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
Asia's EVolution: Indonesia’s Nickel Powers Global Electric Vehicle Boom but at What Cost to the Country?
Indonesia now provides roughly 40% of the world’s nickel, a critical component for electric‑vehicle batteries. A 2014 export ban and a 2020 full ban forced the country to build a domestic refining sector, which exploded from six plants in 2015 to 79 by the end of 2025, largely financed by Chinese investors. The rapid expansion relies on coal‑fired power, creating severe air and water pollution and reshaping fishing villages into industrial hubs. While the boom fuels global EV growth, it leaves local communities grappling with environmental degradation and social disruption.
Hormuz Stayed Open During Iran War, US Narrative Persists
The Strait of Hormuz saw no disruptions—even during the intense 12-day war with Iran last June—yet the Trump administration's National Security Strategy, released last November, still states: 👉"America will always have core interests in ensuring that Gulf energy supplies do not...
Trump Admin Grants One-Month Waiver on Iranian Sea-Borne Oil, Adding 140 M Barrels to Market
The Trump administration, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, issued a one‑month license that temporarily lifts sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea, unlocking roughly 140 million barrels of supply. The move is intended to ease global fuel‑price pressure as the...
Flotilla Departs From Mexico With Aid For Cuba
Volunteers in Mexico’s Yucatán state loaded modest boats with rice, baby wipes, beans, and medical supplies for Cuba, launching the “Nuestra America Convoy” to deliver essential goods amid a deepening economic crisis. The convoy aims to consolidate aid at a...
WHO Sends First Overland Convoy From Emergencies Hub to Beirut
WHO dispatched its first overland convoy of medical supplies from the Dubai Global Logistics Hub to Beirut, delivering 22 metric tonnes of medicines and trauma equipment. The shipment can treat about 50,000 patients and support 40,000 surgical procedures, arriving within...
North Korean Shipments of Shells to Russia Tail Off
Analysis by the Open Source Centre traced four sanctioned vessels that have moved between 8 million and 11 million North Korean artillery rounds to Russia since September 2023. The ships—Angara, Maia‑1, Maria and Lady R—used deceptive AIS filings that listed South Korean ports while...
Shared Radar: Maritime Supply Chain Visibility in a Weaponized World
The article presents the Virtual Watch Tower (VWT) as a new, federated model for maritime and intermodal supply‑chain visibility, positioning it against proprietary control towers, state‑run platforms, and defence‑only networks. VWT treats situational awareness as a public good, using the...
Ukrainian Strike Leaves Russian Tanker Adrift and Abandoned
Alleged Ukrainian attack on Russian tanker leaves it abandoned and drifting... Geopolitical Guy | Substack https://bit.ly/4lIlrnH
HHLA TK Estonia to Deploy Battery-Powered RTG Cranes
HHLA TK Estonia will become Europe’s first container terminal to run fully battery‑powered rubber‑tired gantry (RTG) cranes. The Konecranes‑built units, each with a 296 kWh battery, can operate up to eight hours on a single charge, allowing a complete shift without...
ANL Announces General Rate Increase for Asia–Oceania Trades
ANL, a CMA CGM subsidiary, announced a General Rate Increase for its Asia–Oceania services effective April 16 2026. The GRI adds $350 to 20‑foot dry and reefer containers and $700 to 40‑foot dry, high‑cube and reefer units. The hike covers shipments between Northeast...
Digital Nomads: Samuel Odeloye Left Lagos. He Never Stopped Building for It.
Samuel Odeloye, the founder of Lagos‑centric chatbot Lara.ng, left Nigeria for the United States but kept the platform’s eight‑year transit data alive. After Lara.ng stalled, he repurposed its routing intelligence into Motions Space Technologies, a last‑mile delivery startup. Motions blends...
Escorts May Favor National Flags Over Convenience Registries
One question for the shipping experts out there. Historically, a lot of the tankers globally have carried flags of convenience (Liberia etc) Given the escort debate, who will escort those? Or, will escorts only be provided to ships with traditional national flags (Japan,...
Hutchison Refuses to Exit Quietly and the Panama Canal Deal Unravels
Li Ka‑shing’s Hutchison Ports is mounting a legal counter‑offensive to avoid a quiet withdrawal from its Panama Canal concession. The dispute has turned a U.S.‑backed showcase deal into a protracted standoff, complicating the planned transfer of terminal operations. The deadlock...
In an Era of Closed Skies, Airlines Look to Fly Farther Than Ever
Airlines are deploying Boeing’s 777X ultra‑long‑haul jets as geopolitical tensions make traditional great‑circle routes unreliable. The aircraft’s 18‑hour range enables nonstop links such as Singapore‑New York and opens new possibilities between Australia‑Europe and Southeast Asia‑North America. Closed Russian airspace and volatile Middle‑East corridors...
Limited Wars Prove Containment Can Prevent Escalation
Heard on Bloomberg podcast: “Wars spiral out of control even if they are meant to be contained. This is a historical fact.” WOW. This is the most dangerous statement I’ve seen from any media. And it’s false. Do NOT believe the media when...
Rising Oil Prices and New Tariffs Pressure Supply Chains in the U.S. and Southeast Asia
Higher oil prices and fresh U.S. tariffs are inflating logistics costs for small firms in America, while Southeast Asian economies confront fuel shortages, 30‑40% price spikes and higher freight rates, threatening regional supply‑chain stability.
Gulf Producers Urge US to Tackle Hormuz Closure Head-On
Gulf oil producers are urging the United States to confront the Hormuz blockage directly, warning that temporary "oil‑on‑water" licences aid Iran while constraining regional exporters. They cite roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian crude stranded at sea and argue that without...
Port of New York and New Jersey Sees Rail and Auto Growth in January
The Port of New York and New Jersey logged 749,906 TEUs in January 2026, a 4% year‑on‑year increase. Export volumes jumped 13.9% to 112,426 TEUs, while imports slipped 1.5% to 372,973 TEUs. Rail activity rose 11.5% with 58,522 containers moved,...
A Blunt and Honest Appraisal.
The News Items Podcast featured a candid interview with retired Lt. General Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe and current NATO logistics mentor. Hodges, co‑author of *Future War and the Defence of Europe*, critiqued existing security structures and...
Trucking Spot Rates Surge Nationwide, Blue Dominates Map
This map tracks trucking spot rate momentum by market over the past 4 days. It tracks the percentage of lanes out of a market that are experiencing rate increases vs. decreases. If more than 50% have increases, the market will...
PortSide Stories: Valencia
The Port of Valencia is the Mediterranean’s busiest container hub, handling millions of TEUs each year and serving as Spain’s primary gateway for global trade. Modern terminals equipped with advanced cranes and automation enable rapid cargo movement across rail and...
West Asia Conflict May Trigger Global Inflation Shock if Disruptions Spread; India Relatively Insulated: SBI Research
SBI Research warns that an expanding West Asia conflict could reignite global inflation by disrupting energy markets, trade routes and supply chains. While the immediate price impact may be modest, prolonged hostilities risk broader macro‑economic fallout. India appears relatively insulated...
Designing Operations for Robots Drives Million‑Robot Growth
In 2012, Amazon acquired Kiva. One year later, it had around 1,000 robots. Today, that number exceeds 1 million. This kind of growth didn’t happen by simply adding more machines. Amazon reorganized its warehouses around automation. Robots handle movement, positioning, and flow of goods,...
EU Member States Urged to Lower Gas-Storage Targets Due to Iran War
The European Commission has asked EU member states to cut their natural‑gas storage target to 80% of capacity, ten points below the official goal, and to begin refilling reserves gradually. The request follows a sharp 35% surge in European gas...
SITC and Dalian Maritime University Sign Cooperation Agreement
SITC signed a cooperation agreement with Dalian Maritime University on 18 March 2026, overseen by Chairman Yang Xianxiang and attended by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Maritime Talent Cultivation Alliance. The pact seeks to fuse industry practice with academic research,...
Explosion at Baogang Sparks Rare Earth Supply Concerns
Explosion hits Chinese rare earth producer Baogang, raising uncertainty over safety checks and rare earth supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/explosion-hits-chinese-rare-earth.html
Three‑Week Strait of Hormuz Update: Ship Status, Transits, Escorts
Strait of Hormuz 3-Week Recap | What is the Status of the Ships, Transits and Escort Mission? Video: https://t.co/UqZWLMlwVT https://t.co/k0LjjVKtXf
India & China “Bypass” Iran’s Near-Blockade of Strait of Hormuz; Secure Exceptions as Oil Traffic Drops By 95%
Iran has effectively sealed the Strait of Hormuz, slashing daily oil‑tanker traffic by roughly 95% since early March 2026. The closure has pushed crude prices above $100 a barrel and disrupted about 20% of global oil and LNG flows. Despite...
Procurement Must Leverage Expertise for Maximum Value
“An effective Procurement function should be continually leveraging its functional expertise to ensure the organization gets value for money from supply markets.” ➤ https://t.co/gy1EdLmJwM #procurement #purchasing #supplychain https://t.co/8VvIIvA67f
AI Survives Helium Crunch; Automotive and Industrial Chips Don’t
I’ve spent my Saturday diving into the Helium supply chain. Spoiler: AI might survive this wave longer, but automotive and industrial chips? Not so much.
Inside the World’s First Antimatter Delivery Service
On 21 March 2026 CERN performed the world’s first road transport of antiprotons, moving roughly a hundred particles in a compact, vacuum‑sealed trap aboard a truck. The demonstration used the BASE‑STEP transportable trap system, a filing‑cabinet‑sized container that weighs slightly less than...
US‑Israeli War Triggers Asia‑wide Economic Shock
From fuel rationing in Sri Lanka to restaurant closures in India, flight cancellations in Thailand, and food and fertilizer shocks across Asia -- the ripple effects of the US-Israeli war on Iran are global. THE US-ISRAELI WAR'S COLLATERAL DAMAGE IS MASSIVE. https://t.co/jD1WHbQj6T
Post‑CNY China‑US Container Shipments Just Beginning
He has this backwards. Containers from China to the US post CNY are just getting started. https://t.co/GdRTZKb28Q
China Won’t Be the Biggest Loser if Hormuz Closes
Many commentators on Iran war have seemingly not thought any further ahead than “China is hurt most by Hormuz closing” Below is just one small example of why that view is so wrong 👇
California Clean‑Air Rule Forces New Logistics Strategies
Lisa Anderson was quoted in the Press-Enterprise on Southern California’s clean-air rule aimed at warehouses and what it is changing for logistics and supply chain decisions. https://t.co/gQskCnYPRh #SupplyChain #Logistics #Warehousing https://t.co/3jG0CxCSRS
Senator Urges Trump to Free U.S. Ships in Gulf
U.S.-Flagged Ships Stuck in Persian Gulf as Senator Demands Action for American Crews. What will Trump do? https://t.co/Wx9tOgP9OW
GLP‑1 Drugs Cut More Truckloads than UP‑NS Merger
GLP-1s will take more truckloads off the road than the proposed merger between UP and NS. Grok estimates 3m truckloads reduced as Americans consume less calories. The proposed merger is expected to take 2m truckloads out.
Preventing Crisis: Service Essential for Stranded Vessels
This is an important move: the humanitarian situation on stranded ships and tankers would turn to a crisis without this service @HFI_Research
Iran Offers Japanese Ships Access Through Hormuz Strait
IRAN SAYS READY TO LET JAPAN VESSELS USE HORMUZ — KYODO REPORTS Who knows better about surprises than Japan? https://t.co/yR2ThmWwvU
Freight X Tolerates Driver Weed, Not Broker Smoking
So far, Freight X is more open to letting truck drivers smoke weed off duty than they are about letting brokers smoke on duty https://t.co/KQcLWAWkTz
Operation Epic Fury Costs an Extra $16‑23 Billion
"We estimate the incremental cost of Operation Epic Fury, including positioning maritime and aviation assets in the Middle East starting at the end of December, is between $16.2 and $23.4 billion." https://t.co/LtRjMhx9tD https://t.co/TKCJ1JX9B2
USCG Licensing Halt Highlights Need for War Department Shift
Sadly it’s not just TSA The USCG licensing office is closed and can’t issue US Merchant Marine licenses while 5 🇺🇸 ships remain in the Persian Gulf. Is it time to move USCG and USMM to the Department of War?
US Lifts Sanctions, France Cracks Down—Energy Politics Murky
The US is removing sanctions from shadow fleet ships to ease energy prices while France increases seizures. Hard to tell how much of this is politically motivated.
Freight Forward Highlights Rising Rates and Surcharges
If you missed this week's Freight Forward, here you go. A new one goes out on Monday. Freight Forward: Rising Rates and Surcharges https://t.co/STgoACMPfw
Trucking Crisis: Unknown Drivers Threaten Safety and Economy
Jillian is an expert in transportation cybersecurity. The trucking industry is facing an unprecedented safety, security, and economic crisis because we don't know who is driving our trucks.
Iran War Spares Global Container Volumes; CNY Hits China, Vietnam
Despite the headlines, global container trade volumes are largely unaffected by the Iran War (CNY is the reason that China and Vietnam are down MoM). https://t.co/YplrKgSLTc
West Coast Container Surge Fuels Trucking Volume Rally
Trucking volume rally continues to firm. With west coast container volumes finally showing up, market volumes should sharply increase in coming weeks. https://t.co/8OE3jShFEz
USPS Urged to Chase Heavier, Profitable Shipments
Postmaster General David Steiner said during a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing last Tuesday that USPS must pursue heavier, more profitable shipments in order to better compete with FedEx and UPS. https://t.co/byidPtNYaz
LA Rejection Spike Signals Imminent Capacity Shortage
Rejection levels out of LA nearly double over the past week, shooting above 7% overnight. The role of Southern California in the psychology of shippers can not be understated. This "overnight flip" of LA will signal to shippers to...
Huge Supply Shock Triggers Market Overreaction, Says BlackRock
Rick Rieder of BlackRock told Unhedged. 👉 “This is one of the largest supply shocks we’ve seen in a generation, 👉markets have had to react quickly, 💥 when markets move quickly, they overreact.” https://t.co/RRf6LgSI91