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
British Steel Launches Round the Clock Production for Türkiye High Speed Rail Deal
British Steel has landed an eight‑figure contract to supply 36,000 tonnes of 60E2 rail for Turkey’s new 599‑km Ankara‑İzmir high‑speed line. The order, backed by UK Export Finance, triggers 24/7 production at the Scunthorpe plant for the first time in more than a decade and creates 23 new jobs. The rail will be shipped in 36‑metre lengths to ERG International Group, enabling travel times to be cut by over ten hours and reducing carbon emissions. The deal underscores the UK’s strategic push to revive steel exports.
NEW WEBINAR: From Systems of Engagement to Systems of Action: The Agentic CPO
On February 26, a one‑hour webcast titled “From Systems of Engagement to Systems of Action: The Agentic CPO” will explore how Agentic AI is reshaping procurement. Speakers Andrew Bartolini of Ardent Partners and Saquib Jawed of Zycus will explain the...
The Biggest Supply Chain Risks of 2026 (and How to Navigate Them)
2026 opens with heightened supply‑chain volatility as markets grapple with tight capacity, an early Chinese New Year, and the Red Sea’s tentative reopening. Geopolitical fragmentation, lingering trade‑policy uncertainty and economic instability force shippers to rethink tender timing and rate‑locking strategies....
AGX Freight Goes Bust, Stiffs Carriers, Starts New MC
AGX Freight abruptly shut down after a dispute with Huntington Bank, leaving an estimated hundreds to a thousand carrier partners unpaid. The broker pledged its receivables to the lender, effectively giving the bank first claim on any incoming payments. Within...
How to Buy Consulting in the Age of AI
In this inaugural episode, Elaine Lafitte explains why AI will not replace consulting procurement but can serve as a powerful sparring partner that structures information, surfaces hidden assumptions, and forces disciplined questioning. She highlights that buying consulting is fundamentally a...
Japan Sees the Writing on the Wall
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party captured a two‑thirds majority in the lower house, giving Prime Minister Fumio Takahashi a strong personal mandate and near‑total legislative control. The win enables swift policy action, including the start of constitutional amendment proceedings to...
Knorr Bremse Accelerates AI Transformation Through Strategic AWS Partnership
Knorr Bremse has entered a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services to fast‑track its AI transformation, leveraging AWS cloud and AI services to modernise technology, processes and organisational structures. The collaboration introduces an AI operating model, autonomous industrial solutions and a...
Analyst Insight – Generation Next: SAP Ariba’s AI Rebuild (I)
SAP Ariba announced a next‑gen, AI‑native Source‑to‑Pay suite slated for launch in February 2026. The platform is being rebuilt on SAP Business Technology Platform with open APIs, introducing Joule agents that automate bid analysis, RFI summarization, and contract insight. A unified...
Hitachi Rail Commissions Digital Interlocking on Norway’s Dovre Line
Hitachi Rail and Bane NOR have commissioned a Hitachi L90‑5 electronic interlocking at the Hove stabling facility on Norway’s Dovre Line near Lillehammer. The system digitises points, signals and level crossings, replacing legacy hardware to improve operational reliability and increase passenger‑service...
BIR World Mirror: Scrap Supply Tightness Boosts Steel Prices
The Bureau of International Recycling’s World Mirror report shows U.S. recycled‑steel prices rising as winter storms forced yard closures, tightening obsolete scrap inflows and bolstering export demand. Japan’s prices also firmed amid weak scrap generation and a depreciating yen. In...
Global GSA Group to Market Alaska Airlines Cargo on Rome–Seattle Route
Global GSA Group has become Alaska Airlines' General Sales & Service Agent for cargo on a new Rome‑Seattle route launching in late April. Daily Boeing 787‑9 flights will connect Italy to Alaska's Seattle hub, opening access to over 100 U.S.,...
NAM Moves 3,100 Tonnes of Flowers in Record Valentine’s Rush
Network Airline Management (NAM) executed its largest Valentine’s peak, moving 3,100 tonnes of fresh cut flowers from Nairobi to Liège over two weeks. The carrier operated 31 dedicated Boeing 747F flights, including 16 scheduled services and a record 15 extra...
Xeneta Schedule Reliability Scorecard - January 2026 - Monthly Update
Xeneta’s January 2026 schedule reliability scorecard shows global on‑time arrivals slipping to 29%, the lowest since mid‑2025. Average delay severity increased to 3.7‑4.2 days at berth, while key trades such as Africa (20% on‑time) and Europe‑North America (32%) suffered double‑digit...
How Do We Test Our Winning Logic?
The article introduces the "Value Stick" as a pragmatic framework for testing a company’s winning logic, blending operational excellence (OpEx/Lean) with digital growth methods. It focuses on four levers—Willingness to Pay, Price, Cost, and Quantity—to assess whether a strategy can...
Saudia Cargo Posts Steady Growth Across 2025 Operations
Saudia Cargo reported moving 573,000 tonnes of freight across roughly 4,000 flights in 2025, with exports totaling 15,000 tonnes and on‑time performance above 90%. The carrier secured a lease for two Airbus A330‑300F freighters for delivery in 2026 and launched...
Comparing the 2026 FedEx and UPS General Rate Increases
The 2026 FedEx and UPS General Rate Increases both headline a 5.9% base‑rate hike, but the report shows that minimum‑charge adjustments, accessorial fees, fuel surcharges and off‑cycle rate changes add significant hidden costs. By juxtaposing domestic, international and ground services,...
What America Forgets About the UN
The Financial Times opinion piece argues that the United States increasingly overlooks the strategic value of the United Nations, treating the body as a bureaucratic relic rather than a vital platform for multilateral problem‑solving. It highlights how U.S. disengagement erodes...
Riley Departs RSI
Railway Supply Institute (RSI) abruptly dismissed President Jim Riley after just under a year in the role, citing the need for a leadership change amid a volatile economic and geopolitical environment. Board Chair Greg Dalpe announced the decision and praised...
Guest: Lisa DeNight of Newmark on the Industrial Real Estate Market on the Rise; Thoughts on Improving Infrastructure; Striving for...
Lisa DeNight, Newmark’s North American Industrial Research head, discussed a rebound in industrial real estate as manufacturers seek new facilities. The National Association of Manufacturers highlighted chronic infrastructure underinvestment, linking highway congestion to higher freight costs. A recent Infios survey...
Shippers Wary of Rising Transportation Costs
The 2026 State of Transportation Report shows shippers overwhelmingly expect tariffs to lift transportation costs, with 97% flagging price pressure and nearly half foreseeing higher contract rates. Carriers are curbing capital spending, as 64% postponed equipment upgrades and 47% plan...
From Warehouses to Low-Earth Orbit: The Next Logistics Frontier
Inversion has unveiled Arc, a low‑Earth‑orbit delivery vehicle that can drop cargo anywhere on Earth in under an hour, bypassing traditional ground and air infrastructure. The system pre‑positions payloads in orbit and triggers on‑demand deliveries, promising minute‑scale lead times. Arc...
EFW Signs New A330 Freighter Conversion Contract with Hengqin Winglet
Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has secured a new passenger‑to‑freighter (P2F) conversion contract with Chinese lessor Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology. The A330‑P2F conversion will be performed at a partner facility in China, with work slated to begin in mid‑2026 and technical support...
Valentine’s Volumes Bloom at Dnata’s Dubai Flower Centre
dnata processed 227,530 kg of flowers over five days at Dubai Flower Centre, handling 274 shipments and more than 18,700 boxes. The operation peaked on February 10 with 59,800 kg moved, more than double typical daily volumes. The purpose‑built 3,500 sqm facility can handle...
Key Trucking Acquired by Division of Estes Express Lines
Estes Logistics, a division of privately held freight giant Estes Express Lines, has acquired Washington‑based Key Trucking, adding the regional carrier’s 21 trucks and established Pacific Northwest network to its portfolio. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, preserves...
Simplifying Complex Systems
Two major automation vendors, ABB and Schneider Electric’s Foxboro unit, announced distinct strategies for upgrading existing process control systems. ABB leverages its extensive installed base to offer a comprehensive modernization pathway, while Schneider emphasizes a modular, open architecture aimed at...
Supply Chain and Logistics Conferences to Attend in Europe in 2026
Martijn Graat’s 2026 European supply chain and logistics conference guide lists more than twenty events across the continent. The calendar covers major shows in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, and beyond, spanning topics from automation to...
TE Connectivity Snap-On Markers From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect announced it now stocks TE Connectivity Snap‑on markers, a C‑profile wire labeling solution that can be applied to already‑terminated conductors. Each marker is pre‑printed with a single character and comes on an applicator that prevents over‑expansion. The tags fit wire...
Procurement News — February 11, 2026
Several major organizations announced new chief procurement officers in February 2026, including Volvo Group, PowerCo SE, UC Riverside, and Duke Energy. Volvo named Michael Lovati to steer purchasing amid industry disruption, while PowerCo appointed Alexander Schmitt to oversee raw‑materials sourcing...
DHL eCommerce Taps Georgia Tech to Build Engineering Talent Pipeline
DHL eCommerce announced a strategic partnership with Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering to create a direct pipeline of engineering talent. The agreement includes on‑campus recruiting, advisory board participation, and sponsorship of a senior‑level student...
Is Your Fleet Ready to Grow? 5 Key Considerations for Carriers
Carriers eye fleet expansion when freight volume steadies, but adding trucks reshapes risk, costs, and operational complexity. Insurance premiums rise with each new vehicle, and driver retention becomes a critical factor as industry turnover climbs. Adequate cash flow and maintenance...
Issue 58, 2026
AutomationDirect’s Issue 58 (2026) spotlights how artificial intelligence is poised to deliver tangible ROI on plant floors, with expert Bill Makley outlining five growth avenues. The issue also promotes headless HMIs as a flexible, cost‑effective alternative to traditional panel‑mounted interfaces. Additional focus...
Five Ways AI Will Grow ROI on Plant Floors in 2026
AI adoption on the plant floor is accelerating in 2026 as edge processors, standardized data pipelines, and emerging governance frameworks remove long‑standing barriers. Manufacturers can now run deep‑learning models locally, achieve millisecond decision times, and integrate clean, contextual data via...
How Small Incidents Can Ripple Through the Supply Chain
Even minor incidents can trigger a rock‑in‑a‑pond effect that reverberates through global supply chains, as illustrated by the 2021 Ever Given blockage that stalled $9.6 billion of goods daily. A recent study shows 52 % of companies lose more than a month...