingFang from @NikkeiAsia Foldable iPhone hits engineering snags, shipment delays possible: sources https://t.co/8cqnC2fxl4
IRGC Aims to Block Qatari LNG, Boost US Supply
Ok, I get it, so...the IRGC wants to choke China and help the US LNG industry by preventing Qatari LNG from reaching China. https://t.co/ERTjvf1YSU