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
AI, Supply Chains, and the Future of Economic Power
In this episode, Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, discusses how AI, hardware, and secure supply chains have become central to U.S. economic and national security. He outlines the administration’s three‑front strategy to win the AI race: superior model innovation, dominant market share, and resilient supply chains, highlighting initiatives like the AI Action Plan, the AI Export Program, and the Paxilica partnership. Helberg also explains how recent tariff policies aim to rebalance trade deficits, spur domestic manufacturing, and align economic policy with security goals. The conversation ties these efforts to broader geopolitical competition, especially against China’s state‑aligned tech ecosystem.
AfA Issues Warning over DHS Security Shutdown
The Department of Homeland Security shutdown has entered its fifth week, leaving the Transportation Security Administration shorthanded after more than 300 officers resigned. While passenger checkpoints feel the immediate impact, the staffing shortfall threatens the broader aviation security framework, including...
Increase in DIY and Hardware Retailers Offering Same Day Delivery
New Gophr research shows UK hardware and DIY retailers increased same‑day delivery adoption from 22 % to 32 % year‑on‑year. Yet speed remains uneven: only 26 % can fulfil orders within an hour and 46 % impose conditions such as cut‑off times or location...
Open Modal Launches New Domestic ‘Combi’ Route
Open Modal has launched a new domestic combined‑rail route linking Lille and Miramas via Bonneuil, effective March 10. The service begins with three weekly round‑trips, slated to increase to five, and joins its existing Mediterranean corridor routes. Trains are 750 metres long,...
Supplier Management as a Continuous Signal
The article argues that traditional supplier management—treating suppliers as static records after onboarding—fails in modern procure-to-pay (P2P) environments with thousands of suppliers and dynamic risk profiles. It advocates a continuous‑signal approach where supplier data is constantly enriched by transactional evidence...
Can Diesel Go Further? GB Railfreight Launches Large-Scale Fuel Additive Trial
GB Railfreight has launched a two‑week fuel additive trial in partnership with Fuelcare and Treyarnon Consulting to test chemical enhancements for diesel locomotives. The program, one of the largest UK freight fuel trials, will evaluate engine efficiency, reliability, and emissions...
EU Approves Support Measure: Combined Transport on Frejus Line Can Make a Comeback
The European Commission approved a €5 million support measure, split equally between France and Italy, to revive combined‑transport operations on the 175‑kilometre Fréjus railway linking Aiton and Orbassano. The line, closed since a landslide in August 2023, is expected to restart...
Dalian Shipping Launched with Local Government Backing and Hengli Support
Dalian Shipping Co was launched this week as a government‑backed shipping venture supported by Hengli, the world’s fastest‑growing shipbuilder. The partnership blends municipal and provincial financing with Hengli’s massive order book, allowing newly built vessels to be quickly absorbed into...
The Buyer's Journey for Warehouse Automation
The episode explores the warehouse automation buying journey from three angles: iAutomate’s CEO Christoph Buchmann explains how the process truly begins with identifying a problem and validating automation as the right solution; Staples Canada’s Mert Selchuk describes a data‑driven, internal...
The Price of Vassalage
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and QatarEnergy’s force‑majeure on LNG have removed roughly 20% of global supply, sending European gas prices soaring to double their previous levels. In reaction, EU policymakers are softening carbon‑pricing mechanisms and methane measurement...
VTG & Breedon Renew 15yr Cement Wagon Deal
VTG Rail UK has renewed a 15‑year lease with Breedon Group for 72 JPA cement wagons, extending a long‑standing bulk‑cement logistics partnership. The wagons, each capable of carrying 81 tonnes, move more than 1.5 million tonnes of cement annually from Hope Cement...
Luxembourg Maritime Administration: The Boutique Flag
Luxembourg’s maritime registry has added a second Greek‑operated tanker, the 183‑metre Theanoula, to its flag, underscoring a growing pipeline of Greek tonnage. The registry, launched in 1990, leverages the country’s political stability, sophisticated financial‑services framework and EU legal regime to...
Qatar Can Keep Goods Flowing Amid Tensions, Customs Chief Says
Qatar’s customs chief assures that supply chains remain secure despite regional tensions, citing strategic reserves, digital customs systems, and multiple transport routes. The Al Nadeeb electronic platform and recent upgrades have accelerated clearance and increased transparency. Coordination with the GCC Customs...
Robotic CT Pushes Boundaries for Inspecting Complex Composite Structures
Omni NDE has upgraded its Robot CT system at the AIMM Center, adding a UR20 cobot, a 130 kV X‑ray source and a 43 × 43 cm detector. The enhancements boost payload to 25 kg and enable two‑micron resolution scans of three‑metre composite parts. Integrated Iris software...
Renault Group Presents futuREady Plan to Supplier Network
Renault Group unveiled its futuREady strategic plan to its supplier network, placing ESG performance at the core of procurement. The TRUST‑ready pillar will consolidate the supplier base, increase volumes with top partners and involve them early in component development. More...
Lulu Group Moves More than 8,000 Tonnes of Food Products From India to Gulf Nations, Ensures Steady Supply
Lulu Group has moved more than 8,000 tonnes of essential food items from India to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations over the past two weeks, using 17 chartered cargo flights and sea shipments. Over 5,000 tonnes of fresh perishables reached...
Euroseas Books High-Reefer Boxship Newbuilds in China
Greek shipping firm Euroseas has placed an order for two 2,800‑TEU high‑reefer boxships from Huanghai Shipbuilding in China, with deliveries slated for June and August 2028. Each vessel, priced at about $46.35 million, will comply with EEDI Phase 3 and IMO NOx...
India's AC Industry Braces for Supply Disruptions as LPG, Petrochemical Shortages Emerge Amid West Asia Conflict
India’s air‑conditioner manufacturers are confronting supply bottlenecks as the West Asia conflict disrupts LPG imports and petrochemical deliveries. LPG, essential for brazing copper and curing powder‑coated parts, and polymers such as polypropylene are becoming scarce, prompting concerns ahead of the...
Illumination Strategies for Reliable Defect Detection in High-Speed Quality Inspection
High‑speed conveyor inspection hinges on illumination as much as camera technology. Conventional lighting often lacks the intensity needed, resulting in shadows, motion blur, and inconsistent image quality. Ultra‑bright LED bar lights and precision‑synchronised strobe systems provide short, intense pulses that...
Disruption in Gas Supply Halts over 400 Ceramic Units in Gujarat's Morbi for 3 Weeks
Around 430 ceramic units in Gujarat's Morbi have halted production for 20‑25 days after a gas supply crunch triggered by the West Asia conflict. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted propane and natural‑gas deliveries essential for kiln firing...
Most Maritime AI Failures Will Be Data Failures, Not Algorithmic
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering maritime operations, from collision‑avoidance tools to structural health monitoring. The article argues that the greatest vulnerabilities will stem from degraded or poorly governed data rather than flawed algorithms. Sensor drift, AIS inconsistencies, and GPS quality...
GOED to Launch Online Database of Omega-3 Companies
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA (GOED) will launch an online omega‑3 supply‑chain database in early April, initially covering crude‑oil suppliers with details on regions served, regulatory certifications, annual production volumes and EPA/DHA concentrations. The platform already contains information...
Iran-Israel Conflict Sends Brent Crude Over $103 as Hormuz Bottleneck Deepens
On March 16‑17, 2026, Brent crude surged past $103 a barrel after Iran's attacks on the Strait of Hormuz halted most tanker traffic. U.S. President Donald Trump warned NATO allies they would not be called upon, while U.S. allies hesitated...
Parliamentary Panel Suggests MeitY Seek Expert Views on GPU Plans
India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT warned the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) that high GPU hardware costs, global supply‑chain delays, and the massive power‑water footprint of data centres threaten the country’s push for large GPU clusters....
Nvidia Resumes H200 Shipments to China Amid New Orders
Nvidia $NVDA CEO Jensen Huang said today that they are gearing up to sell its H200 processors to customers in China 🇨🇳 according to CNBC’s @KristinaParts “We have received purchase orders, and we’re in the process of restarting our manufacturing,”...
Bob Brackett Returns: War in Iran Reshapes Global Gas Flows
NEW ODD LOTS: It’s the return of the legend Bob Brackett @tracyalloway and I talk to Bernstein’s top commodities researcher about war in Iran and how natural gas flows are being reshaped all around the world. https://t.co/DlSfweVsgl
Navigating Energy Price Volatility with Predictive Intelligence
GridBeyond’s FlexPilot platform shifts energy‑intensive manufacturers from reactive demand‑response tactics to predictive intelligence that blends real‑time operational data with forward price forecasts. The solution lets plants simulate schedule adjustments, inventory builds and asset controls before market spikes hit, reducing exposure...
Europe Swapped Russian Gas for LNG, Still Vulnerable
Europe's LNG imports have gone from 3% of gas supply in 1990 to nearly 50% today. We replaced Russian pipeline gas with LNG at record speed. But we replaced one dependency with another. That's why Europe is so exposed. Answer is transforming demand...
Rosatom Shifts Hafnium Exports From Europe to Asia
MOSCOW, March 17 (Reuters) - Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom, the country's sole producer of hafnium used in high-tech industries, said on Tuesday it had redirected its supplies of the metal from European to Asian markets.
Global Trade Flows Stay Resilient Despite War, Tariff, Geopolitical Tensions
The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 shows globalization holding steady at a 25% index in 2025, matching the 2022 peak. Global trade grew faster than any year since 2017, driven largely by a surge in AI‑related product shipments that accounted...
Libya's Biggest Oil Field Shuts, Pipeline Fire Deepens Supply Shock
Libya’s largest oil field is going offline. Sharara exports halted after a pipeline fire—full shutdown within hours. Another supply hit in an already fragile system. #Oil #EnergyMarkets #Libya #SupplyShock
Middle East Conflict Fuels South African Petrol Shortage Fears
South Africa: Middle East conflict sparks fears of fuel rationing and petrol shortages in South Africa https://t.co/FvxkRqShtg
U.S. Hits Iranian Coastal Missile Sites With Bunker-Buster Bombs
U.S. Central Command confirmed that on March 17, 2026 it deployed multiple 5,000‑pound deep‑penetrator bunker‑buster bombs against hardened Iranian missile sites along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted underground launch and storage facilities that could threaten...
China's Central Asian Influence Extends Beyond Extractive Industries
I'm afraid China's economic presence in Central Asia went way beyond oil, gas, and mining some time ago. If folks still think it's all just about extractive industries, they've missed quite a bit about the Chinese presence.
Captain Hill Accused of Being Driven Out by Houthis
Paging @ChowdahHill Will Captain Hill please report to bridge. Someone here claims you got “chased away” from the Red Sea by Houthis. 💀
Robots and AI Are Tackling some of the Biggest Challenges in Construction
The U.S. construction industry generates about $2.1 trillion annually, yet over three‑quarters of projects face delays due to fragmented monitoring and a skilled‑labor shortage. Virginia Tech and Procon Consulting have created “Mario,” a coordinated system of robots, drones, AI sensing, and computer...
Experts Doubt Iran Can Sink U.S. Carrier, Bet $100K
We’ve reached the point where serious, smart people I’ve known for 10+ years think Iran can sink a U.S. aircraft carrier. Thank you MSM. Not saying it’s impossible but I’ll put $100K on the other side of that bet right now.
Amazon Slashes USPS Use, Threatening Post Office
Amazon to cut use of USPS by 2/3+. This would be a big hit for the Post Office. How much of it will Amazon deliver? Capital cost for trucks and vans? Additional employees? Savings? ROI? Improved delivery speed? Sales growth...
U.S. Customs’ “5H” Inspections Hit Chinese Imports Hard
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has launched the “5H” Entry Processing Hold, intensifying document‑focused inspections of Chinese imports. Inspection rates at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have risen above 30%, leading to thousands of containers detained or...
U.S. Customs Tightens Importer of Record Rules
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that, effective March 20, 2026, it will begin canceling Importer of Record (IOR) numbers for declarations submitted after 12:01 a.m. ET. Importers must now provide an updated CBP 5106 form, government‑issued photo ID, EIN verification...
Gas Prices Likely Remain High Through 2027
Gas prices staying up into 2027? It’s becoming a distinct possibility. Thanks to retired Marine Lt Col @HalKempfer for taking the time to talk supply chain issues, energy security, and the new Great Powers competition. Link below.
Sea-Intelligence: Gemini Ceding Capacity Market Share
Sea‑Intelligence’s latest Sunday Spotlight reveals Gemini’s capacity market share slipping across three major trade lanes. The rolling eight‑week average fell from 15 % to 13 % on the Asia‑North America West Coast route, from 20 % to 17 % on the East Coast, and...
There Are 292,000 Shippers in America and 9 Out of 10 Carriers Have 10 Trucks or Less — The...
The article reveals that roughly 292,000 U.S. manufacturers—mostly small operations—generate a massive pool of direct shipping opportunities, while 97% of carriers run ten trucks or fewer, leaving most freight routed through brokers. Brokers capture about $17.5 billion annually, but small carriers...
Jensen Highlights Mastery of 2,000‑Provider Supply Chain
Jensen also mentioned that their supply chain consists of roughly 2000 providers. As I wrote in this report, they are masters of the supply chain. https://t.co/9ZCdGgQZVs
Russian Shadow Fleet Set to Vanish, Shipping Shortage Looms
There's a good chance that the entire Russian shadow fleet could be dismantled within months. Beyond the impacts on Russian, Iranian, and other oil supplies, global shipping could be shifting towards a shortage as the vessels are retired. #crude #crudeoil #geopolitics...
Sinocism Live on US-China Relations with the FT’s Demetri Sevastopulo
In this live Sinocism episode, FT China correspondent Demetri Sevastopulo discusses the delayed Trump‑China summit, attributing the postponement to domestic political concerns and the ongoing Iran conflict rather than bilateral tensions. He outlines the key players shaping U.S. China policy...
Trump Admin to Loosen Venezuela Oil Sanctions Amid Price Surge
SCOOP: The Trump administration intends to take additional steps to ease sanctions on #Venezuela’s oil sector in an effort to increase crude production as the #Iran war sends prices surging, sources tell me @GaripPatricia @peterbmillard @zerpius. https://t.co/aefUIb9tHJ
DH Shipbuilding Closes in on Annual Target with New Suezmax Order
DH Shipbuilding landed a 130 billion KRW (~$98 million) contract for a new Suezmax crude oil tanker from an Oceania shipping firm, pushing the yard to 82% of its 2026 order target within the first quarter. The deal marks the ninth order the...
Garbage In, AI Out: Why Data Discipline Drives Supply Chain Optimization
Artificial intelligence promises faster decisions and predictive insights for supply chains, but its effectiveness hinges on data quality. In a recent MIT‑hosted webinar, Elenna Dugundji highlighted that without clean, structured, and governed data, AI models can magnify errors instead of...
Garbage In, AI Out: Why Data Discipline Drives Supply Chain Optimization
The webinar hosted by MIT’s Elenna Dugundji highlighted that artificial intelligence can only deliver supply‑chain gains when fed clean, governed data. It examined how data quality, governance, and system integration underpin predictive insights and automated optimization. Leading firms are investing...