Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Oman transit corridor revives India’s West Asia trade
India’s May 2026 exports to West Asia rebounded to $5.30 billion after a sharp March dip, thanks to a new transit corridor through Oman’s Sohar, Salalah and Duqm ports that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The recovery was led by the UAE, where shipments rose 3.18% year‑on‑year, and Saudi Arabia, which also saw notable gains.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
Azerbaijan Begins Reconstruction of Key Central Railway Line
Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) has begun a major rehabilitation of the Yevlakh‑Barda line, the first substantial upgrade since 1967. The aging corridor currently limits speeds to 10‑60 km/h, but the reconstruction will modernize track, signaling and safety systems, enabling higher speeds and reduced travel times. The work temporarily suspends the busy Baku‑Aghdam‑Baku passenger service and forms part of a broader push to connect Yevlakh, Khankendi and Aghdam with upgraded rail infrastructure.
Energy Sanctions Dashboard: October 2025
The Atlantic Council’s Energy Sanctions Dashboard shows that U.S. sanctions on Russia, Iran and Venezuela have removed millions of barrels per day from global markets between 2014 and 2025, while China has become the chief destination for the remaining crude....
Angeliki Frangou Joins VLCC Bandwagon with up to Eight Newbuildings Lined Up
Angeliki Frangou, chief executive of Navios Maritime Partners, confirmed the Greek‑owned carrier will acquire up to eight VLCCs, expanding on a prior order of four scrubber‑fitted vessels worth $482 million slated for delivery in the second half of 2028. The newbuildings...
Early LNG Diversions to Asia Cut Fuel, Boost Profits
⏹️As the Hormuz crisis drags on, the market is adapting quickly. Several LNG carriers originally bound for Europe have been diverted to Asia, where prices are significantly higher. ⏹️Earlier in the crisis, ships were typically diverted midway through their voyage....
US May Philly Fed Business Index -0.4 vs +18.0 Expected
The Philadelphia Fed’s April manufacturing index slipped to –0.4, far below the +18 forecast, signaling a contraction in the Third District. New orders, shipments and the employment index all moved deeper into negative territory, underscoring weakening demand and labor slack....
Running Different: The Supply Chain Imperative
Supply chain leaders face unprecedented volatility, rising costs and tightening transparency mandates, prompting a shift from siloed operations to integrated, network‑wide collaboration. Four strategic moves—multi‑enterprise networks, multi‑tier supplier visibility, enterprise alignment, and AI‑driven execution—are reshaping how goods move globally. New...
Drone Delivery Company Flytrex Expands with New Texas Factory
Flytrex is opening an 8,000‑square‑foot drone manufacturing and maintenance hub near Dallas, Texas, to support its aggressive rollout across the Dallas‑Fort Worth metro area. The plant will employ roughly 50 staff and target production of about 1,000 drones per year,...
Damming the Big Ocean
Edward Fishman’s new book argues that America’s strategic leverage now extends beyond narrow waterways to digital finance hubs. Traditional maritime chokepoints like the Panama Canal still move over 80% of global trade, but the modern bottlenecks are the U.S.-centric banking...
The Meteoric Rise of the Czechoslovak Group Amid the Ukraine War
Czechoslovak Group (CSG) has surged from a regional refurbisher to Europe’s fastest‑growing defense conglomerate, posting €5.2 bn (≈$5.7 bn) revenue in 2024 with Ukraine accounting for 42 % of sales. Aggressive acquisitions—including Italy’s Fiocchi Munizioni, the U.S. Kinetic Group and a 49 % stake in...
IAG Cargo Launches New Madrid-Monterrey Service for the First Time
IAG Cargo, the freight arm of International Airlines Group, will launch two new routes in June: three weekly flights between Madrid and Monterrey and three weekly flights between Barcelona and Lima. The Madrid‑Monterrey service, starting 2 June, is IAG’s first direct...
Saudi $1 Trillion Wealth Fund Weighs Creating a Logistics Giant
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is weighing a merger of its ports, rail and shipping assets into a single logistics conglomerate. The move aims to create a globally competitive entity that could attract foreign investors, possibly via an IPO....
Peter Georgiopoulos Jumps Back Into VLCCs with up to 10 Newbuildings
Greek shipowner Peter Georgiopoulos, together with partner Leo Vrondissis, announced a new series of up to ten Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). The vessels will be constructed at a shipyard that has never built a VLCC before, marking a bold...
Dubai Shipping Hub Faces Talent Drain as Veterans Eye Greece Amid Middle‑East Conflict
Western ship‑owners and maritime professionals based in Dubai are weighing relocation to Greece and Cyprus after the US‑Israeli war on Iran trapped about 2,000 vessels in the Gulf. The exodus highlights growing doubts about Dubai’s reliability as a logistics hub...
The U.S. Freight Network Is Broken by Design. One Merger Could Start Fixing It
The Surface Transportation Board is reviewing a revised merger application that would combine Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, the two largest U.S. freight railroads. If approved, the merged entity would control about half of domestic rail freight, potentially reducing interchanges,...
Hyundai WIA to Build Landing Gear for Vertical Aerospace’s Valo eVTOL
Vertical Aerospace announced a long‑term partnership with Hyundai WIA to develop and manufacture a bespoke landing‑gear system for its Valo electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Hyundai WIA will assume full design‑to‑production responsibility, with UK engineering firm Stirling Dynamics...
Italy Signs €1.39 Billion Deal for Six Airbus A330 MRTT Tankers, Ends Boeing KC‑46 Pursuit
Italy finalized a €1.393 billion contract for six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers, replacing its planned Boeing KC‑46A purchase. The deal adds 50% more tankers to the Italian Air Force and offers 15‑16% more fuel capacity, 50% greater cargo payload, and up...
Quartermaster Secures $43M Series A to Deploy SmartMast Hive‑Mind for Ships
Arlington‑based Quartermaster closed a $43 million Series A, co‑led by First Round Capital and Quiet Capital, to scale its SmartMast sensor suite. The funding will accelerate a distributed “hive‑mind” that equips hundreds of vessels with real‑time maritime data, challenging the aging...
DSCP Smart Fulfillment Launches Domestic 3PL to Cut E‑commerce Shipping Delays
DSCP Smart Fulfillment announced a domestic third‑party logistics service that uses warehouses in California and New Jersey to give small e‑commerce brands 2‑4 day nationwide shipping. The move targets cost volatility from Strait of Hormuz delays and promises transparent, usage‑based...
CMA CGM Increases Asia-Europe FAK Rates for Early June
CMA CGM announced a new Freight All Kinds (FAK) pricing schedule for shipments from Asia to North Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa covering the first half of June. Rates for North Europe are set at $2,900 for a 20‑foot...
Why Is Nobody Talking About China’s New Supply Chain Regulations?
China’s Decree 834 and 835, collectively called the Regulations on Industrial and Supply Chain Security, took effect in April 2026 with immediate force and no transition period. The rules penalize any foreign activity deemed a threat to Chinese supply‑chain stability, including reshoring,...
Lithuania Starts Work on Military Mobility Hub to Move NATO Cargo to the Baltics
Lithuania’s LTG Infra broke ground on a €37.4 million (≈$41 million) dual‑gauge military mobility hub at the Palemonas terminal near Kaunas. The project will expand loading yards, add standard‑ and broad‑gauge tracks, and enable handling of cargo up to 100 tonnes and vehicles...
Designing Warehouses Around the Human Element
Warehousing is being reshaped by soaring e‑commerce demand, tighter labor markets, and a push toward automation, with 26% of facilities expected to be partly automated by 2027. Yet the shift threatens roughly 19 million jobs and leaves workers walking an average...
Sortera Technologies Opens Tennessee Sorting Facility
Sortera Technologies has launched a second sorting plant in Lebanon, Tennessee, effectively doubling its processing capacity to an estimated 240 million pounds of mixed aluminum alloys per year. The new facility leverages the company’s AI‑driven sensor platform to separate streams such...
What Toyota Said About Their Own Production System in 1992
In April 1992 Toyota published an internal booklet that explained its Production System before the wave of Western Lean books. The document stresses employee judgment, creativity, and a "creative tension" that can be both stimulating and stressful, rather than focusing solely...
Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2026 to Take Place in Jeddah
The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2026 will be held at the Jeddah Superdome on October 21‑22, with registration now open and free for attendees. The move places the event next to Jeddah Islamic Port, which processes more than 65%...
Behind South Korea’s Arctic Gambit
South Korea has launched a state‑funded trial to run container ships through the Northern Sea Route (NSR), a passage that cuts Russia’s Arctic coast. While the initiative is framed as a logistics experiment, analysts say its primary goal is to...
Chinese Tanker Slips Past US Blockade, Delivers Iraqi Oil
Ok, this Chinese oil tanker carrying 2 mb of Iraqi oil made it through the US blockade. https://t.co/0P4vqXU5l1
Freight Boom: The Hormuz Blockade Payday
An extended diplomatic stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz has effectively shut down a sizable portion of the world’s container and tanker fleet, creating a sharp supply shock that is pushing ocean‑freight spot rates to historic highs. Shipping firms with...
Increased Pallet Production Costs Pressuring Buyers
US softwood GMA pallet prices recorded their steepest rise in years during April, spurred by a targeted buyer‑education campaign that highlighted escalating low‑grade lumber costs. The surge was most pronounced early in the month, buoyed by seasonal freight demand, before...
Fujairah Terminals Signs Land Lease Agreements to Expand Logistics Capabilities
Fujairah Terminals, a unit of AD Ports Group, signed three strategic land‑lease agreements with Fujairah International Airport, the Fujairah Free Zone Authority and Al Dahra Agriculture Trading, covering a combined 130,000 sqm. The leases will enable expansion of logistics and industrial operations,...
Tariffs Hit Small, Medium Businesses Hard
A Ship4wd‑commissioned survey of 500 U.S. small and medium‑sized businesses finds that 96% say tariffs have directly harmed their shipping, sourcing or supply‑chain operations in the past year. Tariffs now eclipse freight rates, port congestion and geopolitical risk as the...
CEVA Logistics Opens Automated Distribution Center in China
CEVA Logistics has launched a 4,300‑square‑meter automated distribution center in Alashankou, China, bolstering its trans‑Eurasian road network. The hub consolidates less‑than‑truckload cargo for routes linking China, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe, cutting transit times from roughly 20 days to...
Barnacles and Jellyfish Infest Ships Trapped in the Gulf
Ships immobilised in the Gulf are being overrun by marine growth, with barnacles coating hulls and jellyfish swarming decks. The bio‑fouling adds drag, increases fuel consumption and forces costly cleaning before vessels can sail. Operators report that weeks‑long delays have...
SAAM Towage Orders Five Tugs at Sanmar Shipyards
SAAM Towage has signed a deal with Turkey’s Sanmar Shipyards to acquire five new tugboats, expanding the fleet that already includes 13 Sanmar‑built vessels. The tugs, designed by Robert Allan, will deliver 70‑80 tonne bollard pull and feature Firefighting 1 capability, Kongsberg...
Africa’s Free Trade Goes Digital, but Ground Reality Bites
The African Digital Access and Public Infrastructure for Trade (Adapt) platform went live this week in Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco, offering a unified digital identity and payment system to lower cross‑border transaction costs. While officials tout Adapt as a catalyst...
US Charges Container Manufacturing Executives for Price Fixing
The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed a January 2026 indictment charging four Chinese container manufacturers and seven senior executives with conspiring to restrict output and fix prices of standard dry containers during the pandemic. The alleged cartel doubled the price...
Two-Wheeled Robot Revolutionizes Airport Cargo Handling
Meet the Two-Wheeled #Robot Transforming Airport Cargo Handling via @lukas_m_ziegler #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #MI #Innovation https://t.co/09zZNTzmie
Tire Makers Brace for EU Deforestation Rule Delays, Citing Complex Supply Chains
Major tire manufacturers, representing 70% of natural‑rubber use, warn that repeated postponements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) jeopardize supply‑chain traceability. Companies like Michelin and Continental are already compliant, but smallholder complexities and delayed deadlines heighten industry frustration.
Stellantis Teams with Dongfeng in 51/49 EU JV to Launch Premium EVs
Stellantis N.V. announced a 51/49 joint venture with China’s Dongfeng Motor Group to market and manufacture Dongfeng’s Voyah premium new‑energy vehicles across Europe. The deal, sealed with a non‑binding MOU, will use Stellantis’ sales, distribution and after‑sales network and localize...
Massivit CEO Yossi Azarzar Shifts to Defense, Supplying 3D‑Printed Drone Parts
Massivit's chief executive Yossi Azarzar has redirected the company's 3D‑printing capacity from entertainment to the Israeli defense sector, delivering large drone components for the military. The pivot comes as Israel's weapons sales hit a record $15 billion in 2024, underscoring the...
ICON 2026 - Conagra's Blue Yonder Transformation Delivers 'Near-Dark-Room' Production Planning. And Agents Are Next.
Conagra Brands, a $12 billion CPG giant, won Blue Yonder’s ICONic Customer Award after overhauling its supply‑chain planning with an AI‑driven platform. By tightening time fences and eliminating manual overrides, the company lifted service levels to 98% and cut inventory by...
Japan's Jera Proposes Hawaiian LNG Import Project
Japan’s utility conglomerate Jera has formally requested the start of regulatory proceedings for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Hawaii. The project aims to supply the islands with a stable, lower‑cost fuel source as state regulators grapple with...
Why Are Airlines Still Making You Stand In Line For An Hour To Drop A Bag You Tagged Yourself?
Long lines at airline bag‑drop counters persist despite self‑tag kiosks, forcing travelers to arrive early and risk missed flights. A recent experience at American Airlines showed a 45‑minute wait because only one staff member handled self‑tagged bags. While carriers such...
UBS Reactivates Supply‑Chain Stress Index Amid Hormuz Tensions and Energy Crisis
UBS analysts have reactivated their Global Supply Chain Stress Index after a 1.2‑standard‑deviation jump in March‑April, the fastest rise since early 2020. The move follows Maersk’s warning of a new wake‑up call and escalating risks around the Strait of Hormuz...
Intermodal Briefs: GPA, Ports of Indiana
GPA reported handling about 4.7 million TEUs at the Savannah port for the fiscal year to April 30, 2026, a 2.5% decline from the prior year, with April volumes down 14%. The authority announced a ten‑year, $5 billion expansion plan that includes five new...
US Move Against Container Makers Is Latest Entry in Logistics Battle with China
The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment against four major ocean‑shipping container manufacturers and seven senior executives, accusing them of coordinated price‑fixing that benefits Chinese firms. The legal action follows earlier U.S. measures such as port‑fee retaliation and...
BJ’s Wholesale Club Shows How Warehouse-Club Supply Chains Are Evolving
BJ’s Wholesale Club continues to leverage its low‑SKU, direct‑purchase, cross‑docking model while adding digital fulfillment, fresh‑grocery capabilities, and a push into Texas. Strong membership renewal rates fund aggressive pricing, new club openings, and digital investments, and the 2022 acquisition of...
DP World Partners With ISN® to Advance Contractor Management and Support Operational Growth Across Canada
DP World has selected ISN’s ISNetworld platform as its primary contractor management system for its five Canadian ports and terminals. Within two months the partnership delivered over 90% contractor compliance, more than 10 training sessions and 400+ stakeholder logins. ISN...
Owner-Ops Respond to Broker Group's Freakout over SCOTUS Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that freight brokers like C.H. Robinson can be sued in state court for negligent carrier selection, overturning a prior protection. The decision sparked alarm among industry groups, with the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) calling the...
New Federal Freight Plan and BUILD America 250 Act Signal Big Push for Supply Chain Infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled its 2026 National Freight Strategic Plan, a five‑year roadmap targeting safety, efficiency, security, resiliency, innovation, and workforce development across the nation’s 7‑million‑mile freight network that moves over 54 million tons of goods valued at $68 billion...