Know What's Happening in Supply Chain
Know What's Happening in Supply Chain
Iranian drone strikes hit Kuwait’s oil infrastructure ahead of OPEC+ talks
Iranian drones struck Kuwait’s oil infrastructure, causing severe material damage to petrochemical plants, a government office complex and desalination facilities, just hours before an OPEC+ meeting where members agreed in principle to raise output by 206,000 barrels per day in May.
Also developing:
A Wärtsilä survey of 225 senior maritime executives shows that tightening decarbonisation regulations are turning emissions targets into direct operating costs, reshaping ship owners' investment strategies. While more than 90% remain confident they can navigate the energy transition, 70% say regulatory complexity hampers investment prioritisation and 42% struggle to balance decarbonisation spend with acceptable returns. The report warns that postponing decisions is untenable and urges operators to embed flexibility, data collaboration and long‑term OEM partnerships into their plans.
UiPath unveiled its new Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) solution, an agentic AI platform that overlays existing ERP and CRM systems to automate procurement and accounts‑payable workflows. The tool leverages Intelligent Xtraction and Processing, AI‑driven approval routing, and UiPath Maestro orchestration to capture...
Bold Laser Automation has launched the LPCl1820UV, a Class 1 industrial laser system that uses a 349 nm Q‑switched UV source delivering up to 120 µJ per pulse for precision surface cleaning. The platform integrates nanosecond laser processing, high‑accuracy motion control, advanced beam...
Procurement entered at the the 5 yard line of my largest Enterprise deal ever last year. We ran discovery on their procurement process. Learned what mattered most: -Short-term contract vs. longer-term agreement? -Total price vs. price per seat? -Cash flow for billing? We were transparent about...
Taiwan politics isn’t just a local issue. When a party like the KMT shapes how closely the country engages with China and the US, it influences a supply chain the entire world depends on. That’s why it matters far beyond Taiwan. https://t.co/2eGMOnyZKp
Raymond Corporation will showcase its end‑to‑end intralogistics portfolio at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, featuring new electric lift trucks, automated Courier trucks, and the iWAREHOUSE intelligent‑warehouse suite. The booth will host six 10‑minute "Material Handling Moments" sessions that deliver actionable solutions...
"Rather than being a sign of weakness, TACO is working in Trump’s favor. No one knows for certain when or if he’ll try to end the war, which has been enough to stop traders from pushing up the oil price."...
"US Import Prices Jump by Most in Nearly Four Years Ahead of Iran War" "Excluding petroleum, import costs advanced 1.2%, the most since January 2022 and driven by higher prices for capital goods and consumer merchandise excluding automobiles." https://t.co/0glmjMPmLR
Oracle announced AI Agent Studio, a no‑code builder that lets enterprises create AI‑driven procurement bots without programming. The launch expands Oracle's cloud suite and targets a market dominated by legacy ERP and emerging spend‑management platforms.
Indonesia stands at a crossroads as the United States and European allies push to onshore critical‑mineral supply chains, challenging China’s dominance in the archipelago’s mining sector. The recently signed US‑Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) could deepen Western ties, but...
The article traces how Western powers have long portrayed Iran’s oil as a coveted prize, beginning with the 1908 discovery that birthed the Anglo‑Persian Oil Company, later BP. It shows how BP’s interwar advertising turned Iran into an exotic backdrop...
Basler AG and Chinese robotics specialist Orbbec have formed a strategic partnership to develop industrial 3D vision solutions for logistics and factory automation. Their first joint product, the Basler Stereo mini camera, will debut at LogiMAT 2026 and targets autonomous mobile...
AutomationDirect launched the IronHorse ACM series AC drives, offering V/Hz and sensorless vector control for low‑horsepower motors using single‑phase 120 V or 230 V power. The drives cover 1/8 to 3 HP, feature five digital inputs, two relay outputs, analog I/O, dynamic braking,...
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has completed a transition to 100 % closed‑loop recycled plastic sheets for its cargo operations, after piloting 30‑50 % recycled content since 2022. The program, developed with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, uses post‑consumer...
AutomationDirect announced the launch of new Shaviv deburring tool sets, including a premium 21‑piece and a 12‑piece kit, both featuring ergonomic universal handles and quick‑change blade holders. The expanded Heavy‑duty and Mango IIB/IIE configurations add compact, direct‑blade designs for tight‑space...
AutomationDirect has added Define Instruments digital panel meters, signal conditioners, and temperature transmitters to its catalog. The Merlin series meters accept current, temperature, voltage, potentiometer and pulse inputs, feature advanced scaling, USB‑based configuration and an IP65‑rated LED display. The LPI610...
AutomationDirect has added two new Datalogic Smart‑VS vision sensors to its catalog: the Smart‑VS Plus and the Smart‑VS EVO. The Plus model introduces a third object classification and expands image storage to 20 frames while maintaining a 50‑400 mm range and...
Australian freight forwarders, backed by APSA and the Freight & Trade Alliance, are seeking government assistance to offset soaring shipping costs caused by the US/Israeli war against Iran. Conflict‑related surcharges and end‑of‑voyage fees are adding up to about $4,000 per...
Flexport is suing former employees and rival startup Freightmate AI over alleged misuse of shipment documents to train AI tools. The dispute centers on thousands of real‑world freight documents that were downloaded and could give Freightmate a data advantage, rather...
In this 38‑minute live webinar, Steve Maurer—an industry veteran with 35 years of food‑processing experience—explains the hidden costs of expired inventory for small food manufacturers. He breaks down direct losses (raw material, labor, overhead) and indirect expenses such as storage,...
Trenitalia’s heritage night train Espresso Riviera, which linked Milan to Nice in 2024 and expanded to a Rome‑Marseille route in 2025, will not run in the 2026 summer despite carrying over 3,500 passengers across nine weekends. The operator cites force‑majeure after...
Diesel prices have surged from $2.55 per gallon in 2020 to nearly $5 in 2022, underscoring the volatility that fleets now face. Michael Roeth urges operators to treat fuel efficiency like a squirrel stockpiling for winter, investing in engine optimization,...
The world's biggest LNG plant in Qatar wont be able to quickly restart even after the Iran war ends🇶🇦⚠️ Two of the plant's trains were damaged, and need new gas turbines to power LNG refrigeration compressors. Delivery will take 2-4 years...
Fuel surcharges are starting to roll in around the world. This one's for an Australian car service, but I'm betting your going to see a lot more of these everywhere very soon. https://t.co/4lWJw5vyNw
Polestar announced that the batteries in its Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 models now contain at least 50 percent recycled cobalt and will use refurbished modules for any replacements. The move is part of a broader circular‑economy strategy that aims to extend battery...
The OECD Global Anti‑Corruption & Integrity Forum 2026 highlighted critical minerals as a flashpoint for corruption amid soaring demand for clean‑energy technologies. Experts warned that complex, multi‑jurisdictional supply chains expose the sector to bribery, human‑rights abuses and environmental damage. The...
Dubai‑based Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM) has placed a $300 million order for six 50,000‑dwt medium‑range product tankers, split evenly between HD Hyundai’s Korean and Vietnamese shipyards. The vessels are slated for delivery between 2027 and 2029, expanding GEM’s fleet beyond ten...
"EU says Mercosur free trade deal will start May 1, accounting for 25% of global GDP" https://t.co/357IyH3KRA https://t.co/tpysXMlyjm
Lytica is launching a pricing‑science layer that turns anonymized buyer transaction data into real‑time market intelligence for procurement teams. By modeling prices as statistical distributions rather than static benchmarks, the platform lets companies gauge how competitive their spend is across...
Europe faced with near-empty gas stores just as war hits supply https://t.co/AMi8Pr6NeH via @priazrocha https://t.co/iNtIl6DXzV
Rosneft’s Vostok Oil, envisioned as Russia’s flagship greenfield oil development, is now years behind its original timeline. The project faces significant logistical bottlenecks, from remote Siberian terrain to inadequate transport infrastructure, and tangled administrative approvals that stall progress. Despite these...
Nestlé has piloted Zest’s AI platform across its factories, instantly linking fragmented production data to pinpoint and reduce food waste. The system uncovered four times more edible surplus than manual checks, redirecting 201.9 tonnes—equivalent to about 480,000 meals—to people in need...
Rail operators are confronting a looming “maintenance mountain” as the drive to install more point sensors for landslides, trespass and cable theft creates endless battery swaps, cleaning and access challenges. The article proposes Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) that repurposes existing...
In this episode, Ed Elson and Flexport CEO Ryan Peterson discuss the cascading effects of the Strait of Hormuz closure and Red Sea disruptions on global supply chains, highlighting soaring oil, diesel, and fertilizer prices and a 50% rise in...
The article examines how the escalating Iran crisis could reshape Russia’s gas exports to Europe, a market where Russia still accounts for roughly 40% of supply. It argues that the EU’s recent pivot toward liquefied natural gas (LNG) has swapped...
The European Commission’s competition directorate approved state aid for the French and Italian governments to revive the cross‑border piggyback service between Aiton, near Chambéry, and Orbassano near Turin. Launched in 2003 on Modalohr swing‑tray wagons after the Mont Blanc tunnel...
Supply chain losses from cargo theft jumped to about $725 million in 2025, driven by organized crime targeting high‑value freight. Wiliot, an Israeli‑San Diego IoT firm, offers battery‑free, paper‑thin Bluetooth tags that give each product a digital identity and real‑time visibility...
FS Logistix and Logtainer have launched new rail‑freight services linking the Ligurian ports of Genoa and Vado Ligure with inland terminals in Verona and Milan. The partnership enables containers arriving by ship to be transferred directly onto Mercitalia trains for...
Tim Jurischka argues that LCL consolidators must shift from pure cost‑optimisation to building resilience amid persistent geopolitical and trade disruptions. He highlights that traditional, static consolidation networks struggle when routes are blocked or capacity tightens, leading to higher freight rates...
Intra‑Asia container trade emerged as the most profitable segment in 2025, with volumes nearing 50 million TEU. Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines posted the highest operating margin at 18.9%, while Cosco’s $4.3 bn net profit was buoyed by strong intra‑Asia earnings. The region’s growth,...
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has tabled a proposal to safeguard Persian Gulf shipping, mirroring the Black Sea grain corridor that kept vital routes open during Ukraine’s war. Iran, traditionally wary of external maritime regulations, appears cautiously receptive to collaborating...
Asia, which purchases more than 80% of the crude transiting the Strait of Hormuz, is confronting a severe fuel shortage after Iran blocked the waterway following its war on February 28. Governments from South Korea to the Philippines are reviving...
Germany has joined a growing list of nations—including Canada, Japan, France, India, Poland and Singapore—in suspending all commercial flights to the United Arab Emirates due to heightened safety concerns and airspace restrictions tied to the Iran conflict. Major carriers such...
The European Union is pressing to ratify the Turnberry agreement, a sweeping U.S.-EU trade pact brokered at former President Trump’s Scottish resort, or risk losing preferential access to American liquefied natural gas. The deal, valued at roughly $750 billion in U.S....
Flatbed trucking spot rates +$.05/mile overnight to $3.74/mile as industrials show no sign of cooling. https://t.co/kpqUrejGlK
Chapman Freeborn has completed the delivery of a second ATR 72‑600MPA to the Philippine Air Force after a complex multi‑stop ferry operation that spanned Egypt, Oman, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The aircraft, built by Leonardo in Italy, is configured for maritime...
Heineken announced it will wind down large‑scale brewing at its Tuas plant in Singapore, moving production to existing breweries in Malaysia and Vietnam by the end of 2027. The shift will affect about 130 employees and convert the Singapore site...
China's state‑backed surge in copper smelting and fabrication now accounts for roughly 80% of new global capacity, tightening markets as the United States lags in domestic investment. The imbalance has prompted 50% Section 232 tariffs and renewed calls for export...
U.S. regulators have announced a ban on the import of specific consumer routers, requiring manufacturers to source network hardware domestically. The move aims to tighten supply‑chain security and could ripple through the GovTech sector, affecting vendors, federal agencies and end...
Nintendo announced a 33% cut to Switch 2 production after the console failed to meet holiday sales targets in the United States. The move highlights pricing pressures, a thin game lineup and lingering tariff costs that could reshape the handheld market.
