Today's Supply Chain Pulse
50Hertz and Elia launch €752 million offshore HV cable logistics tender
German TSO 50Hertz and Belgian TSO Elia have issued a joint €752 million procurement for offshore high‑voltage cable repair logistics and jointing services. The framework spans multi‑year call‑off contracts from November 2027 to October 2035 and is divided into six lots, including three repair‑logistics lots worth €110 million each.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
The Netherlands Wants to Spend €1bln on Rail Freight in the Coming Years
The Dutch government announced a commitment of up to €1 billion (about $1.08 billion) to strengthen rail freight, targeting both civilian logistics and military mobility. Funding will support the High‑Frequency Rail Program, ERTMS upgrades, port capacity projects, the 740‑metre train initiative, and yard modernisation. While infrastructure receives a boost, the state secretary warned that financial limits mean not all 2050 rail‑freight ambitions can be met and no new resources will curb track access charges. The plan reflects a strategic shift toward greener transport amid broader EU climate policies.
Splash Wrap: Trading Missiles
The Indian Navy recovered an unexploded missile warhead from the VLCC Olympic Life after it was hit amid the renewed Hormuz shipping crisis, which has seen fresh US‑Iran clashes and tanker attacks off Oman. Meanwhile, Belgian shipowner Exmar took delivery...
Sack Kraft Supply and Demand Is Shifting: What It Means for Procurement Teams
The sack kraft market, a key paper‑based packaging segment for food, beverage, chemicals and construction, is evolving into a specialized niche with its own supply‑demand fundamentals. Recent closures of non‑competitive capacity in Europe, high energy costs tied to the Middle...
![[Guide] The Delivery Control Gap : A Field Guide to Delivery Excellence](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/90f1c0b0565ca5b1b1f9cbd9916cb617.webp)
[Guide] The Delivery Control Gap : A Field Guide to Delivery Excellence
The new nShift field guide spotlights the "delivery control gap" that plagues modern e‑commerce logistics. It identifies three critical failure points: unrealistic checkout promises, hidden cost leakage in surcharges and invoices, and post‑purchase silence that overwhelms support teams. The guide...
DHL Says Clean Energy Technology Is Getting Harder to Transport
DHL warns that clean‑energy equipment is becoming increasingly complex, hazardous and oversized, making transport more difficult. The logistics giant cites giant wind‑turbine blades and fire‑risk batteries as prime examples of the new challenges. CEO Tobias Meyer projects revenue from its...
Pacific Nations Launch Regional Shipping Body to Modernise Island Fleets
Seven Pacific island nations—Fiji, Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu—signed the charter establishing the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP), with Palau and Tonga expected to join. Headquartered in Majuro, the partnership is chaired by Marshall Islands transport minister...
Hormuz Tanker Blocked as Iran Disputes Scope of US Deal
Iran’s foreign ministry pushed back on President Trump’s claim that a nuclear deal has been broadly approved, saying no final agreement exists and several conditions remain unresolved. Tehran insists any accord must address enriched uranium stockpiles, frozen assets and its...
Tanker Industry Advisory Sheds New Light on Trump’s Secret Hormuz Transit Operation
President Donald Trump claimed a covert U.S. mission has kept the Strait of Hormuz open, a statement now backed by an INTERTANKO advisory that details a nightly “Omani route” coordinated with the U.S. Navy. The advisory says roughly 15 vessels...
Honeywell’s AI Tools Ease the Move From Automation to Autonomy
Honeywell is translating its 100‑year automation legacy into AI‑driven autonomy by packaging modular agents for life‑science and industrial processes. The company unveiled tools such as TrackWise AI Compass, CAPA Advisor, and a Records Processing Agent at its User Group Americas...
Hundreds of BHP Workers Back Strike at Key Australian Iron Ore Export Hub
Hundreds of BHP workers at Port Hedland voted to strike, with the Electrical Trades Union reporting a unanimous 100 % vote among its 100 members and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union recording 89.4 % support from over 100 members. The unions said...
Japan Cuts 25% WF6 Capacity Amid Chinese Powder Shortage
SunSirs: Japan Shuts Down 25% of Global WF6 Capacity: A Major Supply Chain Blow - ChemNet From January 2026, China's high-purity tungsten powder exports to Japan have basically disappeared. 60% to 70% of the production cost of tungsten hexafluoride comes from tungsten...
Iran War Settlement Set to Drop Oil Prices
"... We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran, and we're going to be subject to finalization of documents..." "... Oil will start coming down [...] We will have a signing soon […] It should be done very...
Accenture Report: U.S. Businesses Face Shortage of 1.1 Million Supply Chain Workers by 2035
Accenture’s latest supply‑chain workforce report projects that U.S. companies will need 1.34 million new supply‑chain jobs by 2035, yet the labor market will only add about 221,000 qualified workers, creating a shortfall of roughly 1.1 million positions. The gap stems from reshoring,...
China’s REE Export Bans Target Chipmakers After Policy Push
Notice essay does not mention REEs and magnets....Interesting that story in comment drops same day. Chinese export controls on REEs/magnets are a direct response to the controls that Dario advocates be expanded. They will begin to affect TSMC/Samsung/SK soon. Let...
Trade Among Geopolitical Rivals: Michele Ruta
In this episode, IMF trade expert Michele Ruta discusses how geopolitics has always shaped trade, but the current U.S.-China rivalry is unique because of their deep economic interdependence. He explains that traditional WTO rules—non‑discrimination and reciprocity—were designed for a different...
Why Kharg Island Is Central to Trump's Escalating Iran Threats
President Donald Trump warned on Truth Social that the United States could seize Iran’s Kharg Island, the nation’s primary oil export hub handling about 90% of its crude shipments. The island’s deep‑water port loads roughly 7 million barrels per day, making...
The Self-Driving Enterprise Is Already Here with Fred Laluyaux of Aera Technology
In this episode, Fred Laluyaux, co‑founder and CEO of Aera Technology, explains the concept of decision intelligence and how it enables a "self‑driving enterprise" where AI agents make and execute decisions at scale rather than merely offering recommendations. He outlines...
U.S. Military Says Hormuz Open After Iran Declares Strait Closed
U.S. Central Command reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial shipping, countering a notice from the Iran‑linked Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) that declared the waterway closed. CENTCOM highlighted that hundreds of vessels have safely transited in...
A Logistics Company Designed an AI Tool Inspired by Its Supply-Chain Veteran COO. Meet Uncle Phil.
Lazer Logistics has launched Uncle Phil AI, an artificial‑intelligence coaching tool modeled after its veteran COO Phil Newsome. The system pulls data from telematics, in‑cab video, maintenance, labor and yard‑management workflows to give site managers real‑time operational guidance across its...
LR and Maersk Assess Rotterdam Nuclear Ship Call Feasibility
A joint study by Lloyd’s Register, Core Power, Maersk and the Port of Rotterdam examined the feasibility of nuclear‑powered merchant ships calling at EU ports. It identified regulatory misalignment, safety‑governance gaps and public‑acceptance hurdles as the chief barriers. The report...
Briton Guilty of Brokering Jets and Missiles to War Zones
British businessman David Greenhalgh was convicted after a nine‑week trial for brokering illegal sales of ex‑Soviet fighter jets, missile systems and thousands of assault rifles to conflict zones in Sudan, South Sudan and Libya. He and Greek partner Christos Farmakis...
Ranking the Top 50 Global Third-Party Logistics Providers
Logistics Management’s 2026 Top 50 3PL rankings show Amazon cementing its dominance with $172.2 billion in 2025 logistics revenue, far outpacing rivals. C.H. Robinson is the highest‑ranking U.S. non‑Amazon provider at $14.8 billion, while DSV claims the No. 2 global slot with $37.4 billion. The U.S....
New White House Executive Order Targets Customs Loopholes, Tightens Import Enforcement
The White House issued an executive order titled “Strengthening Customs Enforcement” to overhaul U.S. customs enforcement. It mandates importers of record (IORs) to maintain higher bond coverage, disclose extensive data, and prove “good standing,” while tightening rules for low‑value imports...
KLM Chief Frustrated with A350 Freighter Delays
KLM CEO Marjan Rintel warned that Airbus’s A350 freighter program is now slated for 2027, more than 18 months later than originally planned. The delay forces KLM to keep operating its noisy Boeing 747‑400F at Schiphol, where strict noise and...
Rotterdam Study Outlines Port Calls for Nuclear-Powered Commercial Vessels
A joint study by Lloyd’s Register, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, CORE POWER and A.P. Møller‑Maersk examined the feasibility of nuclear‑powered feeder ships calling at the Port of Rotterdam. The analysis found that existing European port safety and risk‑management frameworks can serve...
Persian Gulf Bottleneck Tightens Global Container Supply
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and severe port congestion have left at least 72 container vessels, representing roughly 219,500 TEUs, idle in the Persian Gulf since June 1. This bottleneck is preventing the timely return of empty containers...
Canada Sends Another Batch of Mine-Proof Vehicles to Ukraine
Canada has delivered a new batch of Roshel Senator MRAP vehicles to Ukraine, completing part of the 383‑vehicle donation announced on February 24, 2026. The Senator meets NATO STANAG 4569 Levels 2 and 3 and can survive blasts up to 8 kg of TNT, a critical...
Robotic Trailer Loading/Unloading: High Interest, Limited Adoption
Interest in robotic trailer loading and unloading is high, but adoption remains minimal. A July 2025 Indago survey of 23 supply‑chain executives found only 4% have deployed robots, while 57% are evaluating the technology and 39% have no plans. Cost...
How Major Importers Are Adapting to Qatar LNG Supply Disruptions
New Cedigaz analysis shows major LNG importers are coping with Qatar supply disruptions by leaning on system flexibility rather than contract terms. China, the biggest contracted buyer at 27 mtpa, mitigates risk through high inventories, domestic production and alternative pipeline imports....
The Driver Remains the Box Truck’s Achilles Heel
Box trucks are safer on paper, but drivers behind the wheel are the weak link. FMCSA inspections show box‑truck drivers receive out‑of‑service orders 7.6 times per 100 inspections—almost double tractor‑trailer drivers—primarily for licensing, medical and substance‑abuse violations. Federal rules exempt...
Nvidia Launches AI Factory Manager Blueprint for Autonomous Manufacturing
Nvidia unveiled the Factory Operations Blueprint (FOX) at GTC Taipei, offering a reference design for an AI‑driven factory manager that unifies machine data, quality systems, robot fleets and alerts. Built on the NemoClaw framework and Nemotron models, FOX integrates with...
Iran and the New Persian Gulf Equilibrium
A fragile two‑month ceasefire between Iran and the United States remains punctuated by skirmishes, including a U.S. helicopter shoot‑down and President Trump’s threats to seize Iran’s Kharg Island. The failure of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” to deter American and Israeli...
Ship4wd Earns 2026 "Overall Digital Freight Shipping Solution Provider of the Year” Recognition From SupplyTech Breakthrough
Ship4wd was named the 2026 Overall Digital Freight Shipping Solution Provider of the Year by SupplyTech Breakthrough. Backed by ZIM Group, the platform now combines a Chinese wholesale marketplace with end‑to‑end freight forwarding for small and mid‑size businesses. The November...
The ELD Compliance Paradox and What It Tells Us About Visibility and Incentives
The federal mandate for electronic logging devices (ELDs) in 2017, tightened in 2019, gave regulators unprecedented visibility into truck drivers' hours-of-service (HOS). A recent Journal of Business Logistics study examined 17 million inspections from 2013‑2023 and found that large carriers relying...
Bl Interview: Global Trade Networks Can Help Businesses Navigate a Fragmented World
The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) leverages a network spanning more than 300 cities in roughly 100 countries to help firms diversify supply chains and access new markets. It offers SMEs affordable services such as trade education, matchmaking, and assistance...
Visual Components Launches New Version of Its Factory Simulation Software
Visual Components has released version 5.1 of its 3D factory simulation platform, adding high‑fidelity physics, 10× faster performance, and the ability to run hundreds of autonomous mobile robots, AGVs and people in a single virtual environment. The update also introduces...
Bulker Operator Pioneer Navigation to Wind up US Operations
Pioneer Navigation, a U.S.-based bulker operator founded in 2024, announced it will wind down its Stamford operations during the third quarter of 2026. The company’s fleet includes handysize, supramax and ultramax vessels that serve global dry‑bulk routes. Activities and assets...
Hormuz ‘Definitely Shut’, Landbridges Under Pressure – TIR to the Rescue?
The closure of the Hormuz Strait after recent Iran‑U.S. air strikes has forced Gulf importers to rely on all‑road routes as Red Sea ports in Saudi Arabia become severely congested. Forwarders report six‑to‑eight‑week delays securing containers at Jeddah and King...
Equasis Adds Ship-to-Ship Transfer Records From DYNAMARINe
Ship-to-ship transfer specialist DYNAMARINe has integrated its vessel data into the Equasis maritime information platform after being approved as a data provider in late 2023. The integration adds a dedicated STS operations section showing each ship’s subscription status, onboard equipment...
The North Sea Route as an Alternative to the Hormuz-Red Sea Conundrum
The ongoing crises in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al‑Mandab have revived interest in the Arctic North Sea Route (NSR) as a viable alternative for global oil, gas and fertilizer shipments. Melting sea ice now allows vessels to shave...
US Military Confirms Attack on Third Indian-Crewed Tanker Off Gulf of Oman
The U.S. Central Command confirmed that a U.S. aircraft struck the Guinea‑Bissau‑flagged bitumen tanker MT Jalveer in the Gulf of Oman, disabling its engine after the vessel failed to obey orders. This marks the third Iranian‑oil carrier disabled this week as...
Geodis Taps Supply Chain Veteran Eric Gerbi to Lead Forwarding Business
Geodis has appointed Eric Gerbi as executive vice‑president and head of its Global Freight Forwarding division, succeeding Henri Le Gouis after a 20‑month stint. Gerbi, who has been the division’s CFO since 2024, previously ran the company’s supply‑chain optimisation unit and served...
Europe Eyes Brazil’s Rare Earth Rush
The European Union is intensifying its push to secure Brazil’s rare‑earth reserves as part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on China. Commissioner Jozef Síkela will travel to Brazil from June 18‑24 to discuss investment, supply agreements, and local processing projects....
US Shippers Warn Revived China Ship Fees Could ‘Eliminate’ Ag Exports
U.S. agriculture groups warn that reinstating port fees on Chinese‑built vessels could add $600‑$900 per container, pushing soybean, corn and timber prices higher and threatening export volumes. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mark Kelly have urged the U.S. trade representative to...
Forwarders Face Margin Squeeze as Growth Cools and Disruption Persists
The global freight forwarding market reached roughly $240 bn in 2025, but growth is set to decelerate sharply, with 2026 projected to expand only 2.5% after a 4.4% rise last year. Both air and sea forwarding segments are feeling the slowdown,...
Greek Newbuilding Orders Surge as Gulf Crisis Turns Into Opportunity
Greek shipowners have accelerated newbuilding activity since March, shifting from a modest tanker bet to a broad market‑share push across all vessel types. Allied QuantumSea reports 115 firm orders in the past three months, rising to 133 when options are...
African Demand + Capacity = Import Explosion Feeding Container Growth
Container traffic between the Far East and Sub‑Saharan Africa surged dramatically, with 2025 volumes climbing 26.5% to 4.79 million TEU and the first four months of 2026 already up 28.3% year‑to‑date at 1.74 million TEU. The boom reflects a convergence of exploding...
Three Civilian Seafarers Dead in US Attack on Settebello
The U.S. military attacked the oil‑products tanker Settebello on 9 June in the Gulf of Oman, killing three Indian seafarers and injuring another. Washington justified the strike as enforcement of its blockade of Iranian ports, claiming the vessel ignored repeated commands....
Tender Rejections Surge Before July 4th, Tightening Ahead
Tender rejections always have their most significant surge headed into July 4th. Expect significant tightening as we get closer to independence week. https://t.co/etEDVrLHKB
DHL Restores Gulf Network, but Airlines Stay Wary After Latest Strikes
DHL says its Gulf air‑cargo network has largely bounced back, with transit times shrinking from five‑to‑seven days to the pre‑conflict 24‑48 hour window. The company relied on backup hubs in Riyadh and Muscat and a dedicated Liège‑Jeddah freighter service, now shifted...