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
EU Approves German Recycling Yard
The European Commission has approved the 15th edition of the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities, adding Germany’s Emden yard as the first German facility. The list now comprises 41 approved recyclers, including sites in Europe, Türkiye and the United States, while three yards were removed for non‑compliance or voluntary withdrawal. Inclusion on the list obliges large vessels flying EU flags to use these facilities, guaranteeing adherence to strict environmental, safety and labour standards. The move reinforces the EU’s circular‑economy goals by enabling the recovery of high‑quality steel and other materials from decommissioned ships.
Sendle, the Australia Post Challenger that Raised $100 Million, Is in Liquidation
Australian parcel‑delivery startup Sendle, which raised more than $100 million and positioned itself as a carbon‑neutral challenger to Australia Post, has been placed into liquidation. The collapse followed a costly US expansion and a merger in August 2025 that created FAST Group...
Cosco and OOCL Remove Conakry From WMAX Service
Cosco Shipping Lines and OOCL have removed Conakry, Guinea, from their West Mediterranean‑West Africa (WMAX) service. The revised rotation now operates with two 1,800‑TEU vessels on an 18‑day schedule, calling at Valencia, Algeciras, Dakar, Tema and Abidjan before returning to...
CEO Interview with Echo Yang of CSCERAMIC
CEO Echo Yang steers CSCERAMIC, a China‑based advanced ceramics maker, toward high‑purity alumina solutions for laboratory and high‑temperature industrial markets. The firm differentiates itself by engineering‑focused collaboration, tight dimensional control, and stable raw‑material sourcing rather than catalog sales. Customers benefit...
Aaon Inc (AAON) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
AAON reported a 0.6% decline in Q2 2025 net sales to $311.6 million, driven by a 20.9% drop in AAON‑branded sales after an ERP rollout disrupted coil supply and production. Gross margin contracted 950 basis points to 26.6% and non‑GAAP EPS...
AUKUS Partners Launch First UK Submarine Maintenance in Australia
The Australian Submarine Agency announced that the UK‑built HMS Anson has arrived at HMAS Stirling for the first ever UK Submarine Maintenance Period (UK SMP) conducted in Australia. Around 100 personnel from the Royal Navy, the UK Submarine Delivery Agency,...
Seaspan Introduces New Remote-Controlled Vehicle
Seaspan has launched Dockboy, a remote‑controlled ultra‑high‑pressure cleaning system designed for hull maintenance. The tool removes barnacles, anti‑fouling paint and coatings in a single pass, delivering a paint‑ready surface. Fully containerized, Dockboy can be moved between Vancouver Drydock and Victoria...
EPS Boosts VLCC Series with Two More Hengli Newbuilds
Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has placed two additional 306,000 dwt VLCC orders with China’s Hengli Shipbuilding, expanding its fleet to ten VLCCs at the yard. The vessels are part of a five‑ship order slated for delivery in 2029‑2030, completing a broader...
Milaha Expands Intra-Gulf Express (MIG) Service to Include Bahrain
Milaha, the Qatar‑based maritime and logistics leader, has expanded its Milaha Intra‑Gulf Express (MIG) service to include Bahrain, adding the kingdom to a seven‑port rotation that spans the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain and Qatar. The revised loop runs...
KMTC Tied to Six HD Hyundai Boxships
Korea Marine Transport Co (KMTC) has placed a KRW 372.4 bn ($258 m) order for six 1,800‑TEU feeder containerships with HD Hyundai shipyards. The vessels are scheduled for delivery between August 2027 and June 2028, adding to KMTC’s fleet of more than 60 ships that...
Iran Conflict Threatens India’s $4.5 Billion Electronics Exports to Gulf via UAE, Hormuz Route Disruptions
India’s electronics and tech exports to the Gulf, valued at $4.5 billion in FY26, face disruption as the Iran‑Israel conflict restricts airspace and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates, the second‑largest buyer, accounted for $4.1 billion of those shipments,...
West Asia Conflict May Spike Dal Prices; Rice Exports to Iran at Risk
The ongoing West Asia conflict is expected to push global pulse prices higher, threatening a rise in dal costs for Indian households. India imports roughly 5‑6 million tonnes of pulses from Myanmar, Canada and Africa, leaving the domestic market vulnerable to...
Critical Strait of Hormuz: Multiple Attacks Slash Transits
The @CMF_Bahrain Joint Maritime Information Center's has released their new advisory for the Strait of Hormuz as of 1 March 2026. The situation is deemed CRITICAL. They had three confirmed incidents in the past 24 hours: 1️⃣SKYLIGHT at anchor south of Hormuz, abandoned...
Why Compliance Failures Are Costing MedTech Manufacturers Millions
Compliance failures are now costing MedTech manufacturers millions, as regulators require deeper traceability, faster reporting, and unified post‑market oversight. Gaps in ERP and QMS integration lead to delayed approvals, recalls, and costly litigation, turning compliance into a direct revenue driver....
Middle East Conflict Threatens UAE Polymer Export Port
The escalating Middle East conflict sparked a fire at Jabel Ali port, the UAE hub that moves roughly 65 % of GCC polymer exports and 33 % of regional petrochemical cargo. The blaze, caused by debris from an aerial interception, resulted in no...
Hormuz Trade Slows to Trickle as Attacks Continue
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit, has seen trade reduced to a trickle after a wave of escalatory attacks. U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, followed by Iranian reprisals triggered by the reported assassination of Supreme Leader...
Wan Hai Revises JST Service Rotation
Wan Hai Lines has restructured its intra‑Far East Japan‑Kansai‑Thailand (JST) service, dropping Kobe and the southbound Hong Kong call from the rotation. The revised schedule still operates four 1,700‑TEU vessels, calling at Osaka, Moji, Hakata, Tokuyama, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Shenzhen (Shekou),...
DAT’s Blind Spot Fuels Non‑Compliant Carrier Boom
The ability for non compliant motor carriers to thrive is directly related to activity that takes place on load boards. How can DAT, the largest load board in the country, not realize how pervasive the compliance crisis had become? It’s because they...
Op-Ed: Gulf States Face a Strategic Choice After Iranian Attacks
Iranian drone attacks on Dubai and other Gulf cities followed the launch of Operation Epic Fury, immediately crippling air services and throttling ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, heavily dependent on imported food...
Multiple Attempts Made to Sneak Electronic Waste Into Port Klang
Malaysian customs seized nearly 1,000 tonnes of electronic waste in five separate incidents at Port Klang. The shipments were uncovered after officers detected mismatches between declared cargo and the containers' actual contents. The crackdown highlights heightened vigilance against illegal e‑waste...
Fresh Formats, a Debut Event Director, and a New Viennese Venue for LogiPharma 2026
LogiPharma 2026 will debut in Vienna’s Austria Center, moving from France after four years. Under new event director Ben Sharples, the conference introduces interactive panels, Oxford‑style debates and hands‑on training through the LogiPharma Academy. The program splits into two interconnected...
AI Auditor Uncovers up to 85% Customs Errors, Free Refunds
Flexport now allows importers to use our AI Customs Auditor to audit all the customs entries their other customs brokers have done for them. We find their mistakes and then set you up to claim refunds wherever you overpaid. ...
Chokepoints Under Pressure: When Geography and Conflict Strain the Arteries of Global Trade
The article highlights how simultaneous geopolitical tensions at the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and Pakistan’s Arabian Sea threaten global maritime trade. Iranian Revolutionary Guard warnings triggered tanker stand‑offs, navigation interference, and a surge in war‑risk insurance premiums, while...
Port of Barcelona Launches Tender for Multipurpose Terminal
The Port of Barcelona has opened a tender for a public multipurpose maritime terminal at the Príncep d’Espanya wharf after the previous concession expired. The new terminal will handle non‑containerised general cargo and mixed traffic, excluding passenger, dry and liquid...
The Minerals of War: Criticality in an Age of AI and Artillery
The article expands the "mineral imperative" concept, arguing that global demand for metals and critical minerals must roughly double by 2050 to sustain development, decarbonisation, digitalisation and now defence. While population growth, urbanisation, electrification and AI have already driven material...
System Report: VLMs Unlock Efficiencies for All World Machinery
All World Machinery Supply, a Roscoe, Illinois distributor of 15,000 machine‑part SKUs, tackled a storage crunch and labor bottlenecks by installing four Kardex vertical lift modules (VLMs) and an in‑house conveyor system. The VLMs cut the warehouse footprint by 75%...
Special Report: 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards
Modern's 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards recognized top performers in warehousing/distribution, innovation, and e‑fulfillment. Performance Health won Warehousing/Distribution for a streamlined distribution center, reduced packaging waste, and improved KPI tracking. Staples earned the Innovation award for its integrated robotics platform, autonomous...
Productivity Solution: Andrews Streamlines Beverage Delivery
Andrews Distributing partnered with Big Joe Forklifts to deploy the LPT40 DSD, a pallet truck that integrates a scale for delivery‑by‑weight verification. The system replaces manual case counting, cutting stop times by up to 43% and easing navigation in tight store...
RCL Shifts RCP2 Slot Allocation to CNC’s China–Philippines Service
Regional Container Lines (RCL) has moved its slot allocation from CNC Line’s Japan‑Philippines (JP8) service to the carrier’s China‑Philippines (CP2) rotation, continuing to market the lane as RCP2. The shift narrows RCL’s focus to the Shenzhen‑Philippines segment, replacing Batangas with...
Borderlands Mexico: Canada, Mexico Draw Record Foreign Investment in 2025
Canada and Mexico posted record foreign direct investment in 2025, underscoring North America’s growing role as a manufacturing hub. Canada received $96.8 billion, the strongest inflow in 18 years, while Mexico attracted a historic $40.87 billion, a 10.8% year‑over‑year rise. U.S. investors...
Port of Bilbao Advances Connectivity and Energy Transition in 2025
The Port of Bilbao closed 2025 as a strategic year, delivering over 32 million tonnes of throughput despite a 6.8% traffic dip caused by the temporary Petronor refinery shutdown. Second‑half volumes rose 1.5% year‑on‑year, driven by expanding trade with the United...
Hellmann and Exotec Sign Global Warehouse Automation Agreement
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and French robotics firm Exotec have signed a global framework agreement to automate Hellmann’s contract‑logistics warehouses. The partnership will roll out Exotec’s modular goods‑to‑person robotic systems, starting with a pilot at a German healthcare customer. The solution...
DP World Secures Warehouse Contract with Suzano
DP World has secured a five‑year contract with Suzano to operate a 5,000‑square‑metre warehouse and production‑line supply hub in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil. The agreement covers inbound receiving, inventory control, line replenishment and outbound distribution of tissue products, handling up...
Redefining Healthcare Supply Chain Performance, From Spend Control to Strategic Value
Healthcare supply chains are evolving from back‑office cost centers to strategic assets that influence operating rooms, pharmacies, and executive decision‑making. Hospitals now align supply metrics with labor and revenue data, exposing cross‑functional savings that were previously siloed. Objective analytics and...
Supply Chain Turmoil Continues: Tariff Wave Drives Uncertainty
Being a Demand Planner, I am trained to notice patterns, seasonality and cycles. To notice the root cause of those disrupting signals and what causes them, so I can get my forecasting model right and predict future events. Since January 20, 2025,...
Why the US‑Israel Strike on Iran Matters Now
the us and israel attacked iran. why now and what comes next? i break down the decision, the risks of escalation, and what to watch. with @ted
Why Is the Midwest the Most Volatile Region in the U.S.?
The Midwest has become the most volatile U.S. trucking region over the past six months, with tender rejection rates consistently 4‑5 percentage points higher than any other area. A disproportionate share of refrigerated shipments—30% to 35% of all outbound reefer—tightens...
Strait of Hormuz Turns War Zone, Shipping Halts
Here’s what we know so far… The First 36 Hours: Strait of Hormuz Becomes a War Zone, Tankers Hit, Shipping Giants Halt Gulf Transits https://t.co/Qu1u29WNZb
DAT's Warning on CDL Rules Proved Market Reality
Let’s hope that no one investing money in trucking stocks listened to DAT last summer when they consistently said that enforcement of English Language Proficiency and non-domiciled CDLs would have a negligible impact on the market.
Proposed Rule Would Put Driver Photos on Trucks
How would you feel about a proposal that along with DOT number, all trucks must have a picture of the driver on the side? https://t.co/pcht3FI0c8
Small Business Owner Refunds Unlawful Tariffs, Calls Out White House
"This small business owner is already giving her customers a tariff refund" https://t.co/958bIzS0SL "if somebody charges you something and it's unlawful, they should give you your money back" Cc: The White House https://t.co/82Lv6OPwJw
US Weapon Supply Hinges on Chinese Components Despite Oil Strikes
"Amateurs talk tactics; professionals study logistics." -USMC Gen. Robert Barrow Many rightfully noting US hitting Chinese oil supplies; few noting that US cannot restock weapons without Chinese components. Left headline: Wednesday of last week Right headline: WSJ today https://t.co/N0oRvB87DA
SONAR Tender Rejections Predict Trucking Stock Moves
The connection is clear: Large trucking equities trade based on forward trucking market conditions and the best signal is SONAR's Tender Rejections Chart: SONAR Truckload Rejections vs. JB Hunt Stock Price https://t.co/R8Mc1l5UyF
Hedge Funds Flock to SONAR Amid Rising Tender Rejections
This SONAR chart: Outbound Tender Rejection Index (blue) vs. Knight-Swift stock price (yellow). There is a reason that hedge funds buy SONAR and it is our fastest growing cohort. https://t.co/erT8QvKIr6
Industrial Policy: Faith Over Coherent Strategy in Unknown Territory
"The Incoherence of Modest Industrial Policy" https://t.co/FC72XUqs6v "If policymakers admit they are operating in unknown territory, then the idea that they can steer society in a coherent direction becomes less a policy strategy and more an article of faith." https://t.co/pTa6RJfJnQ
Hapag-Lloyd Halts Bab El-Mandeb Sailings Over Security Risks
Hapag-Lloyd - Due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East region, we have decided – in close coordination with our security partners – to pause future Trans-Suez sailings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for the time being. https://t.co/igGhhMHR23
Mike Payne Discusses Reviving U.S. Manufacturing Amid Skills Gap
Join our conversation on revitalizing the US manufacturing industry with 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞! Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/aAuD37nCVV 📽️ https://t.co/vDhYvaPyHB 🔗 https://t.co/DmYp21NDA3 #SkillsGap #ProductivityGap #ManufacturingJobs #WorkforceDevelopment #Reshoring https://t.co/xZtbtIeUYz
Liberian‑flagged Aframax Tanker Capetan Andreas Exits Strait of Hormuz
Looks like the Liberian-flagged Aframax 74k deadweight ton ceude oil tanker Capetan Andreas is sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz. https://t.co/G0jdY5284V
Nextpower to Provide Steel Frames for JinkoSolar's Florida Plant
Nextpower to supply steel frames for JinkoSolar’s Florida factory #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/aFKhKfYdkM
Defense Production Outpaces Auto, Drives Truck Freight
US automotive production is $180B. US defense manufacturing is $220B. Don’t understimate the impact of defense production on American trucking freight.