Today's Supply Chain Pulse
GM Defense and Lockheed Martin forge manufacturing partnership to boost U.S. defense capacity
GM Defense and Lockheed Martin have signed a manufacturing collaboration aimed at expanding U.S. defense production capacity. The alliance will blend GM’s automotive manufacturing expertise with Lockheed’s defense systems to strengthen domestic supply chains.
Also developing:
By the numbers: US IDFC partners with Chubb on $20B maritime reinsurance plan
Ocean7 Ranger Is Burns Harbor’s First Ocean Vessel of the 2026 International Shipping Season
Ports of Indiana‑Burns Harbor kicked off the 2026 international shipping season with the arrival of the Ocean7 Ranger, a 10,500‑dwt Liberian‑flagged general cargo vessel operated by Germany’s Hammonia Reederei. After a 52‑day voyage from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the ship delivered a 63‑ton dewatering drum to U.S. Steel’s Gary Works, highlighting the port’s role in supporting North America’s largest steel mill. The St. Lawrence Seaway opened on March 22 after a record‑short 69‑day winter closure, marking one of the briefest shutdowns in history. Port officials emphasized that extending the shipping window with icebreakers and new technologies could boost the Great Lakes economy.
PennDOT Accepting Unsolicited Proposals for Transportation Projects
Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Office of Public‑Private Partnerships is accepting unsolicited proposals for transportation projects through 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2026. The agency runs two solicitation windows each year—in April and October—to invite private‑sector ideas for state‑owned infrastructure across all...
OPEC+ Flags Rising Threats to Oil and Energy Security
OPEC+ warned that attacks on energy infrastructure and disruptions to maritime routes are heightening market volatility and jeopardizing global oil supply stability. In its April 5 statement, the coalition—including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Russia and Iraq—highlighted the high cost and long...
ONE Applies Fuel Surcharge for Land Transportation in Latin America
Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced a new inland fuel surcharge for land transportation across Latin America, citing fuel supply disruptions linked to Middle East instability. The charge, which varies by country and cargo type, ranges from $10 per container in...
Lift Truck Tips: How to Right Size Your Fleet Through Utilization Metrics
Lift‑truck fleet right‑sizing has moved from guesswork to data‑driven decisions, leveraging telemetry and warehouse management systems to capture real‑time utilization metrics. Key performance indicators such as overall utilization, lift‑to‑travel ratios, and maintenance histories enable managers to match equipment type and...
Miebach and Solventure Partner to Address the Execution Gap in Supply Chain Planning
Miebach Consulting and Solventure have formed a strategic partnership to close the execution gap that many firms face after investing in advanced supply‑chain planning tools. The collaboration shifts focus from technology deployment to strengthening data, orchestration, and decision‑making layers that...
Packaging Corner: The Wood Pallet Vs. Plastic Pallet Conversation
Wood pallets have long been the supply‑chain workhorse, but plastic alternatives are gaining traction as automation expands and hygiene standards tighten. IMARC Group projects the global plastic‑pallet market to grow from $7.1 billion in 2025 to $10.4 billion by 2034, driven by...
This 28-Year-Old College Dropout Has Raised $24 Million to Fix a Military Problem ‘Nobody Was Thinking About’
Peter Goldsborough, a former Facebook AI researcher and chief engineer at Anduril, co‑founded Rune Technologies and secured a $24 million Series A round to address military logistics. Rune’s flagship product, TyrOS, combines real‑time inventory data with predictive analytics to keep troops supplied...
MSC, MarinTrust Seek Feedback on Revisions to Chain of Custody Standards
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has launched a 60‑day public consultation, running until 30 May 2026, to revise its Chain of Custody Standard. The overhaul will merge the three existing versions into a single, clearer document, tighten audit consistency, and introduce mandatory...
HMM CEO Visits TTI Algeciras as Terminal Expansion Gets Green Light
South Korean carrier HMM’s chief executive Won Hyok Choi visited the TTI Algeciras terminal, the first senior‑leadership visit since CMA Terminals joined the ownership group. The Port Authority approved a €150 million ($162 million) expansion, adding 15.9 hectares in Phase B and extending the...
West Asia Conflict: Indian Refiners to Delay Maintenance Shutdowns
India, with over 258 mtpa refining capacity, is postponing most maintenance shutdowns to safeguard domestic diesel, petrol and jet‑fuel supplies amid the West Asia conflict. Only Nayara Energy’s 20 mtpa Vadinar refinery will undergo a scheduled 35‑day maintenance window starting April 9‑10, as...
NY Fed Says March Supply Chain Pressures Highest Since Start of 2023
The New York Federal Reserve’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index rose to 0.68 in March, up from 0.54 in February, marking the highest level since early 2023. The increase follows a peak of 4.49 in December 2021, but remains well...
Tackling Microplastics, Safer Nuclear, Massive Battery Recycling Deal
In the latest Current Climate: 🫗Cracking down on microplastics in drinking water ⚛️A cheaper, safer form of nuclear power 🔋A $1.1 billion deal to get nickel and lithium from a “black mass” of recycled battery waste https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/04/06/a-move-to-crack-down-on-microplastics/
Hormuz Oil Flows Remain Severely Reduced, Markets Underestimate Recovery
Hormuz flows aren't coming back to normal despite what you hear, says @CroftHelima Transit will be a fraction of pre-war levels because Iran’s leverage depends on keeping energy markets tight. And even after a deal, the road back is long. Markets are...
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Halt Russian Oil Exports as Odesa Strike Kills Three
Ukrainian long‑range drones knocked out Russia’s Novorossiysk Black Sea terminal and Baltic ports Ust‑Luga and Primorsk, halting roughly 20% of Moscow’s crude exports and costing the Kremlin an estimated $1 bn. At the same time, a Russian missile strike on Odesa...
Intel Boosts Fab 9 and Fab 11X Spending with $500M CHIPS Act Grant and Billions of Internal Capital
Intel announced a major increase in capital spending for its Fab 9 and Fab 11X facilities, tapping a $500 million CHIPS Act grant and billions of internal cash. The move underpins a push to scale advanced chip packaging, a business the...
Foxconn Q1 Revenue Jumps 30% on AI Demand, Flags Middle East Volatility
Foxconn posted a 29.7% year‑on‑year revenue increase to T$2.13 trillion ($66.6 bn) in Q1 2026, powered by surging AI‑related orders. The company cautioned that volatile Middle‑East geopolitics could pressure future growth.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Shut Russia’s Black Sea Oil Hub as Russian Shelling Kills Three in Odesa
Ukrainian forces launched a swarm of more than 50 drones that disabled the Sheskharis terminal in Novorossiysk, cutting roughly 20% of Russia’s crude exports. At the same time, a Russian missile strike on Odesa killed three people, including a child,...
Packaging Shift Lets Amazon, Google Embrace Intel Foundry
Pat’s Law of Something: All major vendors and suppliers are always in talks and testing. I do think this will move forward, though. Packaging is an easier commitment than wafers as it doesn’t force a redesign. Not easy but just...
Ukrainian Drone Swarm Halts Russia’s Black Sea Oil Hub, Costs $1 B
Ukrainian forces launched more than 50 long‑range drones against Russia’s Novorossiysk oil terminal, shutting down roughly 20% of the country’s crude exports and prompting a $1 billion hit to Moscow’s war chest. The strike coincided with a Russian artillery attack that...
COSCO Starts Containerised Bitumen Shipments From Yangpu Port
On April 5, COSCO Shipping Lines launched the first dedicated containerised bitumen service between China and Thailand. The inaugural shipment consisted of 20 twenty‑foot tank containers loaded onto the 1,170‑TEU vessel GH River, departing Yangpu port on Hainan Island for...
Hesitation From Port Authorities Slows Automation in Southern California
Port authorities in Southern California are stalling approvals for terminal automation, even though the ILWU‑PMA agreement has guaranteed automation rights since 2008. The region’s two largest gateways, handling about 40% of U.S. container traffic, face land constraints that make automation...
MODEX 2026: Rockwell Automation to Highlight End-to-End Autonomous Operations Platform
Rockwell Automation will unveil its end‑to‑end autonomous operations platform at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, the first time the company presents a fully connected production logistics solution on the Material Handling Industry stage. The platform ties digital‑twin simulation, orchestration software, OTTO...
Ulta Doubled Store Fulfillment Capabilities in 2025
Ulta Beauty doubled its ship‑from‑store locations to over 1,000 U.S. stores in fiscal year 2025, up from about 500 the prior year. The expansion was powered by an AI‑driven order‑management system, while the company kept its existing distribution‑center network and...
Metal Tariff Adjustments Aren’t a Win for Packaging, Trade Groups Say
The Trump administration revised Section 232 metal tariffs, keeping a 50% rate on products made almost entirely of aluminum, steel or copper while lowering the levy to 25% for derivative items substantially composed of those metals. Items containing 15% or less...
An Interview with Warren Byrum, Strategic Sourcing at Truist Financial
Warren Byrum, senior vice president of strategic sourcing at Truist Financial, discussed how the function has shifted from a price‑focused activity to a strategic business partner that drives growth, risk management, and supplier innovation. He highlighted the expanded KPI set...
Daily Memo: China Issues Peculiar Airspace Restrictions, Oil Cartel Raises Quotas
China announced temporary airspace restrictions along its eastern coast from March 27 to May 6, covering zones from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea and areas north and south of Shanghai. The restrictions were imposed without any accompanying...
DoorDash’s Autonomous Delivery Strategy with Ashu Rege
DoorDash Labs’ Vice President Ashu Rege outlined the company’s autonomous delivery roadmap, highlighting the in‑house DOT robot and the broader Autonomous Delivery Platform (ADP) that can support varied delivery formats. He contrasted DoorDash’s approach with robotaxi firms, emphasizing cost efficiencies...
Europe's Half‑hearted NATO Response Left Allies Vulnerable
The point of Article 5 is to coordinate a collective response to a threat facing ALL member states… not just the state that invokes it. The threat was Islamic extremism. We didn’t invoke Article 5 to protect the U.S. alone. We invoked...
D2C Brands Face Longer Wait, Higher Costs to Enter Quick Commerce as Monetisation Tightens
Direct‑to‑consumer brands are encountering longer onboarding times and higher fees to list on quick‑commerce platforms, with commissions rising 8‑12% and premiums of about 8% versus last year. Combined platform costs now exceed 35% of the selling price in many categories,...
Sysco To Acquire Restaurant Depot In $29.1 Billion Deal
Sysco announced a $29.1 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, creating a food‑service distribution platform with roughly $100 billion in annual revenue. Restaurant Depot adds 166 warehouses across 35 states and a cash‑and‑carry model that complements Sysco’s delivery network. Sysco plans...
The Price of Progress: How Manufacturers Are Weighing AI’s Energy Demands
Manufacturers are accelerating AI and robotics deployments, with 81% of executives planning higher AI spend over the next three years. While early‑stage robots like Agility Robotics' Digit cost roughly $1 per shift in electricity, experts warn that energy demand can...
ORDC Approves Grant Assistance for Projects
On April 6, 2026 the Ohio Rail Development Commission approved $3.9 million in grant funding for two local projects and earmarked additional state funds to support three larger rail‑rehabilitation initiatives seeking federal CRISI assistance. The grants include $300,000 for Ross County...
LX Pantos Partners with SK E&S on Solar-Powered Warehouses
LX Pantos has teamed with SK Innovation Energy & Services to equip three South Korean logistics centers with a combined 2 MW of rooftop solar capacity. The sites – Incheon’s MegaWise Cheongna Center, plus facilities in Changwon and Yongin – will...
How DHL Tackled Mail and Parcel Boom During Peak Easter Season
DHL’s Post & Parcel division in Germany handled a record Easter surge, processing up to 10.5 million parcels on April 7, well above the previous year’s 9 million daily peak. The surge was managed through a multi‑year $1.15 billion investment that modernises sorting centres,...
AI Cuts Product Sourcing Time, Boosts Accessibility
Business owners and e-commerce experts told MIT Technology Review that AI tools are making sourcing more accessible and significantly shortening the time it takes to go from product idea to launch.
AI's Memory Crunch Drives Up Raspberry Pi Prices
AI is hogging memory chips and it’s rippling all the way down to Raspberry Pi prices. Our April issue has two pieces on this you'll want to read: one on the HBM shortage reshaping the chip market, one on what...
Electra Battery Materials Restarts Construction on North America’s First Cobalt Sulfate Refinery
Electra Battery Materials has restarted full‑scale construction of North America’s first cobalt sulfate refinery near Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, after a two‑year pause. The plant is designed to produce 6,500 tonnes of battery‑grade cobalt sulfate per year and is backed by...
Shipping Alerts Could Have Saved Cuban Cigars, Zyn
I am just saying that @citrini could have saved the Cuban cigars and Zyn, and just subscribe to What's Going on With Shipping to get this information. https://t.co/PvJjMTpAaz
Middle East Oil Loss Spikes Global Oil Prices
Yes...we do get something from the Persian Gulf. 8% of US imports come from the Middle East. More importantly, when you lose Middle East oil, all other oil goes up in price and demand.
Hormel Modernizes Supply Chain with AI Planning Platform
Hormel Foods has rolled out the o9 artificial‑intelligence planning platform across more than 70 of its facilities, linking demand, supply and inventory in a single system. The deployment, completed between March and December 2025, aims to shift the company from...
Effective Logistics Drives Timely Global Product Delivery
Logistics is key to supply chain management: getting finished products to customers via ships, planes, or trucks. It's about managing cargo across countries and different transport modes to ensure timely delivery. #SupplyChain #Logistics https://t.co/U7E0sqpiOq
China, Russia Supplying Iran Chemicals Fuels Missile Threat
Suspected Chemical Shipments From China to Iran Raise Concerns Over Potential Missile Expansion. Both Russia and China are helping Iran. Continue to ask why Trump removed sanctions and let the war criminal, Putin, get needed revenue for Russia? https://t.co/JZZHQgLJxY
NYC Law Enforcement Agencies Now Have 1,000 Plug-In Vehicles in Service
The City of New York’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services announced that more than 1,000 plug‑in vehicles are now assigned to its law‑enforcement agencies, including nearly 500 units for the NYPD. Across all 15 agencies, the fleet comprises 781 battery‑electric...
Tariffs Mostly Shifted to Foreign Exporters, Not Consumers
Fun paper from Fed/Georgetown economists: A chunk of what was thought to be price increases driven by 2018-19 tariffs is attributable to smaller purchase orders due to tariffs. Their conclusion: tariffs were primarily borne by foreign exporters. https://t.co/wxoheNJ8PO
Houthis Grip Bab Al-Mandeb, Threaten Global Shipping
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is the gateway into the Red Sea, en route to the Suez Canal. Houthis CONTROL THE STRAIT. Ships avoid the strait because of danger & punishing insurance rates. If Trump escalates in Iran, the Houthis will squeeze the chokepoint...
How the Strait of Hormuz Shapes Global Goods Flow
We did an awesome interview on the physical layout and flow of goods resulting from the Strait of Hormuz, with @mercoglianos. Listen here. https://t.co/jmVFr6LS8L
Exports Lag Production; Inventory Loads Faster than Restart
Keep in mind that exports ≠ production. Production was shut in because after they stopped loading new tankers inventory capacity was rapidly exhausted—they'll be able to load tankers from that same inventory much sooner than they'll be ablet to get field...
Quarterly Ops Networking: Connect Fulfillment & Supply Chain Professionals
I run a networking thread on LinkedIn every quarter. Bringing it here. Drop what you do and where you're based. Connect with the people who reply. If you work in fulfillment, ecommerce, or supply chain, this is your thread. No pitch. Just operators...
USMCA Negotiations Quietly Shape Future Trade Landscape
While Everyone Watches Oil and Tariffs, USMCA Looms - https://t.co/D7EQGyKCLJ #USCMA #Mexico #Canada #globaltrade #supplychain #logistics