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
Government Sets £7.4 Billion Procurement Target with Small Businesses
The UK government has announced a £7.4 billion (about $9.3 billion) annual procurement target for small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2028. For the first time, each department receives a specific percentage goal – ranging from 30 % at the Cabinet Office to 40 % at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – and must publish yearly progress. The Ministry of Defence added a separate £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) commitment, bringing its SME spend to $7.5 billion by May 2028, while the broader Plan for Small Business includes a £4 billion ($5 billion) funding package to improve finance access and curb late payments. Industry groups say transparent monitoring is crucial after recent declines in direct SME spending.
Itochu Enters E-Waste Management with View to Rare Earths Recycling
Itochu Corp., one of Japan's largest trading houses, announced a joint venture with a U.S. firm to manage electronic waste and recover rare earth metals from devices such as laptops and smartphones. The company projects Japan's e‑waste management market to...
LATAM Pushing Ahead with Transatlantic Expansion
LATAM Airlines is expanding its transatlantic network, launching São Paulo‑Amsterdam flights on March 30 with four weekly B787‑9 services, increasing to six by mid‑April, and adding a São Paulo‑Brussels route in June with three weekly flights. The airline’s cargo division saw revenues rise...
Magma Aviation Appoints Hoatson to New Director Role
Specialist air cargo manager Magma Aviation has appointed Paul Hoatson as director of commercial and network planning. Hoatson, who previously led network planning and alliances for eight years, will now align commercial objectives with network strategy. The expanded role is...
Trump's Iran Conflict Sends Shockwaves Through Global Markets
From Indian films to Italian wine, Trump’s Iran war ripples through the world economy https://t.co/nN8qmnNvwV via @Swatisays @LouKCurtis @mniquette https://t.co/oUjyH8kZ9O
Late Payment Reform Toughest in over 25 Years, Government Says
Britain's government has introduced the toughest late‑payment reforms in the G7, tightening rules for large firms dealing with small suppliers. A new 60‑day payment cap and a statutory interest rate of 8 % above the Bank of England base rate will...
Sea Cargo Charter Leaders Warn Against Decarbonisation Slowdown
Shipping leaders warned that scaling back decarbonisation amid IMO regulatory delays would jeopardise long‑term competitiveness. The Sea Cargo Charter, now with 33 charterers and operators, provides a voluntary framework to measure and disclose emissions. Signatories are reporting more than 90%...
Fire at Valero's Port Arthur Refinery Sparks U.S. Gasoline and Jet Fuel Concerns
A massive fire erupted at Valero Energy's Port Arthur, Texas refinery on Monday, disrupting a key Gulf Coast fuel hub. The incident, linked to a heater‑unit malfunction, has regulators and traders watching for possible impacts on gasoline and jet fuel...
Grab to Acquire Foodpanda Taiwan for $600 Million, Its First Move Outside Southeast Asia
Grab Holdings announced a cash‑only $600 million deal to buy Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda Taiwan, marking its first expansion beyond Southeast Asia. The acquisition, slated to close in H2 2026, gives Grab a foothold in 21 Taiwanese cities and pits it directly against...
Dangote Refinery Boosts African Fuel Exports as Middle East Crisis Tightens Supply
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dispatched 12 petroleum‑product cargoes to five African markets, positioning itself as a regional alternative amid soaring Middle East oil prices and supply shocks. The move comes as Nigeria grapples with domestic fuel price spikes and...
Cathay Cargo Reports February Tonnage Rise but Flags Geopolitical Volatility
Cathay Cargo lifted February 2026 cargo tonnage 7% year‑on‑year, with Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) rising 4%. The first two months of the year saw a 6% tonnage increase versus 2025, despite a mid‑month dip linked to Lunar New Year...
Zipline Secures $200M to Accelerate U.S. Drone Delivery Expansion
Zipline announced a $200 million infusion that lifts its Series H round to $800 million and values the autonomous drone logistics firm at $7.6 billion. The capital will fund entry into at least four U.S. states and broaden its home‑delivery platform,...
Rio Tinto Targets Broader Aluminium Footprint, Division CEO Says
Rio Tinto’s aluminium division is accelerating a global diversification strategy, adding projects in Europe, India and Brazil while expanding its low‑carbon AP60 smelter technology. The AP60 system, already operating in Quebec, reduces greenhouse‑gas emissions to about one‑seventh of the industry...
Policy Paper: Cabinet Office and HM Treasury Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Action Plan: 2025 to 2028
The UK Cabinet Office and HM Treasury have published a small and medium‑sized enterprise (SME) action plan covering April 2025 to March 2028. The policy aims to lower barriers for SMEs to win public‑sector contracts and to raise the share...
DOE: PH Fuel Supply Will 'Run Dry' If Middle East Tensions Escalate
The Philippines, which imports over 90% of its petroleum, faces a potential fuel shortage if Middle East tensions disrupt global oil routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz. DOE Secretary Sharon Garin warned that gasoline stocks could last about 64 days...
2000-Built VLCC Sold for Further Trading
The 26‑year‑old Hitachi‑built VLCC Kin A, a 298,000 dwt tanker, has been sold to undisclosed interests and renamed Helga. The vessel, flagged in Comoros, is now unclassed after its Bureau Veritas class was withdrawn and is anchored in southern China. No...
Why Do Most Pharma Shippers and 3PLs Not Possess the Right Technology to Move From Forecasting to True Agility?
Pharma last‑mile delivery faces unique challenges: chain of custody and strict cold‑chain requirements. Most shippers and 3PLs lack technology to shift from static forecasting to real‑time agility, due largely to compliance costs and legacy routing systems. Advanced IoT sensors, AI‑driven...
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Plummets 98% Below Normal
GS: We Estimate Based on Reported Vessel Counts that Average Daily Flows Through the Strait of Hormuz Are Down 98% From Their Normal Levels (4-Day Moving Average) https://t.co/af4DPzafNM
Russian Drone Strike on Ukrainian Regional Train Kills Passenger (61)
A Russian FPV drone struck a Kharkiv regional electric train on March 24 at 05:20, killing a 61‑year‑old passenger and injuring two crew members who suffered acute stress. Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a pre‑trial investigation and classified the incident as...
Procurement Is Where Nature Strategy Becomes Real
Corporate nature strategies often remain isolated from day‑to‑day spending, leaving procurement as the missing link. The article argues that purchased goods and services generate the bulk of a company’s nature‑related impact, making supply‑chain risk a procurement priority. It outlines four...
SK Hynix Lines up $8B EUV Order with ASML
South Korean memory leader SK Hynix has signed a KRW11.95 trillion (~$8 billion) contract with Dutch lithography supplier ASML to acquire up to 20 extreme ultraviolet (EUV) scanners over the next two years. The agreement covers equipment, installation and modification costs, with...
Swedish Freight-Only Railway Fails to Attract Freight
The West Dalarna Line, Sweden's sole freight‑only railway, has failed to attract freight traffic due to its unique ERTMS Regional signalling system, which limits locomotive compatibility and causes frequent delays. In 2024, 40% of trains to the Fiskarheden sawmill were...
African Metal Bans Threaten Chinese Battery Supply Investments
African export restrictions on battery metals are a blow to Chinese companies that have spent billions of dollars developing mines there to dominate supplies https://t.co/yoI9r6fpaN
Crisis at Hormuz, and Your $160b Tariff Refund Clock, with Flexport’s Ryan Petersen
In this Rapid Response episode, Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen explains how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is rippling through global trade, driving up oil and air‑freight costs while leaving container shipping relatively unscathed. He highlights secondary crises such...
Didero Raises $30 Million Series A to Bring AI Agents to Global Supply Chains
Didero, a New York‑based software firm, closed a $30 million Series A round led by Chemistry and Headline, with participation from Microsoft’s M12 venture fund. The financing will accelerate development of its AI‑agent platform that embeds directly into ERP, email and spreadsheet...
Plant Owned by a Hyundai-Kia Engine Parts Supplier Destroyed by Fire
A major fire at Anjeon Industrial's engine valve plant in Daejeon killed 14 people, injured 60, and destroyed much of the facility. The plant, which supplied Hyundai Motor and Kia with roughly 70 million engine valves per year, is now offline....
Conflicting Hormuz Claims Leave Shipping in Limbo and Markets Swinging
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five‑day pause on military strikes against Iranian energy assets, claiming productive talks toward ending the Middle East conflict, while Iran refuted any negotiations. Analysts say the Strait of Hormuz remains only partially open, with...
The Starbucks Mobile Order Timing Problem That Chick-Fil-A Already Solved
Starbucks’ mobile‑order system often prepares drinks either too early, leaving them to cool on the counter, or too late, forcing customers to wait after arrival. The root cause is a mismatch between order placement and actual customer arrival, essentially an...
Contract Signed but No Money for Bulgaria-North Macedonia Border Crossing
The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport signed a contract in February to build the first rail border crossing with North Macedonia, but the required €50 million (≈ $54 million) funding has not been secured. The project centers on a 2.4‑kilometre tunnel under the Deve Bair...
New Footage Exposes Conditions on Livestock Ship Stuck for Weeks
Fresh video from the livestock carrier Spiridon II reveals dire conditions after the ship spent weeks stranded off Turkey with nearly 3,000 cattle. Documentation disputes left about 500 animals missing from official lists, forcing a prolonged offshore wait. The footage shows...
Russia Builds LNG Dark Fleet
Russia is expanding its clandestine LNG shipping network by acquiring three 20‑year‑old carriers that have been transferred to a newly created Turkish company and reflagged under Sierra Leone. The vessels are currently idle, sailing in ballast around the Cape of...
Infrastructure's Next Frontiers W/ Stonepeak’s Michael Dorrell
In this episode, Hugh MacArthur talks with Michael Dorrell, co‑founder of Stonepeak, about the surge in AI‑driven data‑center demand and its ripple effects on the energy sector, highlighting opportunities in gas infrastructure, LNG export projects, and a paradoxical sweet spot...
Fuel Shortages Stem From Hoarding, Not Just Demand
Hoarding creates the fuel supply problem All "servos out of petrol stories" ought be accompanied by specific mention of which fuel - otherwise they're just click-bait What aren't more stories reporting and shaming the hoarders? https://t.co/2PxaL3xXgP
German Shipowners Seek to Make Seafaring Part of National Service
German shipowners, led by VDR President Gaby Bornheim, urged the inclusion of merchant shipping in Germany's national service framework as a civilian maritime reserve. The call follows the stranding of roughly 20,000 seafarers and 50 German vessels in the Gulf...
Starmer Insists No Delays to Type 83 Destroyer
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told MPs he will not allow any delays to the UK’s future Type 83 destroyer programme, stressing the need for steady naval procurement. He linked the project to Scotland’s shipbuilding sector, citing a newly secured Norwegian frigate...
![O9 Solutions Recognized in Three New 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ Reports for Supply Chain Planning [Process and Discrete] and Decision...](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://salestechstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Supplychain-4.jpg)
O9 Solutions Recognized in Three New 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ Reports for Supply Chain Planning [Process and Discrete] and Decision...
o9 Solutions was named a Leader in Gartner’s 2026 Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning – both Discrete and Process Industries, and a Niche Player in the inaugural Decision Intelligence Platforms MQ. The company is one of only two vendors...
Xeneta Schedule Reliability Scorecard - February 2026 - Monthly Update
Xeneta’s February 2026 Schedule Reliability Scorecard shows global on‑time performance slipping to 27 %, the lowest level since January 2025. Average vessel delay rose by 12 hours, pushing the mean delay to 4.9 days. The decline is evident across most trade lanes, with Far East‑Europe...
UK Freight Industry Urged to Join New Police Survey to Tackle Rising Organised Crime
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is urging logistics firms to join a national police‑led survey aimed at quantifying organised acquisitive crime in UK supply chains. The survey, run by Opal – the National Police Chiefs’ Council intelligence unit –...
Fanuc to Invest $90 Million in US Robot Manufacturing Capacity Expansion
Fanuc America announced a $90 million investment to build an 840,000 sq ft robot manufacturing plant in Michigan, slated for completion in late 2027. The expansion will add 225 jobs and bring Fanuc’s U.S. footprint to 3 million sq ft, reflecting nearly $300 million invested since 2019. The...
DB Cargo to Use AI to Improve Locomotive Spare Parts Forecasting
DB Cargo has launched an AI‑driven Spare Parts Forecasting 1.0 system at its Darmstadt railport to improve spare‑part provisioning for about 60 Class 77 diesel locomotives. The model predicts irregular demand, exemplified by correctly forecasting five oil pumps (six actually used) despite...
STG Logistics Survey: Sourcing Diversification, Contract Flexibility, Logistics Network Changes…
STG Logistics released a new industry survey highlighting three emerging trends: shippers are diversifying their sourcing portfolios, demanding greater contract flexibility, and re‑engineering logistics networks to cope with volatile freight markets. Over 60% of respondents plan to add alternative carriers,...
Pakistan Faces Energy Crunch as Qatar LNG Supply Dries
Almost 99% of Pakistan’s LNG imports came from Qatar last year. Now, PAK import terminals are close to shutting down. Pakistan may be forced to turn to more EXPENSIVE and DIRTIER furnace oil to generate power. PAKISTAN SHOULD SEND A BILL FOR...
Optical Vision Systems Transform Microchip Handling Accuracy
esmo AG has integrated senswork’s optical vision technology into its Talos microchip handling system, delivering 5 µm resolution and 0.3‑second inspection cycles. The contact‑less solution eliminates particle contamination and supports chip sizes from 0.8 × 0.8 mm to 5 × 5 mm. Fully automatic calibration and plug‑and‑play...
RIKON Delivers Final A-RMG Cranes to Madrid Intermodal Terminal
JSC RIKON has delivered the final two A‑RMG automated rail‑mounted gantry cranes to the Madrid‑Vicálvaro Intermodal Terminal, completing the fleet slated for the $327 million project. The terminal, a €300 million investment, will handle roughly 150,000 intermodal units each year, linking Atlantic...
Japan Says to Release About One-Month Supply of Crude Oil Reserves Next
Japan announced it will release roughly 80 million barrels of crude from its strategic reserves starting 26 March, supplementing a 15‑day private‑sector release earlier in the month. The drawdown will be executed across 11 sites nationwide, bringing Japan’s total contribution to the...
Micro, AMFI and CEiiA Partner on Turin Microcar Venture
Micro, Automotive Micro Factory Italy (AMFI) and Portuguese engineering firm CEiiA have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and manufacture micro electric vehicles. AMFI’s Turin facility will become the production hub for CEiiA’s BEN microcar, while both companies will...
Carmakers Rush to Secure Aluminium as Middle East War Hits Supply
Automakers are accelerating aluminium purchases as the Israel‑Hamas conflict disrupts key smelting hubs in the Middle East. Export restrictions and port closures have tightened global supply, pushing spot prices above $2,500 per metric ton. Companies such as Volkswagen, Toyota and...
A Summer of Worry for Food Delivery, Quick Commerce Companies
India’s food‑delivery and quick‑commerce platforms are bracing for a summer surge driven by the IPL season, but rider availability is uncertain as many gig workers return to rural areas for harvest work and elections. Demand for gig labor could rise...
Iran War Threatens Global Food Supply Chains
The Iran war has choked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting shipments of fertilizer and liquefied natural gas that underpin global food production. About one‑third of seaborne fertilizer, 35% of nitrogen‑based urea and 45% of sulfur exports now face delays, pushing...