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
Study Finds 83% of Supply Chain Teams Are Deploying or Testing AI
The Hackett Group’s 2026 Supply Chain Key Issues Study shows that 83% of organizations are either deploying or piloting AI in supply‑chain intelligence and analytics, with 79% using AI‑powered visualization tools. AI adoption is strongest in planning functions, where 74% apply it to sales‑and‑operations planning and 72% to advanced scheduling. Cost efficiency remains the top priority, driving broader digital transformation initiatives such as network‑design optimization and transactional automation. However, half of respondents cite data‑quality problems and a shortage of AI talent as major obstacles.
Comau Enters Into a Binding Agreement to Acquire Invent Smart Intralogistics Solutions
Comau has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Invent, a Brazil‑based intralogistics and warehouse‑automation specialist, with the deal slated to close in the third quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approval. The purchase follows Comau’s earlier acquisition of Automha...
Greek Owner Agrees Deal with US to Get Blocked VLCC Out of Hormuz
Greek owner of the 300,000‑dwt VLCC Agios Fanourios I announced that U.S. authorities have cleared the vessel to exit the Strait of Hormuz after a five‑day blockade. The ship, which was previously denied passage to Vietnam, resumed its eastward course in the...
"Taiwan Loses Its Strategic Importance In 18 Months," Says Chamath Palihapitiya
Chamath Palihapitiya told the All‑In podcast that Taiwan’s strategic value will evaporate within 18 months as the United States scales up domestic chip fabs and nanometer‑scale manufacturing breakthroughs approach commercial readiness. He argues that once 1‑2 nm lithography becomes viable, the...
GEODIS Selects Rotate to Strengthen Global Air Cargo Market Intelligence
GEODIS has entered a strategic partnership with data‑analytics firm Rotate to enhance its air freight market intelligence. The collaboration gives GEODIS real‑time, hourly visibility of global cargo capacity through Rotate’s Live Capacity platform and deep demand insights via the Air...
Maersk and SLPA Discuss Terminal Efficiency at Port of Colombo
Maersk’s senior delegation met with Sri Lanka Ports Authority officials at the Port of Colombo to review operational performance and explore deeper cooperation. The talks centered on vessel turnaround, berth planning, schedule reliability, transshipment coordination, and inter‑terminal trucking. Both parties...
Critical Minerals Supply Chain Resilience Starts Upstream — Where US Policy Is Weakest
The article argues that U.S. critical‑minerals risk stems from weak upstream governance, not just sourcing shortages. While the CHIPS and Science Act earmarks $53 billion for domestic semiconductor and battery production, upstream mining and processing remain largely foreign and misaligned with...
More than 5,100 Freight-Related Layoffs Hit US Supply Chain Sector
A wave of freight‑related layoffs has swept the U.S. supply‑chain, affecting more than 5,100 workers across at least 20 states. The biggest hit came from FreshRealm, which filed Chapter 11 and cut over 1,000 jobs while shutting plants in California, New Jersey...
Europe’s Green Steel Push Hits Hydrogen Wall
Europe’s low‑emission steel transition is now limited by hydrogen availability and cost. Projects with strong hydrogen ambitions cluster around low‑cost renewable power in Northern Europe and Spain, while many producers adopt flexible DRI‑EAF units that can switch between hydrogen and...
U.S. and China Vie for African Critical Mineral Assets as Competition Intensifies
The United States and China are deepening their contest for Africa’s critical mineral deposits, a sector that holds about 30% of global reserves. Recent diplomatic talks highlighted the stakes, while Kenya’s $5 bn Chinese railway loan underscores the debt risks that...
White House Gets Small Rare Earth Win, but China's Export Regime Is Here to Stay
At the recent US‑China leaders summit, the White House announced that Beijing will address American concerns over shortages of critical rare earths such as yttrium, scandium and indium. The agreement stops short of removing China’s export controls, signaling that the...
M&A Relocation Logistics: A CFO's Practical Guide
M&A relocation logistics often cost 20‑40% more than initial integration models, eroding deal value in the post‑close quarters. CFOs who treat relocation as a core financial workstream can capture these hidden expenses by mapping property, equipment, and headcount early and...
G7 Finance Ministers Meet in Paris to Tackle War‑Driven Economic Uncertainty in Emerging Markets
G7 finance ministers gathered in Paris to coordinate policy responses to the Middle East conflict, warning that global imbalances are unsustainable and that emerging markets face heightened inflation, financing strains and critical‑mineral shortages.
Supreme Court Ruling on Broker Liability Will Drive Trucking Costs Up
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that freight brokers can be held liable for negligently selecting carriers with poor safety records, overturning the long‑standing exemption from state tort claims. The decision subjects roughly 28,000 brokers to potential lawsuits unless they...
Amazon Now Rolls Out $3.99 30‑Minute Delivery in U.S. Cities
Amazon has launched its premium 30‑minute delivery service, Amazon Now, in dozens of U.S. and international markets. The service starts at $3.99 for Prime members and $13.99 for non‑members, using new micro‑hubs stocked with about 3,500 items. The move intensifies...
AD Ports Group Awards $200 Million Contracts for Congo Container Terminal Expansion
AD Ports Group announced three contracts totaling roughly AED 735 million (about $200 million) to expand the Noatum Ports Pointe‑Noire terminal in the Republic of the Congo. The marine works contract, worth $150 million, goes to a MAR CONTRACTING‑MBTP joint venture, while ZPMC...
Delhivery CEO Sahil Barua Calls Amazon’s 3PL Push “Old Product in New Wrapper”, Questions XpressBees Edge
Delhivery CEO Sahil Barua dismissed Amazon’s newly opened third‑party logistics platform in India as an “old product in a new wrapper,” questioning its strategic value for merchants. He highlighted a scale mismatch, noting that external shipments would be tiny compared...
EU Bill Caps Single-Supplier Imports at 40%, Forces Diversification
Proposed EU law would set ceilings, expected to be about 30 to 40 per cent, for what can be bought from a single supplier, like China. The rest of the components would need to be sourced from at least three...
Russia Engages Cuba to Counter U.S. Oil Blockade
MOSCOW, May 18 (Reuters) - Russia is in constant contact with Cuba's leadership to determine what can be done to ease the impact of the U.S. oil blockade on the Caribbean island, the Kremlin said on Monday.
Amazon Now to Deploy 1,000 Eicher Electric Trucks
Amazon India announced plans to deploy around 1,000 Volvo Eicher electric trucks for its Amazon Now quick‑commerce service by 2028, with 50 trucks already operating. The trucks can travel 100‑180 km per charge and recharge in about 50 minutes, enabling multiple trips between fulfilment...
Chapman Freeborn and EngineStands.com Complete Time-Sensitive Engine Stand Delivery to Johannesburg
Chapman Freeborn and EngineStands.com successfully delivered a CFM56-7B engine stand to Johannesburg at the end of April, meeting a tight deadline. The partnership leveraged Chapman Freeborn's air‑cargo capacity to move the equipment quickly from storage to the customer’s site. The...
DP World and Al Dahra Holding MOU Targets Agri-Logistics
DP World and Al Dahra Holding have signed an MOU to develop agri‑logistics across the GCC and globally. The partnership will create end‑to‑end supply‑chain solutions, including dedicated port and cold‑chain infrastructure, joint investments in logistics facilities, and digital traceability platforms....
Iran Unveils Crypto Insurance Regime for Hormuz
Iran announced a new insurance‑based regime called Hormuz Safe to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, issuing blockchain‑verified marine policies payable in Bitcoin. The scheme requires vessels to file a mandatory Vessel Information Declaration with the newly created Persian...
GE Aerospace to Invest ₹100 Crore in Pune Manufacturing Facility
GE Aerospace announced a fresh investment of ₹100 crore (≈ $12 million) to upgrade its Pune manufacturing plant, bringing total spend in the facility to over ₹510 crore (≈ $61 million) in three years. The funds will finance new welding technology, advanced inspection equipment and infrastructure...
EU to Force Companies to Buy Components From Non-Chinese Suppliers, FT Reports
The European Union is drafting rules that will require companies to source critical components from at least three non‑Chinese suppliers, limiting any single supplier to 30‑40% of total purchases. The measure focuses on sectors such as chemicals and industrial machinery,...
Maersk Halts Middle East Bookings, Adds $3,800 Fee
Maersk announced a suspension of new bookings for several Middle Eastern countries and key Persian Gulf ports amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The carrier also introduced an emergency surcharge of up to $3,800 per container for hazardous,...
CPO Crunch: Building Leadership Muscle
The "CPO Crunch: Building leadership muscle" piece underscores that today’s chief procurement officers must evolve beyond transactional buying to become strategic leaders. It highlights three pillars—data‑driven decision making, cross‑functional influence, and talent development—as essential for strengthening leadership capability. The article...
Defence Groups Clamour to Delay US Ban on Chinese Rare Earth Magnets
U.S. defence industry groups have urged the administration to postpone a pending ban on Chinese‑origin rare‑earth magnets, arguing the restriction would jeopardise critical weapon‑system production. The ban, slated for early 2025, targets neodymium‑iron‑boron magnets that power everything from guided munitions...
Bloomberg Daybreak Asia: China to Buy US Goods (Podcast)
China has pledged to buy at least $17 billion of U.S. agricultural products each year through 2028, a commitment announced after President Donald Trump’s two‑day summit in Beijing. The deal includes plans for both nations to cut levies on selected goods,...
45,000-Worker Samsung DRAM Strike Threatens Global Memory Supply
Samsung Electronics faces a walkout of roughly 45,000 workers at its memory‑chip factories, the largest labor action in the DRAM sector. The strike raises immediate concerns about shortages of high‑bandwidth memory needed for data‑center and artificial‑intelligence workloads worldwide.
Manufacturing Growth Accelerates as MYOB Research Points to Budget Support as Potential Catalyst
Australian SME manufacturers are outpacing peers, with 30% reporting revenue growth versus a 19% average across all small businesses, according to MYOB’s Business Monitor of over 1,000 firms. While confidence is high—one‑third expect profitability gains—the sector faces steep cost pressures,...
Brookfield to Acquire World Freight Company From EQT and PAI Partners
Brookfield Asset Management’s private‑equity division has signed an agreement to purchase World Freight Company, an air‑cargo sales and service agent, from EQT and PAI Partners. The deal, expected to close by the end of 2026, marks a notable cross‑border PE‑to‑PE...
China's Sulphuric Acid Export Ban Threatens EV Battery Supply Chains
China has announced an immediate ban on sulphuric acid exports, a key chemical for nickel leaching and battery production. The move, timed after Middle East shipping disruptions, raises concerns for EV battery manufacturers and could ripple into fertilizer and food...
Greek State Grants Metlen €300 Million to Boost Gallium Production and Cut EU Imports
The Greek Interministerial Committee for Strategic Investments approved a €300 million ($348.8 m) project by Metlen Energy & Metals to expand gallium production, securing €118 million ($137.2 m) in state grants and tax incentives. The move targets EU supply‑security goals for the critical semiconductor...
Toyota Seeks $2 B Texas Plant Approval, Pledges 2,000 Jobs by 2030
Toyota Motor Corp. has filed with Texas officials to build a $2 billion assembly line—codenamed Project Orca—at its San Antonio complex. The plan calls for construction to start by the end of 2026, production in 2030 and the creation of roughly...
Supply Chain Technology: Types of Practical Supply Chain Tech
Supply chain technology now spans AI‑driven forecasting, IoT sensors, barcode tracking, 3D printing, cloud SaaS, advanced analytics, digital twins, robotics and digital procurement platforms. The article uses Aerflo’s portable carbonation business to illustrate how each tool improves visibility, cuts lead...
Scale, Disruption and the New Rules of Ground Handling
Menzies Aviation reported 2025 revenue of $3 billion, up 16 percent YoY, with EBITDA of $406 million and support for 5.3 million flights. Growth stemmed from organic expansion and the acquisition of G2 Secure Staff, which doubled its U.S. footprint and expanded its network...
China's AI-Driven Port Operates Fully without Human Workers
Fully #Automated: China’s #AI-Powered Port Moves Cargo Without Humans by @_fluxfeeds #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #ML #MI https://t.co/pNEu6UX9En
Npm Registry Attack Exposes Millions of Apps, Highlights Software Supply‑Chain Risks
A recent report details a supply‑chain attack on the npm registry that compromised millions of enterprise applications and exposed billions of user records. The breach, driven by a hijacked utility package, spotlights the fragility of JavaScript's deep dependency trees and...
ZIM CEO Resigns Ahead of Hapag‑Lloyd Merger Over Integration Hurdles
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services' chief executive announced his resignation as the company moves toward a merger with Hapag‑Lloyd. The departure is linked to concerns about integrating the two global carriers. The move adds uncertainty to a deal that could reshape...
Figure AI’s Humanoid Robot Sorts 101,000 Packages in 81‑Hour Continuous Run
Figure AI demonstrated its humanoid robot “Jim” sorting 101,391 packages over 81 continuous hours, a record for autonomous logistics. The livestream sparked debate over the feasibility of fully automated “dark factories” and highlighted both speed gains and accuracy concerns.
Hyundai Pushes Partner to Deliver Tens‑thousands of Humanoid Robots
"...the company is under pressure to speed the delivery of working humanoids to Hyundai, which said it wants to integrate “tens of thousands” of them into its own carmaking plants in the next few years."
Ancient Pearl Highlights 8,000-Year Gulf Trade Shift to Land
The world's oldest pearl testifies to 8000 years of Gulf trade Now Strait of Hormuz disruption is forcing Gulf transit towards pipelines and rail Maritime trade routes are re-orienting towards land https://t.co/CJdDSmHqdj
Australia's Bushmaster Gets a Dutch Encore After Proving Itself in Ukraine
Australia is selling Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to the Netherlands, though the exact number and price remain undisclosed. The sale coincides with a larger Australian commitment of AUD 1.2 billion (about US $800 million) to produce 268 new Bushmasters, upgrade army trucks, and continue...
Foxconn Confirms Cyberattack, Ransomware Group Claims 8 TB Data Theft
Foxconn disclosed a cyberattack this week, with the Nitrogen ransomware gang asserting it exfiltrated 8 TB of data. The breach underscores the vulnerability of the world’s largest electronics assembler and its downstream supply‑chain partners.
Ukrainian Drone Strike Sets Ryazan Oil Refinery Ablaze, Halting 17.1M‑Ton Output
Ukrainian drones hit Russia's Ryazan oil refinery on Friday, sparking a massive fire that halted the plant’s 17.1 million‑ton annual capacity. The attack killed at least four people, wounded dozens, and produced reports of “black rain” falling over the city, raising...
India Taps Oman to Rescue $11.8 Billion Food Exports to West Asia
India is turning to Oman’s ports and land corridors to sustain its $11.8 billion annual food export pipeline to West Asia after the Strait of Hormuz became impassable. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has been negotiating with...
Iraq Exported 10 Million Barrels Of Oil Through Strait Of Hormuz In April
Iraq exported roughly 10 million barrels of crude through the Strait of Hormuz in April, a steep drop from the pre‑conflict average of about 93 million barrels per month. The country is producing 1.4 million barrels per day and has restarted the Kirkuk‑Ceyhan...
Leapmotor Leverages Stellantis Deal to Accelerate European Market Entry
Stellantis deepened its joint venture with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, adding production lines for Leapmotor’s B10 SUV at its Zaragoza plant and earmarking the Villaverde, Madrid site for future models. The move gives Leapmotor a European manufacturing base and a...
Turkey's Beylikova Rare‑Earth Deposit Triggers Strategic Supply‑Chain Tug‑of‑War
Turkey announced plans to develop the Beylikova rare‑earth deposit, estimated at 694 million tons of ore and potentially yielding 12.5 million tons of critical minerals. The move has ignited a strategic contest between the United States and China for control of a...