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
Iran Conflict Threatens 2026 Trucking Recovery
ATA President Chris Spear warned that the Iran conflict, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has pushed diesel prices to about $105 per barrel and added roughly $1 per gallon, jeopardizing the trucking industry's expected 2026 recovery. He also highlighted that 45% of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is produced in the region, raising concerns about future shortages. Spear urged a 16‑year extension of the USMCA to secure cross‑border freight, noting 7.5 million truck trips crossed the Mexican border last year. He remains skeptical that the upcoming mid‑term elections will quickly reverse the headwinds.
Trump Highlights NATO's Weak Naval Response in Red Sea
During the entirety of the Red Sea operation closure ALL of NATO couldn’t muster more than 3 warships at a time you donut hole An entire German task force sailed around AFRICA to avoid the Houthis They are demonstrably WEAK & Trump...
Drone Strike Threatens Fertilizer Supply, Endangering Global Harvest
Drone strikes fuel truck at Dubai airport. What is happening is more than the Strait of Hormuz and oil. Supply and supply chains. A key product not moving is fertilizer as planting season is arriving. The impact on crop output...
Asian Container Liners See Turnaround as Red Sea Remains Shut
Asian container liners are seeing a earnings turnaround as the Red Sea remains closed due to the Iran‑Israel conflict. Spot freight rates climbed 8.4% to $2,123 per 40‑foot container, marking the second week of gains after two months of declines....
Trucking Firms Self‑recover Stolen Loads; Police Ineffective
Large trucking companies often run their own processes to recover stolen truckloads. The authorities are almost useless in recovering stolen cargo.
How Governments Globally Are Shielding Consumers From War Fuel Shocks
Governments across Asia and Europe are rolling out fuel subsidies, price caps, and emergency stock releases to blunt the surge in energy and food costs triggered by the US‑Israeli war on Iran. The conflict has cut roughly one‑fifth of global...
The Iran War Is Roiling Commodities Far Beyond Oil
Since the third Gulf war erupted three weeks ago, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has immobilized roughly 10‑15 % of global oil supply, pushing Brent crude above $106 a barrel. President Donald Trump has ordered the largest-ever strategic reserve...
IDC Significantly Lowers PC Sales Forecast Amid Chip Shortage
IDC has sharply lowered its 2026 PC market outlook, now forecasting an 11.3% decline in shipments, far steeper than the previous 2.4% drop. Tablet shipments are also projected to fall 7.6% amid persistent memory shortages, rising component prices, and ongoing...
Flatbed Surge Predates Iran Conflict, Tied to Rust‑belt Demand
The surge in flatbeds predated the Iran conflict. I spoke about this at length in early February. The locations of the surge match up to the rust belt, auto, and heavy machinery. No one is moving oil field equipment off of...
Q&A with Johan Hellman From nShift – How AI Moves From Promise to Practice
nShift introduced the AI‑powered nShift Companion, an assistant embedded in its Checkout product that helps retailers configure delivery options using plain‑language prompts. The tool taps the company’s Model Context Protocol to pull real‑time carrier data, ensuring recommendations are grounded in...
Port Houston Cargo Volumes up 4% in February
Port Houston reported a 4% rise in February cargo volumes, handling 4.38 million short tons and bringing the year‑to‑date total to 8.93 million short tons, a 5% increase. Container activity was flat in February with 326,799 TEU, leaving YTD container volumes up...
Pulse Sales to Middle East Markets Are ‘Frozen’
Canadian pulse exporters say sales to the Middle East have effectively frozen due to the Iran‑related conflict. Shipping lines are diverting cargo, imposing surcharges up to $2,000 per container and rerouting fees, making deliveries unsafe and uneconomical. The MENA region,...
Why Bills of Materials Are Now a Boardroom Issue
Bills of materials (BOMs) are moving from back‑office checklists to boardroom priorities for Australian asset‑intensive firms. Accurate, integrated BOMs link design, procurement, production and maintenance, turning them into a single source of truth. When well‑maintained, BOMs enable proactive spare‑part planning,...
U.S. Makes Another Rare-Earths Deal. But the Threat of Shortages Persists.
The U.S. Defense Department has signed a new supply agreement with Australian rare‑earths producer Lynas, marking the latest effort to secure critical minerals for national security. The deal is intended to diversify the U.S. supply chain away from China, which...
The Industry Is Repricing Survivability
Honda announced the cancellation of three North‑America EV programs, pivoting toward hybrid models amid weak demand, tariff pressure, and policy volatility. Simultaneously, freight surcharges and semiconductor price hikes are compressing margins across the automotive supply chain, while stranded battery capacity...
Trans-Pacific Contract Talks Accelerating After Walmart Signs
Walmart has finalized its 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific shipping contracts with six major carriers, prompting container lines to resume stalled negotiations. The war in the Middle East had paused talks, but carriers now urge importers to lock in space allocations before the...
Kroger CEO Focused on Bananas, Among Other Things
Greg Foran, Kroger’s new CEO, is already targeting the banana supply chain, labor staffing, and the company’s partnership with Ocado. He plans to shift banana purchases from brokers to direct grower contracts, aiming to tighten margins on the top‑selling fruit....
Stable BDI Masks Looming Freight Spike From Ship Shortage
The long-term history of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), the benchmark measure of global dry bulk freight rates. It tracks what it costs to ship commodities like: * Iron ore * Coal * Grain * Bauxite * Steel inputs Because these commodities sit at the very beginning...
War Historically Boosts Freight Demand, Not Economic Collapse
There are a large number of accounts here that have an issue with the war and want the economy to crash because of it. We have yet to find an American war that didn’t drive more freight demand. I don’t make the...
Pack Expo International Returns in October, Largest Installment Its History
Pack Expo International 2026 returns Oct. 18‑21 in Chicago, marking the event’s largest edition ever. The show will span 1.3 million net square feet, host more than 2,600 exhibitors and attract roughly 48,000 professionals across 40 vertical markets. Organisers highlight a...
Strangers Secure Million-Dollar Deals; Friends Struggle with $5k
This is absolutely insane. It’s easier to book a million dollar truckload with someone you don’t know than it is to wire 5000 to someone you do.
Freight Data Signals Ongoing Industrial Rally Amid War Recovery
Industrial production up. The high frequency freight data suggests this rally will continue and it appears to be shaking off the Iran war and high fuel prices
MSI Accuses NVIDIA of 20% GPU Undersupply, Follows ASUS Down DDR4 Production Increase
MSI’s general manager Huang Jinqing alleges NVIDIA is undersupplying GPUs by about 20%, prompting a projected 15‑30% price increase for MSI’s gaming products. He warns the broader PC market could shrink 10‑20% as AI‑driven silicon shortages persist. In response to...
Truck Driver Shortage Myth Used to Push Deregulation
There never was a truck driver shortage. This was a narrative told to Congress to lower the barriers to entry and to fund tax-paid driving schools. It’s always been a lie.
Rising Fuel Costs Boost Big Carriers, Not Hurt Them
Wall Street investors have concluded that spiking oil prices will hurt truckers. It’s not that simple. In fact, the big carriers and brokers often make more money during periods of high fuel prices.
SupplyHouse Expands Ohio Fulfillment Center to Increase Capacity and Delivery Speed
SupplyHouse has opened a 527,000‑square‑foot fulfillment center in Canal Winchester, Ohio, more than doubling its previous space. The larger warehouse allows deeper inventory, expanded product assortment, and faster same‑day shipping for contractors and DIY customers across the Midwest and Plains....
Iran's Growing Grip Threatens Strait of Hormuz Traffic
Some Ships Are Eastbound and Down from the Strait of Hormuz | March 16, 2026 1⃣Star Gwyneth Sails Through 2⃣Greek Tankers Set to Run 3⃣Iran May be Verifying Ships 4⃣Allies Rebuff Trump Request for Escorts 5⃣Has Iran Gained Control of the Strait? Video: https://t.co/ztLPpT7oYf https://t.co/iwTzLQlwoa
Iran Conflict Jeopardizes Chip Supply, Hikes TSMC Costs
Iran Conflict Threatens Global Chip Supply Chain, Risks Higher Costs for TSMC - Bloomberg https://t.co/nu9qEGPpB0
Interior To Prioritize Sourcing Uniforms Made In The United States
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced it will prioritize purchasing uniforms and other textiles that are made in the United States, aligning with the administration’s Buy American agenda. The agency spends roughly $11 million a year on uniforms, currently sourced...
Iran Likely Vetting Vessels Before Hormuz Exit
"Ship Tracking Suggests Iran May Be Verifying Ships Before Allowing Hormuz Exit" Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Ayatollah Khomeini Memorial Thruway. https://t.co/mT7tw2wjxp https://t.co/VaIa1Vv21k
US‑China Trade Board Unprecedented; Washington Must Prepare
A new US-China “Board of Trade”? The world has never before seen an attempt to manage trade at this scale. If the US government wants to do this seriously, it really has to do its homework. by @AnaSwanson https://t.co/ooAO5hs8Jv
Evri Embraces Artificial Intelligence with Amazon Web Services to Further Enhance Customer Experience
Evri Group is deploying Veri Snap AI, an Amazon Web Services‑powered generative AI solution, to automatically evaluate the 90 million delivery photos it captures each month. The technology, built on AWS Nova Lite via Bedrock, checks parcel placement and condition, flagging non‑compliant...
China Curbs Fertilizer Exports, Iran War Spikes Global Prices
"China is tightening its curbs on fertilizer exports as the war in Iran disrupts trade of key crop nutrients, driving up prices globally." https://t.co/X35yEEwYZH
Hormuz Attacks Drive Soaring Tanker Insurance Premiums, US Aid Unclear
"Shipping Insurance Costs for Hormuz Passage Surge After Vessel Attacks" https://t.co/Aq3e4lGXyX "Details of a plan for the US International Development Finance Corporation to help insure tankers are still unclear." https://t.co/mC9xKl2B7o
Middle East Conflict: Supply Chain Disruption Is ‘Last Thing’ Fashion Retail Needs
The ongoing Middle East conflict is jeopardising the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global shipping, and pushing oil prices to record highs. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that Britain will avoid a wider war while...
Cuba Experiences Nationwide Blackout Amid US Oil Blockade
#Cuba’s electric grid suffered a total power failure Monday as the island nation struggles with fuel supplies amid a de facto US oil blockade to pressure the communist government. https://t.co/5NRxiUILHa
Massive Saudi Arab Light Tanker Flotilla Heads to Asia
LINK: https://t.co/Iz3LToWVCF A flotilla of Oil Tankers Carrying Saudi Arab Light Crude to Asia Map form @Kpler
MSI Raises Gaming Hardware Prices as NVIDIA GPU Supply Drops to 80 Percent
MSI is raising prices on parts of its gaming hardware lineup by 15‑30% after receiving only about 80% of the NVIDIA GPU allocation it needs. The price hikes also reflect broader shortages of DRAM and NAND flash that are inflating...
Manufacturers Misunderstand This Process—Danny Sidun Offers Solutions
𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐧 to talk about why so many manufacturers misunderstand this critical process, and what they can do to get better results. Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/9vEAAzJDpE 📽️ https://t.co/So0R3DfgII 🔗 https://t.co/DmYp21N5Kv https://t.co/qwxGXKs7UH
Rare Unsanctioned Russian LNG Heads to Southeast Asia
This is a rare Russian LNG shipment going through the Red Sea to Southeast Asia. Why is it rare? Because neither the LNG nor the carrier is sanctioned, and most likely it is not going to China. All previous...
Cybertrol Engineering Celebrates 30 Years of Automation Excellence
Cybertrol Engineering marks three decades of industrial automation services, celebrating its 30th anniversary as a Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork™ Gold System Integrator. Founded in 1996, the Minnesota‑based firm now operates multi‑disciplinary teams serving food, chemical and life‑science manufacturers across North America....
Supertanker Costs vs Cargo Value Expose POTUS Misstatement
Ok, first of all, supertankers cost roughly $125 million new. Fully loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, the total value of cargo is $180 million at $90 per barrel. That’s $305 million total. POTUS doesn’t have his facts straight...
Trucking’s Evolution Driven by Political Push and Indoctrination
If you want to understand how trucking got here, you have to understand that there has been a large political push and indoctrination that has caused this line of thinking
US Finalizes Reciprocal Trade Deal with Ecuador
The United States and Ecuador have finalized a reciprocal trade agreement that extends most‑favored‑nation (MFN) tariffs to a range of Ecuadorian products such as flowers, coffee, fruits and chemicals, while granting Ecuador preferential treatment for future US tariff actions. In...
Tanker Forward Rates Hit Record, yet Stocks Slump
FFA (near-term forward rates) curve at multi-year record highs for #tankers, yet $DHT $FRO and others still heavily down… 🤷♂️ #shipping
LNG Shutdown Threatens 1.8 B in Three Poorest Nations
I’ll be presenting this slide during a speech tomorrow to the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council. Three of the world’s poorest countries — combined population: 1.8B people — will be hammered by the shutdown of LNG shipments through the Strait of...
Inside Trump’s Economic Strategy, with EXIM Bank’s John Jovanovic
In a March 2026 Atlantic Council podcast, EXIM Bank chairman John Jovanovic outlined how the Trump administration’s economic strategy hinges on resilient, "free, fair, and functioning" supply chains. He highlighted the bank’s role in financing U.S. exporters amid heightened geopolitical...
32% Oil Supply Lost; Rerouting Covers Only Fraction
💥 We lost about 32% of world traded crude oil supplies. 💥 Rerouting and SPR may cover up to 40% of it AT BEST. Anyone who thinks the rest of the oil industry can stretch its production to cover the GAP knows...
BlueSword’s AMR Lineup Manages Materials Across Industries and Countries
BlueSword Intelligent Technology has broadened its autonomous mobile robot (AMR) and automated guided vehicle (AGV) portfolio, adding forklift‑type robots, latent mobile robots and a unified control platform. The company leverages digital‑twin simulation to pre‑validate deployments, shortening commissioning and boosting reliability....
Embrace AI, Verify Results, Pilot with Controlled Roadmaps
AI: good or bad? Practical answer: embrace use cases, verify results and pilot with control. Contact LMA Consulting Group to build an AI roadmap tied to execution. #AI #ChatGPT #SupplyChain https://t.co/aaGnm03Hlt