Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Shipowners stay cautious despite US‑Iran Hormuz reopening deal
President Trump announced a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ending the naval blockade that had closed the oil conduit since late February. Shipowners, however, remain wary, pointing to 57 recorded security incidents and lingering mines, and are opting for lower‑risk routes until safety can be assured.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
Hanoi to Stop Trains on the Famous Street Where Tourists Stand Just a Few Centimeters From the Tracks
Hanoi’s municipal government will reroute most passenger trains to terminate at Hanoi Station from the south and Gia Lam Station from the north, while freight services will be diverted to a new terminal at Ha Dong by July 2026. The plan, approved by the Ministry of Construction, aims to eliminate train traffic on the famed “Train Street” that runs alongside cafés and historic arches. Authorities will also create free transfer points and modernise bypass lines to keep the national rail network intact. The changes seek to reconcile safety regulations with the area’s tourist appeal.
Windsor Slump Warns of USMCA Risk, Trim Canada Auto Exposure
Macro: Windsor's slump signals USMCA uncertainty. Key: tariff threats, cross‑border exposure, falling orders. Risk: demand pullback. Trade insight: trim Canada auto-supply positions. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Amazon Is Using Local Grocers to Win Delivery Faster | Fast Five Shorts
The episode examines Amazon's expanding partnership with regional grocers like Winn‑Dixie, now covering the Tampa Bay area, and its rollout of one‑hour and three‑hour delivery for over 90,000 products nationwide. Hosts discuss how Amazon leverages its superior logistics to monetize...
PortSide Stories: Algeciras
The Port of Algeciras, perched on the Strait of Gibraltar, serves as a pivotal gateway where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. It operates primarily as a transshipment hub, handling massive volumes of containers from Asian mega‑ships before they disperse across...
Gulf Tensions Trigger Maersk Outage, Freight Volatility Surge
Gulf tensions rise, hitting flows. Maersk halted Salalah after crane damage; 48h outage. Risk: supply delays, Strait Hormuz disruption. Trade: hedge shipping via freight volatility. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Iran Conflict Turns Global Economy Into Battlefield
John Keegan’s 'The Face of Battle' is a masterpiece of war literature. He moves from Agincourt to Waterloo, then the Somme, showing the shift from a small hand-to hand battlefield to a larger area defined by the range of cannon...
EU’s Šefčovič Confirms Push for Western Steel Club with US and UK
The European Union is weighing a Western steel alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom to curb China’s massive overcapacity, Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič announced at a WTO ministerial in Cameroon. Britain has been actively lobbying for the...
Nearshoring and Agentic AI Redefine Supply Chains by 2027
Five Predictions That Will Define Supply Chains by 2027 From agentic AI to the end of labour arbitrage — SCMDOJO's intelligence desk synthesises expert forecasts into the signals every supply chain leader must act on now. 6–12 Months · Geopolitics Nearshoring accelerates from...
Philippines Secures Supply Deals for 1M Barrels of Diesel
The Philippine Department of Energy has signed contracts to import 1 million barrels (≈165.7 million liters) of diesel, enough for five days of national consumption. The deals, brokered through the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corp., are part of a P20 billion ($360 million)...
Construction Begins on $7 B, 30‑Million‑Sq‑Ft Halo Vista Development Around TSMC’s Phoenix Plant
Halo Vista, a $7 billion, 30‑million‑square‑foot mixed‑use masterplan led by Mack Real Estate Group and McCourt Partners, broke ground on March 26 around TSMC’s new Phoenix semiconductor plant. The development will add office, industrial, retail and residential space, anchoring a technology ecosystem...
Swift Beef Strike Enters Third Week, Threatening U.S. Beef Supply
Swift Beef workers at JBS USA's Greeley, Colorado plant have extended their walkout into a third week, with 99% of the 3,800‑strong United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 backing the strike. The labor dispute pits workers demanding higher pay...
Mercedes‑Benz North America CEO Unveils $34 Million Reorg to Streamline Operations
Mercedes‑Benz North America chief Jason Hoff announced a company‑wide reorganization, including a $34 million technology hub in Atlanta, to eliminate siloed business units and tighten feedback loops. The move targets corporate inefficiencies that have hampered the luxury automaker’s U.S. performance.
Apple Allocates $400 Million to Boost U.S. Manufacturing Partnerships
Apple announced a $400 million commitment to broaden its U.S. manufacturing partnerships, targeting new production capacity and tighter supply‑chain control. The move underscores the tech giant’s strategy to localise critical components and reduce reliance on overseas factories.
Sony Suspends Global SD and CFexpress Card Orders as Memory Shortage Hits Emerging Markets
Sony announced a temporary suspension of orders for almost all SD and CFexpress memory cards due to a worldwide semiconductor shortage. Prices have tripled, tightening supply for AI data centers and consumer electronics across emerging markets.
Iran War Sends Brent to $120, Spurs Global Recession Fears and Strait of Hormuz Blockade
The Iran‑Israel‑U.S. war has pushed Brent crude to about $120 a barrel, shut 20% of global oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz and sparked warnings that soaring energy costs could tip the United States toward recession. The crisis is...
China’s 90% Model Redefines Global Supply Chains
@KirkusReviews , 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 1933, 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 90% 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥. Kirkus describes the book as “𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.” The review highlights how China has built industrial capacity to meet 90%...
US Steps Back, Lets Others Pay Iran's Strait Fees
But of course. It's not the US' problem. Literally saying, "now let the rest of the world fight it out with Iran. We're done here." Interesting new angle, though: Is it all just about money for Iran? What about their...
UAE Retailers Tap Alternative Ways to Fill Food Aisle
UAE supermarket chain Spinneys is piloting a 6,000‑km overland truck route from the UK through Europe, North Africa and Egypt to deliver snacks and crisps, aiming to bypass sea‑freight delays caused by the West Asia conflict. The trial, run with...
GE Forecasts Boosted 2026 LEAP Deliveries Amid Recovery
GE expects higher LEAP engine deliveries in 2026 as supply chain recovery and strong MRO demand support growth. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/ge-leap-engine-deliveries-set-to-rise.html
FreightWaves Launches Low‑Cost National Freight Market Monitor
FreightWaves will be introducing a brand new low-cost data, new, and research platform of national freight market summary data for website browsers next week. We call this FreightWaves Market Monitor. It is a roundup of our national data, making it...
I-75 Northbound Shut After Multi‑Vehicle Crash Near Cincinnati’s Brent Spence Bridge
All northbound lanes of Interstate 75 were closed Friday morning after a multi‑vehicle crash near the Brent Spence Bridge, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) said. Traffic backed up into Northern Kentucky by 5:30 a.m., snarling a key regional corridor and prompting...
Trump Postpones Iran Strike; Hormuz Tension Rattles Oil Markets
Trump delays Iran attacks to 6 April, but Strait of Hormuz risk keeps oil and supply chains on edge. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/trump-delays-iran-attacks-as-strait-of.html
Nvidia's Networking Revenue Soars 263% to $11B as AI Data‑Center Demand Explodes
Nvidia reported a 263% year‑over‑year jump in networking revenue to $11 billion in the latest quarter, underscoring the surge in AI‑driven data‑center builds. The growth highlights a widening AI supply chain that now includes high‑speed interconnects, Ethernet switches and power‑management firms.
U.S. Rare‑Earth Production Resumes, Sector Earnings Show Mixed Trends
A U.S. firm has reportedly resumed domestic production of a critical rare‑earth material for the first time in decades, though the company gave no specifics. Meanwhile, Chinese mining and energy groups posted divergent full‑year results, underscoring volatility in the global...
Apple Adds Bosch, Cirrus Logic, TDK, Qorvo to U.S. Manufacturing Network
Apple has broadened its U.S. manufacturing program, bringing Bosch, Cirrus Logic, TDK and Qorvo on board as new domestic suppliers. The move underscores a multi‑billion‑dollar effort to shore up American supply‑chain resilience for its consumer‑electronics portfolio.
Robots Showcase Package Sorting, Piano Playing and Food Prep at Beijing's Zhongguancun Forum
Robots demonstrated package sorting, piano playing and food preparation at Beijing's Zhongguancun Forum, underscoring the breadth of real‑world applications on display and drawing global attention to China's robotics momentum.
Panama Canal Announces Enhanced Long-Term Slot Allocation Program
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) unveiled LoTSA 2.5, an upgraded Long‑Term Slot Allocation program designed to give shippers more certainty and flexibility. The new system introduces slot redistribution by package type and transit direction, sequential competitions, and expanded options for date...
Flatbed Rates Surge, Contradicting Miller’s Flat Forecast
Can someone explain this why Jason Miller believes that flatbed spot rates are flat or down slightly in March? Is DAT's flatbed data that far off from Truckstop and SONAR (two completely independent data sources)? Even if you use Miller's...
Texas Capacity Tightens; Dallas Rejections Hit 19% High
Capacity out of Texas is tightening faster than any other market. Rejections out of Dallas surged to 19%, the highest levels since 2021! https://t.co/0Um53N20C4
Iraq Expects to Increase Northern Pipeline Oil Exports
Iraq is currently sending 200,000 barrels per day of crude through the Iraq‑Turkiye Pipeline, and officials expect to lift that to 300,000 barrels daily in the near term. The blend includes oil from Kirkuk and about 40,000 barrels from the...
Truckload Volume Index Hits 4‑Year High, Up 12% YoY
SONAR Truckload Volume Index continues to climb. +12% YoY, highest levels in 4 years https://t.co/7CorH9A2bO
Energy Shock Triggers Global Plastic Shortage
A plastic shortage is emerging. Asia makes ~60% of plastics & depends on Hormuz-linked oil & gas Less energy = less plastic Less plastic = broader shortages This is how an energy shock hits the real economy. #Oil #NatGas #Plastics #SupplyChains #EnergyCrisis
China Chip Sector Targets 80% Self-Sufficiency with US in Its Sights
China’s semiconductor industry has set an ambitious goal to achieve 80% domestic self‑sufficiency by 2030. The target was announced by a coalition of 13 leading Chinese chip firms, signaling a coordinated effort to close the technology gap with the United...
Houthis Threaten Cape Route, Exacerbating Energy Shortages
With Houthis entering the war, Cape of Good Hope may soon be the Cape of Only Hope. Countries already facing physical energy shortages are staring at even longer transport schedules, and higher costs. Some useful background from 2024 here: https://t.co/K1abD0tYoN.
Thailand Secures Safe Strait of Hormuz Passage for Tankers
Thailand has reached a deal with Iran to allow Thai tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. “An agreement has been reached to allow Thai oil tankers to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz," Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said...
Oil Prices Top $100 as Iran War Fuels US Inflation Fears
Global oil prices surged past $100 a barrel after the Iran war intensified, prompting UBS analysts to warn of higher US inflation expectations and a possible slowdown in consumer spending. The spike is already reverberating through supply chains, fuel markets...
No Alternatives Exist: Oil Remains Unavoidable Reality
Hormuz oil "We don't have any alternatives at all, and we should not talk about alternatives," says @asasalhajii Any questions? No. Now, what should we talk about? #Oil #Energy #Reality #Geopolitics
Trump Tariffs Shrink Chinese Imports, Widen U.S. Trade Deficit
How Trump’s Tariffs Are Choking U.S.-China Trade—Chinese share of American imports drops to lowest level since 2001, but overall U.S. goods trade deficit rises @hannahmiao_ @CloudberryRoque https://t.co/tWBXJwnAkx https://t.co/tWBXJwnAkx
Morgan Stanley Lifts Alphabet Forecast on Waymo's Rapid Expansion
Morgan Stanley upgraded Alphabet's revenue forecast, pointing to Waymo's accelerating growth as a key long‑term driver. The analyst house said the autonomous‑driving unit is gaining market share and expanding its commercial fleet, prompting a more optimistic outlook for the tech...
Oil Price Ignores Geopolitics, 20% Supply Unchanged
No military operation or policy can replace 20% of global oil supply At some point, price stops listening to narratives, says @JasonBordoff End of discussion #Oil #EnergyMarkets #Hormuz #Geopolitics
Supply Disruptions Reshape Oil, Gas Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions
PODCAST: What’s next for oil, natural gas and the U.S.-Iran war? A great pleasure to join a special edition of the #ColumbiaEnergyExchange podcast with host @JasonBordoff to discuss how supply disruptions are reverberating across the industry. 🎧Listen now: https://t.co/Nfa3nQ6UWm
Insufficient Source Material to Report on EU Gas‑storage Call
The requested story about the European Commission urging member states to top up gas storage as the Iran war disrupts fuel markets cannot be produced because none of the provided sources contain verifiable details on that specific action.
Cargill’s Eco‑Ships Face Drone and Missile Threats
Quick question for @Cargill: With drones and missiles flying across major sea lanes, are you planning to keep these giant bullseyes mounted on your “eco” ships? https://t.co/BWiyOEbXKV
India Mandates LPG-to-PNG Switch Amid Supply Crisis
🇮🇳At least they have this choice in India. Most of the developing world do not have this option. India Orders Mandatory Transition from LPG to PNG Amid Supply Crisis
AUD and NZD Tumble to Two‑month Lows as Middle East War Dents Commodity Demand
The Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar fell to their lowest levels in about two months on Thursday, pressured by a sharp rise in fuel prices and a broader slowdown in commodity demand linked to the war in the Middle...
Markets Underestimate Long-Term Impact of Europe's Gas Surge
Gas prices in Europe are running 50-70% above normal, and the Qatar LNG facility attack hit infrastructure will take decades to rebuild. @8eanmurray from @fuseenergy says markets are pricing this as a blip. He thinks they're wrong. @Steven_Ehrlich @bitsandbips https://t.co/DwMsHVSFmY
Next‑Gen Robots Transform Smart Warehouse Operations
How Next-Generation #Robots Are Redefining Smart #Warehouses by @lukas_m_ziegler #AI #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/VvolzaqpF3
Middle East War Triggers Coal Boost in Japan, EU Gas‑Storage Push, and Oil Price Dip
Japan announced a temporary lift of coal‑plant operating caps, the EU urged member states to refill gas storage ahead of winter, and the United States paused attacks on Iranian energy sites, causing Brent to slip to $107.11 a barrel. The...
Agile Robots Teams with Google DeepMind to Pilot Humanoid Robots on Factory Floors
Agile Robots SE announced a collaboration with Google DeepMind to integrate the lab's Gemini Robotics foundation models into its Agile ONE humanoid platform. The partnership will run a series of development and deployment phases in high‑value manufacturing environments, seeking to...
Tehran’s “Toll Booth” In Hormuz Cuts Western Buyers Out of Fertilizer Supply Chain
Iran has instituted a formal toll and vetting regime in the Strait of Hormuz, charging up to $2 million per vessel and effectively barring Western-bound fertilizer cargoes. The move has driven benchmark urea prices up 68% to $681 per metric ton...