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
Maersk Introduces Peak Season Surcharge From Asia Pacific
Maersk announced a new Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for cargo moving from Asia Pacific to South Africa and Mauritius, effective 1 April 2026. The surcharge is $500 per 20‑foot dry container and $1,000 per 40‑foot container. It applies only to non‑spot bookings and is calculated based on the Price Calculation Date at booking confirmation. Maersk says the fee reflects seasonal demand and operational pressures on the trade lane.
Truck Capacity Is a Commodity; Drivers Are the Bottleneck
A decade ago, a CFO of a mega fleet told me I knew nothing about the industry because I called trucking a commodity. Commodities are priced based on supply and demand and truckload services are fungible between motor carriers - I.e....
Trucking's Sweet Spot: Strong Demand, Limited Overcapacity
Trucking is in a great spot right now. We don’t know what the escalation in Iran or surging oil markets will do to the momentum, but for now, this is a trucker’s market. In some ways, slower momentum may be better in...
Poland Prepares to Test an Autonomous Train
Poland’s state‑owned railway PKP has joined a consortium to develop and test an autonomous passenger train using Automatic Train Operation technology. The pilot will run on the WKD Line 48 between Podkowa Leśna and Milanówek, starting with a digital‑twin simulation followed by...
The Future Of Warehouse Inventory Is Flying | Fast Five Shorts
The episode discusses Kroger's deployment of Corvus Robotics' autonomous inventory drones, called Corvus 1, in sub‑freezing warehouse environments to perform cycle counts without human intervention. Hosts Chris and Jen highlight how the drones operate without Wi‑Fi, markers, or infrastructure changes,...
Chip Material Prices Double as Middle East Conflict Compounds China's Existing Gallium Export Ban — Wide Range of Materials for...
Prices for key compound‑semiconductor metals have surged, with tungsten, tantalum and molybdenum doubling and gallium climbing 123% to $2,100 per kilogram. The spike follows China’s late‑2024 gallium export ban to the United States and is amplified by the Middle East...
PortSide Stories: Klang
Port Klang is Malaysia’s primary maritime gateway and one of the world’s busiest container ports, handling millions of TEUs annually through its Westports and Northport terminals. Situated 40 km from Kuala Lumpur on the Strait of Malacca, it serves as a...
Work Continues to Boost Submarine Maintenance at Clyde
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £68,890 contract to Shropshire‑based Beaverfit for a temporary, container‑based storage and working facility at HM Naval Base Clyde. The solution comprises eight ISO containers fitted with a canopy, creating a covered engineering...
C.H. Robinson Powers Agentic Supply Chain AI
C.H. Robinson disclosed that its AI platform is built on a proprietary logistics dataset exceeding 100 trillion data points collected over decades. The Lean AI operating system embeds intelligence across core workflows such as pricing, routing, and invoicing, with hundreds...
Germany, India Forge Critical Minerals Partnership Across Supply Chain
Germany and India sign new deals to deepen critical minerals cooperation across mining, processing, and recycling. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/germany-india-strengthen-critical.html
HFCL Bags USD 1.10 Billion OFC Contract with Global MNC
HFCL Ltd. has secured a long‑term supply agreement with a global multinational corporation to provide high‑fibre‑count optical fiber cables (OFC) worth approximately USD 1.10 billion through December 2030. The contract will deliver multi‑million fibre‑kilometre volumes each year, marking HFCL’s first multi‑year OFC deal...
Morocco: World Cup Deadline Brings a Clear Sight of Goal
Morocco’s appointment as a co‑host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup is prompting a sweeping rail expansion. The government plans to invest billions in high‑speed and regional lines to link major cities and stadium sites. Projects are timed to meet...
Hindalco Halts Aluminium Product Sales as Iran War Roils Market
Hindalco Industries has suspended sales of its extruded aluminium products, invoking force‑majeure clauses as the Iran‑Israel conflict chokes shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and disrupts gas supplies vital for processing. While Indian smelters continue operating, the lack of reliable...
Greater Poland Province Orders Stadler EMUs
Greater Poland province has signed a €263 million contract with Swiss‑German manufacturer Stadler for ten five‑car Flirt electric multiple units, with an option for an additional ten. The aluminium‑bodied trains will be built in Poland and are slated to enter service...
International Logistics: Cross-Border Ecommerce Strategies (2026) – Shopify
Shopify’s 2026 guide outlines how merchants can master international logistics to capture the booming cross‑border ecommerce market, where 59 % of shoppers buy from overseas and 35 % do so monthly. It breaks down the distinct challenges of moving goods across borders—customs,...
Data Supply Chain Becomes Critical Backbone for Chip Development
#Technology #Thread #Semiconductor #Manufacturing #Silicon The Semiconductor Let Us Learn About Data Supply Chain: 1/ - The Semiconductor Data Supply Chain Is Becoming A Critical Layer Of Modern Chip Development And Manufacturing. - It Connects Design Data, Process Data, Test Data, And Analytics...
Deadly Export Bill Would Stifle AI Supply Chains
Glad this was killed. It was the worst export bill I’ve ever seen floated in a decade. I was discussing this in DC this week. It would have required every company in the supply chain the get permission to ship...
China’s Global Port Push Reveals Supply Chain Security Goals
A new AidData report shows China granted or loaned $23.9 billion to finance 168 ports across 90 countries between 2000 and 2025. The investments, covering construction, expansion and equipment, often sit near Chinese‑financed mines and have hosted naval visits at more...
Only 20% of Stranded Bulkers Cleared Through Hormuz
36 bulk carrier transits of the Strait of Hormuz Of around 240 bulkers stranded in the Arabian Gulf nearly 20% have transited out via the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war started says Signal Ocean https://t.co/tnMA4QjJ1W
Iran’s Yuan Demand Threatens Petrodollar, Ships Bottlenecked
Did the Greek tanker owner pay in Chines yuan? What will Iran’s payment demand mean to the petrodollar? And the quantity of ships stuck in the Strait?
Iran War Knocks Out Thai Mideast Rice Exports, Squeezing Farmers Harder
Thai rice exporters halted two ships carrying 80,000 tonnes bound for Iraq after a Thai vessel was struck near the Strait of Hormuz, effectively pausing Middle‑East shipments. The disruption comes as Thailand’s rice export outlook has already slipped 11% to...
Tariffs Fail to Boost Manufacturing Jobs, May Reduce Payrolls
"One thing becoming clear: tariffs on foreign imports didn't result in an increase in manufacturing payrolls (and may have directly resulted in the opposite)." 🙀 https://t.co/zvrbKgPxg3 https://t.co/h5DLBYPjf6
Self‑Certification of Truck Schools Is a Government Failure
“Wipe the whole thing and start all over.” In reference to the self-certification of truck driver schools. It’s one of the most ludicrous things that the government has ever done in trucking and that is saying a lot.
FMCSA Just Issued a Bulletin Warning Carriers Not to Buy or Sell DOT Numbers – Here Is Why That Warning...
The FMCSA issued an emergency bulletin prohibiting the sale, purchase, or lease of USDOT and MC numbers, labeling such transactions as fraud that will trigger revocation of operating authority. The agency clarified that DOT numbers are permanent, non‑transferable identifiers tied...
US Lifts Anti-Dumping Duties on 13 Italian Pasta Brands
"The US Department of Commerce has cut anti-dumping duties on 13 Italian pasta brands following an investigation into alleged export undercutting, Italy's Foreign Ministry announced." https://t.co/2KrLcSuyUY https://t.co/7S8ssbunhj
Truck Driver Glut Persists, Not Shortage, Says Industry
I am looking forward to the day when the ATA publishes a new report showing how many excess truck drivers the industry has. We have a glut, not a shortage.
Some BEAD Winners Seeing Tight Fiber Market
Rural broadband providers participating in the $42.45 billion BEAD program are encountering unexpected cancellations of orders for Build America, Buy America‑compliant fiber. Prices for BABA‑qualified cable have surged roughly 40 percent, straining project budgets and timelines. Manufacturers such as Corning cite...
Strait Closure Sparks 360% Surge in Freight Diversions
I missed this project44 press release from earlier this week - Strait of Hormuz Closure Triggers 360% Surge in Ocean Freight Diversions https://t.co/u3NrIui3y3 project 44 Insights - https://t.co/fZoIuMEoDt
Iranian Tankers Resume Loading at Kharg Despite US Strikes
Iranian tankers back to loading at Kharg this morning despite yesterday’s US strikes on the island, which currently stages the vast majority of Iranian exports.
Data Mining? Old Servers Could Become New Source of Rare Earths
Enterprises are eyeing retired server hardware as a new source of rare earth elements after Korea Zinc entered talks with major U.S. tech firms to recycle data‑center waste. The initiative follows Western Digital’s pilot with Critical Materials Recycling and comes...
Aramco Loads Five Crude Tankers Simultaneously—Historic First
Saudi Aramco is loading simultaneously 5 crude oil tankers in Yanbu and Al Mujjaiz terminals on the Red Sea coast. I don’t think that’s happened ever before.
Middle East Crisis Threatens Global Heavy‑Industry Supply Chains
"The Narrowing Straits: Why the Middle East Crisis is a Fault Line for Global Industry" - my own expert comentary on a recent interview with Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, and the impact on key heavy industries and supply chains they...
Canadian, Alaskan LNG Could Benefit From 'Concentration Risk'
A recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the vulnerability of LNG buyers reliant on Middle‑East cargoes, prompting a reassessment of supply diversification. Analysts argue that this "concentration risk" creates a strategic opening for existing and planned LNG export...
US LNG Demand Soars, Venture Global Expands Plant
MORE US LNG EXPORTS 🇺🇸 🚢 Venture Global will move forward with an $8.6 billion expansion of its third LNG plant in Louisiana Global demand for US LNG is surging as the war in the Middle East cuts off shipments from...
Exposing Freight Fraud: Real Stories of Theft
Newest FW show: Fraud Watch We will cover the crazy stories of theft and fraud that have become so pervasive in freight
After Trump Photo Op, CMA CGM Will Re-Flag 30 Ships in France
CMA CGM announced it will re‑flag ten 24,000‑TEU vessels under the French flag starting in 2026, boosting its home‑registered fleet by 30% to 40 ships. The decision follows CEO Rodolphe Saade’s 2025 Oval Office appearance with President Trump, where a...
Strait of Hormuz Blockade Endangers Fertilizers, Aluminium, Plastics, Helium
It's not just oil and gas. What other crucial commodities are under threat from the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz? Fertilisers, aluminium, plastics, helium and more. https://t.co/H1tRNgqzv6
Trump Claims Indefinite Iran War, Says U.S. Ahead
Trump's timeline for the #Iran war: "As long as is necessary..." "Militarily, we're WAY ahead of schedule..."
Is a Transcontinental Highway the Key to Unlocking Trade in Latin America?
The Inter‑American Development Bank is backing the Bi‑Oceanic Corridor—a 2,300‑mile road and rail link from Brazil to Chile—with a $200 million loan for the critical Paraguay segment. The corridor, slated for completion in late 2026, promises to shave roughly two‑and‑a‑half weeks off...
War on Iran Spikes Fertilizer Prices, Fuels Farmer Backlash
MORE COLLATERAL DAMAGE FROM THE US-ISRAELI WAR ON IRAN: Fertilizer shipments from the Persian Gulf are stuck. Fertilizer prices have jumped about 30%. US FARMERS ARE STARTING TO TURN AGAINST TRUMP. https://t.co/IwXKoWCUj0
Hegseth Downplays Strait of Hormuz Tensions
Secretary Hegseth on the Strait of Hormuz: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT | March 13, 2026 Update Video: https://t.co/P2LCJM2Jqm https://t.co/u911Em6TwP
US Exports to Middle East in Limbo Amid War Zone Service Disruptions
US exporters are scrambling to locate containers shipped to the Middle East after ocean carriers halted almost all services due to the war with Iran. Mediterranean Shipping Company invoked an “end‑of‑voyage” clause for shipments bound for Dubai’s Jebel Ali, leaving cargo...
New Maritime Routes May Persist Post‑War as Backup Services
Ocean carriers and new ways to serve the Middle East with the Strait closed. How much of the new approaches will be maintained at war’s end? At the minimum as viable secondary services to keep them functioning.
Advanced MES Capabilities for Scalable, High-Quality Solar Cell and Module Manufacturing
Kontron AIS unveiled new FabEagleMES capabilities aimed at high‑volume photovoltaic cell and module production. The suite adds configurable material‑flow routing, real‑time defect analytics, long‑term data‑lake storage, an enhanced web client with role‑based dashboards, and a REST API for seamless machine...
CPG Supply Chain Digital Transformation: What’s Working in 2026 and What’s Still Theory
CPG food manufacturers are midway through digital transformation, with foundational projects delivering measurable gains while advanced AI and autonomous supply chains lag. Real‑time production and warehouse visibility, clean‑data AI demand forecasting, and digital traceability are showing up to 20% output...
Shift to Proactive Planning Boosts MedTech Margins
New MPO article by Lisa Anderson: From Reactive to Proactive: planning strategies for Medtech customer and margin success. Ready to move from firefighting to proactive planning? Contact LMA. #MedTech #SIOP #SupplyChain https://t.co/6Kr0hpMRaq
Leaders in Ag and Manufacturing Stress Stability of USMCA
Leaders in agriculture and manufacturing emphasized the stability of the US‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (USMCA) as essential to North‑American supply chains. Soybean exports to Mexico have quadrupled and to Canada doubled since the pact took effect, while Canadian pork and cross‑border equipment...
Freight Tech Strategy: Avoiding the Implementation Trap with JBF’s Brad Forester
Brad Forester of JBF Consulting warns that logistics technology projects often fail because companies skip a strategic roadmap, turning implementation into a costly trap. He recommends allocating just 1‑2% of the budget to a thorough assessment, which can mitigate up...
The Looming Bottleneck for Global Tech
In this episode, Sean Kim explains how the Strait of Hormuz— a critical shipping lane for energy— could become a bottleneck for the global technology sector, especially advanced semiconductor manufacturing. He highlights that chip fabs, like those in Taiwan, consume...
Middle East Conflict Eases Container Overcapacity Concerns
Middle East Conflict Dampens Fears of Container Sector Overcapacity. Reshaping of maritime and supply chains. https://t.co/RTI4NDrVRx