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
US to Unveil New Data Spotlighting Hormuz, Global Reserves
The U.S. Energy Information Administration announced a new quarterly report that will begin publishing on May 13, providing detailed data on global strategic petroleum reserves and LNG flows through key shipping chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz. The datasets are intended to capture how the ongoing war in Iran has disrupted supply chains and to inform EIA’s price forecasts for the remainder of the year. The release will be issued separately from the agency’s Short‑Term Energy Outlook, addressing a reporting gap created by recent staff cuts. EIA Administrator Tristan Abbey highlighted the timing of resumed oil flows as a critical factor for market outlooks.
I/O's Evolution From Massive Relay Panels to Distributed Intelligence
The article traces the shift from bulky, centrally wired relay panels to modern distributed I/O architectures in factory automation. Early PLCs relied on massive panels and proprietary serial links, driving high material costs and limited flexibility. The adoption of Ethernet‑based...
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VisionNav Robotics unveiled its VNE40-66 Autonomous Precision Stacking Solution at Modex 2026, marking the industry’s first system able to stack cages up to 8.8 feet wide and 22 feet high. The robot handles loads of up to 6,150 pounds with millimeter‑level accuracy, thanks...
Nvidia’s Huang Wants to Sell Chips to China. Trump Has Other Priorities.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will not join President Donald Trump on the administration’s upcoming trip to China, according to media reports. The omission suggests the White House is scaling back efforts to open the Chinese market for U.S. semiconductor firms....
Editorial: Sustainable Food Procurement for Healthy Diets in Public and Private Canteens
The editorial surveys a new research collection on sustainable food procurement across public and private canteens, highlighting how procurement policies, menu design, and behavioral interventions can drive healthier, lower‑impact diets. Case studies range from French school feeding programs and Malawi’s...
Titan Charters United LNG I Bunker Vessel
Titan Clean Fuels, now owned by Molgas Energy Group, has chartered United LNG I, a 135‑meter inland‑waterway bunker vessel launched in December 2025. The ship can transport up to 8,000 cubic meters of LNG, liquefied biomethane and, eventually, renewable e‑LNG...
Vietjet Inks Strategic Tech and Airport Deals with India's GMR and Bird Group
Vietnam's low‑cost carrier Vietjet has signed strategic cooperation agreements with India's GMR Airports and Bird Group, targeting joint development of air routes, smart‑airport technology and ground‑handling services. The deals aim to deepen Indo‑Vietnam trade, tourism and logistics, building on Vietjet’s...
Trump Heads to Beijing Seeking Chinese Help to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran War
President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 13 to meet Xi Jinping, urging China to pressure Iran and help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20% of world crude. The visit also tackles lingering trade disputes and...
Peraso's Q1 Revenue Plummets to $1M as Asian Supplier Delays Hit Shipments
Peraso Inc. reported first‑quarter 2026 net revenue of $1 million, a 66% decline from the prior quarter, after an Asia‑based supplier disrupted shipments of its millimeter‑wave and legacy memory chips. The company said it has now secured alternative sources and expects...
Okuma Corp Posts 31% Profit Jump as CNC Demand Surges
Okuma Corporation reported a 31% rise in net profit to ¥12.55 billion ($81 million) for the fiscal year, with revenue climbing 14.1% to ¥235.9 billion ($1.52 billion). The results underscore robust demand for its CNC machine tools as manufacturers seek higher precision and automation.
Supreme Court to Hear Case That Could Undermine Arbitration in Last‑Mile Delivery Disputes
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging the enforceability of arbitration clauses in last‑mile delivery contracts. The dispute pits manufacturers against logistics providers and could reshape how thousands of delivery agreements are resolved, potentially limiting the...
Trump Rejects Iran's Dilution Offer, Raising Stakes for Middle‑East Emerging Markets
President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's offer to dilute enriched uranium as 'totally unacceptable', prompting harsh criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sen. Lindsey Graham and former adviser John Bolton. The rebuff heightens geopolitical risk for Iran and its neighbours,...
European Oil Majors' Q1 Profit Surge Revives EU Windfall Tax Push
Shell, BP and TotalEnergies posted record first‑quarter profits as Iran‑related oil shocks lifted Brent crude to $100‑$126 a barrel. The surge has reignited calls from Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy and Portugal for an EU‑wide windfall tax on excess energy earnings.
Nigeria’s Port Cargo Tonnage Jumps 19.5% in Q1 2026, Boosting AfCFTA Trade
Nigeria’s ports recorded a 19.5% rise in gross registered tonnage to 46.75 million in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting larger ships, higher export volumes and a $1 billion upgrade programme. The surge underscores Lagos’s push to become Africa’s premier maritime hub...
Trump’s Ceasefire Warning Sends Oil Prices Higher Again
President Trump’s warning that the Iran cease‑fire is on “life support” sent Brent crude back toward $110 a barrel, reviving price gains of about 3% this week. Gulf producers, still repairing drone‑damaged facilities, now expect full output recovery only by...
AI’s Supply Chain Problem
In December PJM Interconnection missed its summer 2027 reserve target by about 6,600 MW, a shortfall driven largely by AI data‑center growth that accounts for 94% of projected load. The shortage exposes the lagging pace of power‑infrastructure build‑out—large transformers take roughly...
Surging Asia Vehicle Exports, High/Heavy Rebound Buoy Carrier Operators
Chinese vehicle exports surged 57% year‑over‑year to 2.2 million units in Q1 2026, with hybrid shipments jumping 112% to 514,000 units. The spike is tightening the vehicle‑carrier market, lifting freight rates as capacity lags behind demand. Simultaneously, high‑and‑heavy cargo volumes are...
EcoVadis, Workiva Partner on Scope 3 Data Solutions
EcoVadis and Workiva announced a strategic partnership that links EcoVadis' Carbon Data Network with Workiva's Carbon reporting platform. The integration delivers verified supplier‑level Scope 3 emissions data directly into Workiva's audit‑grade solution, replacing industry averages. Companies can now combine carbon metrics...
America’s Nuclear Shipping Revival Is About More Than Reactors
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and MARAD announced a Request for Information to build a domestic ecosystem for small modular reactor (SMR) powered merchant vessels. The initiative targets not just reactor design but the full regulatory, shipyard, insurance and port...
India Has Adequate Stocks of Fuel Supply, but OMC Losses Could Hit ₹1 Lakh Cr: Minister of Petroleum and Natural...
India’s fuel stocks remain robust, with roughly 60 days of crude and LNG and 45 days of LPG reserves, even as the Strait of Hormuz disruption persists. However, oil‑marketing companies (OMCs) are hemorrhaging about ₹1,000 crore ($120 million) a day, and could...
Inside Amazon’s Push to Open Its Logistics Network to Everyone
Amazon announced it will open its extensive supply‑chain and logistics network to any business, not just sellers on its marketplace. The move stems from seller demand, growing off‑Amazon volume, and the need to detach internal‑only processes. Leveraging its AI‑driven speed,...
Trump, Xi Secure Fragile Trade Truce, White House Seeks Stability
After a bruising trade war consumed most of 2025, Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed last fall to an uneasy economic truce. The White House, struck by Xi’s demonstrated willingness to push back hard on Trump’s tariffs, now...
Ensure Speedy Completion of Paddy, Maize Procurement, Revanth Tells Officials
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy ordered district collectors to accelerate paddy and maize procurement, citing mounting criticism. He instructed officers to be posted at Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) centres and rice mills to resolve bottlenecks, and demanded sufficient gunny...
Daily Memo: India on Russian LNG, Brussels on Afghan Migrants
India has told Russia it will not buy Russian liquefied natural gas that falls under U.S. sanctions, a stance conveyed to Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin during his April 30 visit to New Delhi. The decision impacts at least one...
Fusion21 Opens Bidding for £350m Repairs Framework
Fusion21 has launched a £350 million (≈$440 million) four‑year responsive repairs and void‑property framework for UK social housing, set to start in October 2026. The procurement, governed by the Procurement Act 2023, is divided into five lots covering repairs, void improvements, security, disrepair and...
NATO to Cultivate Vetted Counter-Drone Vendor Pool for Nations to Pick and Choose
NATO is launching a pilot marketplace that will offer 18 vetted counter‑drone (C‑UAS) systems for member nations to procure quickly. The alliance will invite vendors to pitch by mid‑May, select the solutions within two months, and aim to have contracts...
Soaring Showcases Autonomous Aerial Medical Resupply Capability During U.S. Army XVIII Airborne Corps 44th Medical Brigade Operational Validation
Soaring participated in the U.S. Army XVIII Airborne Corps 44th Medical Brigade field exercise to validate autonomous Class VIII medical resupply. The company deployed two M25 unmanned aircraft, each delivering up to 25 lb over a 10‑km round trip, and trained soldiers...
Ink Shortage From Iran War Forces Japanese Snack Brand Calbee to Remove Color From Packaging
Japanese snack maker Calbee will switch its chip bags to a black‑and‑white design at the end of May 2026. The change responds to a critical shortage of multi‑color printing inks, which are tied to naphtha supplies disrupted by the Iran‑related...
Trump's Weakened Stance Meets China's US‑controlled Maritime Chokepoints
The FT says Trump arrives in Beijing weakened after losing the trade war and the Iran war. Maybe, writes @BenPicton1 But China still depends on seaborne oil, LNG, & food moving through maritime chokepoints dominated by U.S. naval power My take: does...
Petronas Inks 20-Year Charter Deal for 5 LNG Carriers
Petronas and Malaysia‑based MISC have signed a 20‑year time charter for five new LNG carriers, with deliveries slated for 2029‑2030. MISC will oversee shipbuilding in Shanghai, then operate and manage the vessels, integrating project management and commercial services. The tankers...
Protect Omnichannel Margins With These 4 Fulfillment Automation Strategies
Omnichannel retailers face mounting margin pressure from rising labor costs, volatile freight rates, and complex multi‑channel fulfillment. Automation is emerging as a strategic lever, moving beyond simple cost cuts to improve decision‑making, reduce waste, and boost flexibility. Four key tactics—AI‑driven...
Xi’s Leverage Forces US to Rethink Taiwan Policy
FT says Xi now holds most of the cards ahead of the Trump meeting Liberation Day tariffs flopped once China’s critical mineral chokehold started shutting U.S. factories Now the Iran war fiasco has weakened Washington further EXPECT A REVISION OF THE US POSITION...
Build Engineers Own Engine Modules From Concept To Test
Traditionally, engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain are siloed. Engineering throws drawings over the wall to mfg/supply chain. At Boom our Build Engineers are empowered—and own whole engine modules from concept through test stand.
Scarlet Therapeutics Secures $4 Million Seed Round After Lab‑Grown Blood Mirrors Donor Survival
Scarlet Therapeutics announced a $4 million seed funding round alongside data showing its lab‑grown universal red blood cells survive in the bloodstream as long as donor‑derived cells. The result validates a key performance metric for engineered blood products and positions the...
Xi Holds the Cards as US Bravado Masks Weakness
✍️ Gideon Rachman 👉 US president’s trademark bravado will be used to obscure the weakness of his position. Chinese are unlikely to rub his nose in it. 💥The reality, however, is that it is Xi Jinping who “has the cards”...
Inflation and Hormuz Tensions Force Supply Chain Rethink
US inflation. Strait of Hormuz. What will retailers and manufacturers do? And their supply chains? And logistics?
South Korean Ministry Backs MasAuto’s $1.5 M R&D Push to Grow U.S. Autonomous Truck Fleet
MasAuto, a Korean self‑driving truck startup, received 2 billion won (≈$1.5 million) from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to fund R&D and AI training for its U.S. long‑haul operations. The support backs a 3,379‑km fixed route from California’s Port of...
Iran Negotiates as Trump Seeks Exit, Shipping Bottleneck Worsens
Iran playing the negotiation game while Trump wants to get out of mess he made. And the ships stuck in the Strait and the supply shortages?
Panama Canal Slot Auctions Reach Record $4 Million
Panama Canal slot auctions hit record $4m. The Strait adds to volume. Avoid delay. Pay $4 mil. Will that increase? https://t.co/pbogTlPIf7
TanStack NPM Supply‑Chain Attack Deploys 84 Malicious Versions Across 42 Packages
A coordinated supply‑chain breach on May 11, 2026 saw an attacker publish 84 malicious versions across 42 @tanstack/* npm packages. The attack leveraged pull‑request_target abuse, GitHub Actions cache poisoning, and OIDC token extraction, and was detected within 20 minutes, prompting...
Illinois Diesel Prices Hit Record, Threatening Trucking Costs
Illinois sets record price for diesel fuel. Will that be broken? Trucking and supply chains beware.
Strong Supplier Ties Unlock Pricing, Innovation, Resilience
Strong supplier relationships don't just feel nice. They deliver concrete advantages: better pricing, knowledge transfer, supply chain resilience, and innovations you'd never reach through a standard RFP. Joe Adamski of @ProcureAbility breaks it down 👇 https://t.co/tYERkizpoN
Iran Conflict Drains the Colour From Snack Packs
Japanese snack maker Calbee announced a temporary shift of 14 products, including its flagship potato chips, to black‑and‑white packaging. The move responds to shortages of naphtha‑derived inks and flexible films caused by disruptions in Middle Eastern supply chains linked to...
Why Warehouse Racking Maintenance Should Never Be an Afterthought
Warehouse racking maintenance is essential for safety and operational continuity in UK warehouses. Frequent forklift impacts, overloaded beams, and layout changes can weaken uprights and braces, creating collapse risks. Regular internal checks, staff reporting, and annual expert inspections identify damage...
SanDisk’s 2025 Spin‑Off Fuels $200 B Market Cap as AI Storage Boom Accelerates
SanDisk completed its spin‑off from Western Digital in February 2025 and has since surged more than 550% this year, lifting its market value above $200 billion. The rally is powered by exploding AI‑driven demand for NAND flash, while the company locks in...
Burger King Pilots AI Assistant “Patty” To Streamline Drive‑thru Inventory and Staff Interactions
Burger King has begun piloting an AI assistant called “Patty” in select drive‑thru lanes to monitor stock levels, cue staff actions and suggest managerial focus areas. The system, championed by chief digital officer Thibault Roux, is positioned as a productivity...
DSV Moves to CargoWise, Tango Becomes Core AI
DSV confirms CargoWise shift as Tango becomes core AI platform - https://t.co/dcq4GR9itu - The Loadstar
Container Freight Rates to Middle East Get Boost From Strait of Hormuz Closure
Container freight rates to the Middle East are rising as the Strait of Hormuz closure forces boxships to reroute through alternative ports such as Khor Fakkan in the UAE, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and Salalah in Oman. The rate uplift benefits...
Global Copper Smelting Nosedives in April
Global copper smelting activity plunged in April, driven by a confluence of factors rather than a single event. Maintenance schedules in China curtailed production, while major smelters in Iran and Australia were offline. Chile's flagship Chuquicamata plant reported patchy operations,...
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Exito Announces the South Africa Manufacturing Show 2026
Exito Media Concepts announced the South Africa Manufacturing Show 2026, scheduled for June 11 in Johannesburg. The 33rd edition will convene over 150 C‑level executives and technology leaders to examine AI, IoT, robotics, cybersecurity and sustainable production within the country’s evolving...