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:
Xeneta’s February 2026 Schedule Reliability Scorecard shows global on‑time performance slipping to 27 %, the lowest level since January 2025. Average vessel delay rose by 12 hours, pushing the mean delay to 4.9 days. The decline is evident across most trade lanes, with Far East‑Europe slipping to an 18 % on‑time rate, while the Gemini Cooperation alliance fell to 60 % after its steepest single‑month drop. Emerging congestion in the Persian Gulf is already driving on‑time percentages down to 33 % in affected ports.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is urging logistics firms to join a national police‑led survey aimed at quantifying organised acquisitive crime in UK supply chains. The survey, run by Opal – the National Police Chiefs’ Council intelligence unit –...
Fanuc America announced a $90 million investment to build an 840,000 sq ft robot manufacturing plant in Michigan, slated for completion in late 2027. The expansion will add 225 jobs and bring Fanuc’s U.S. footprint to 3 million sq ft, reflecting nearly $300 million invested since 2019. The...
DB Cargo has launched an AI‑driven Spare Parts Forecasting 1.0 system at its Darmstadt railport to improve spare‑part provisioning for about 60 Class 77 diesel locomotives. The model predicts irregular demand, exemplified by correctly forecasting five oil pumps (six actually used) despite...
STG Logistics released a new industry survey highlighting three emerging trends: shippers are diversifying their sourcing portfolios, demanding greater contract flexibility, and re‑engineering logistics networks to cope with volatile freight markets. Over 60% of respondents plan to add alternative carriers,...
esmo AG has integrated senswork’s optical vision technology into its Talos microchip handling system, delivering 5 µm resolution and 0.3‑second inspection cycles. The contact‑less solution eliminates particle contamination and supports chip sizes from 0.8 × 0.8 mm to 5 × 5 mm. Fully automatic calibration and plug‑and‑play...
JSC RIKON has delivered the final two A‑RMG automated rail‑mounted gantry cranes to the Madrid‑Vicálvaro Intermodal Terminal, completing the fleet slated for the $327 million project. The terminal, a €300 million investment, will handle roughly 150,000 intermodal units each year, linking Atlantic...
Japan announced it will release roughly 80 million barrels of crude from its strategic reserves starting 26 March, supplementing a 15‑day private‑sector release earlier in the month. The drawdown will be executed across 11 sites nationwide, bringing Japan’s total contribution to the...
Micro, Automotive Micro Factory Italy (AMFI) and Portuguese engineering firm CEiiA have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and manufacture micro electric vehicles. AMFI’s Turin facility will become the production hub for CEiiA’s BEN microcar, while both companies will...
Automakers are accelerating aluminium purchases as the Israel‑Hamas conflict disrupts key smelting hubs in the Middle East. Export restrictions and port closures have tightened global supply, pushing spot prices above $2,500 per metric ton. Companies such as Volkswagen, Toyota and...
India’s food‑delivery and quick‑commerce platforms are bracing for a summer surge driven by the IPL season, but rider availability is uncertain as many gig workers return to rural areas for harvest work and elections. Demand for gig labor could rise...
Amazon has launched a $9.99 one‑hour delivery service in hundreds of U.S. cities, adding a three‑hour option in more than 2,000 markets. The offering focuses on pantry, cleaning, health‑beauty items and OTC meds, leveraging Amazon’s existing same‑day hubs and AI‑driven...
The Iran war has choked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting shipments of fertilizer and liquefied natural gas that underpin global food production. About one‑third of seaborne fertilizer, 35% of nitrogen‑based urea and 45% of sulfur exports now face delays, pushing...
Marken UPS Healthcare Precision Logistics argues that sustainability, safety, and precision delivery are the new competitive differentiators in pharmaceutical logistics. The company is rolling out carbon‑neutral transport, renewable‑energy‑powered warehouses, and AI‑driven routing to cut emissions and improve speed. Real‑time IoT...
Lighting is the linchpin of optical inspection with 4K digital microscopes, and a professional ring light supplies the brightness needed for sharp, low‑noise images without increasing camera gain. Sufficient illumination lets users narrow the aperture for greater depth of field...
𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. It isn't. And the graphic I've shared proves it. I've been studying the research behind what it actually takes to be a practical...
Sungrow Hydrogen announced the shipment of green hydrogen systems to projects in Oman, Italy and Brazil, marking its first deliveries across three continents. The company supplied 160 MW of alkaline electrolysis units for a green ammonia venture in Oman, a 3 MW...
Swedish modular housing firm ADMARES announced a strategic partnership with ABB Robotics to equip its upcoming Smart Factory with AI-driven robotics, software and hardware. The collaboration brings together a network of technology partners, including Porsche Consulting, Siemens, NVIDIA and EDAG,...
A TikTok video of a Los Angeles International Airport baggage handler throwing guitar cases has amassed 3.8 million views and 15,000 comments, prompting travelers and industry observers to question how fragile instruments are handled. The incident spotlights gaps between federal guidelines,...
Chinese EV makers are leveraging state‑backed funding, AI‑enabled factories and ultra‑fast development cycles to rewrite global auto supply chains. Legacy automakers such as Stellantis, Nissan and Mercedes‑Benz are now courting Chinese partners, while U.S. firms warn of an existential threat...
The provided source material does not contain verifiable information about Australian media warnings of an imminent fuel supply crunch, preventing the creation of an accurate news article on the topic.
The Australian Greens have intensified calls for tougher government procurement rules after PwC Australia was referenced in the sealed portion of the Robodebt Royal Commission report. The sealed section contains recommendations for further investigation or prosecution, pending review by the...
In this episode, Argus senior reporter Elife Iboğlu and Tolga Yi Tekiciler, procurement manager at Tatmetal, discuss Turkey’s flat steel market amid tightening EU anti‑dumping and origin rules, upcoming EU quota cuts, and the loss of the UK’s galvanized‑steel exemption....
Operation Epic Fury’s Feb. 28 strikes on Iran have forced a massive reroute of global container traffic, shifting roughly 90% of Suez‑Canal flows to the Cape of Good Hope. The detour adds 10‑14 days to voyages, cuts effective vessel capacity by...
The US‑Israel war in Iran has sent oil, gas, aluminum and fertilizer prices sharply higher, pushing global inflation expectations upward. Elevated energy costs are already biting manufacturers, farmers and freight carriers from India to Italy, while the conflict has forced...
IDB Invest is providing up to $14 million senior loan to Empresa Portuaria Austral to expand and modernize ports and ferry ramps in Chile’s Magallanes Region. The funding will upgrade the Arturo Prat and José Santos Mardones terminals, increasing berthing and cargo capacity. Improvements...
Postal workers across the UK say managers ask them to hide or “take the mail for a ride” so delivery metrics appear met. Royal Mail claims 92% of letters are delivered on time, but recent figures show only 77% of...
Australian mining operators are increasingly halted not by equipment failure but by prolonged waits for critical OEM components, as global supply chains stretch lead times from weeks to months. Geopolitical tensions and freight disruptions have turned part availability into a...
The US‑Israel conflict in Iran has choked the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off roughly one‑fifth of global oil flow and pushing barrel prices to about $100. The disruption has triggered severe LPG shortages in India and driven paraffin heating‑oil costs...
I’m wondering if the news media can muster up an article or report about the Strait of Hormuz, how big it is at its narrowest point and why it’s such a critically strategic waterway to oil trade…. I haven’t heard...
Almost 99% of Pakistan’s LNG imports came from Qatar last year. Now, PAK import terminals are close to shutting down. Pakistan may be forced to turn to more EXPENSIVE and DIRTIER furnace oil to generate power. PAKISTAN SHOULD SEND A BILL FOR...
In the first 16 days of the Iran conflict, coalition forces have expended 11,294 advanced munitions, costing roughly $26 billion. The rapid consumption has sharply depleted high‑end interceptors, long‑range strike missiles and sensor‑command assets, leaving critical stockpiles vulnerable. Industrial bottlenecks—particularly in...
A VLCC laden with 2 million barrels of Basrah crude successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. How? We still don’t know. All we know is AIS signal off when it crossed. https://t.co/MAsl9PyQhK
The Chinese Billionaire Who Says America’s EV Market Is Doomed Without Him—Robin Zeng of CATL can’t build a factory in America, but Ford and GM rely on its technology @Kubota_Yoko @christopherotts https://t.co/tIRVSfDXPe https://t.co/tIRVSfDXPe
The escalating standoff in the Strait of Hormuz is prompting oil producers to seek alternative logistics, driving a surge in demand for offshore service vessels. Purus, a maritime service provider, highlighted this trend as its commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV)...
China cuts some hi-tech metals sent to Japan – but magnet exports rise. Why? https://t.co/7TeFEq0KsX
“how this remarkable mobilization of american industry, technology, and material production happened remains the great untold story of world war II.” https://t.co/uLEMiAoxFI
The ACCC has flagged the domestic airline market for close monitoring after the Middle East conflict disrupted international routes and lifted global jet‑fuel prices. While refunds for affected flights depend on individual booking terms, the regulator warns that prolonged fuel...
1 mmb/d Russian export terminal seriously damaged by Ukrainian drone attack @CaolanReports claim that it's been "blown up" & "will take forever to repair" are speculative click bait #Russia #Ukraine #Primorsk #Oil #CrudeOil #EnergyMarkets #Baltic #Drones #Geopolitics #OOTT
"Takaichi Orders Review of Entire Supply Chain for Oil Products" I suspect the review will find that about 90-95% of #Japan’s oil imports come from Middle Eastern countries... https://t.co/hjPmFeOPov
Mother Marketing, the MAI‑listed operator of Mother Supermarkets in southern Thailand, is grappling with a severe petrol shortage that has forced its delivery fleet to make multiple refuelling stops and cope with caps of roughly $14‑$28 per vehicle. Diesel price...
This is exactly what is happening, according to our data. The center of the country, along I35 is experiencing a surge of demand, while the coasts are much slower
Push back on vendors and teams, even when uncomfortable. Doing what's right for the company matters most, despite their pressure. #BusinessTips #VendorManagement https://t.co/vw7A0CqBOg
A lot of nonsense spreading on social media about Iran charging $2 million per ship for safe passage
GEN. MATTIS: “.. Iran right now, if we declared victory, they would now say they own the strait. .. You’d see a tax for every ship that goes through. .. We’re in a tough spot, ladies and gentlemen. .. I...
Despite some accounts on this app implying that all oil that Iran has shipped is already sold…that is not the case. Some oil is shipped and is floating storage…to then be sold later. This does not mean the USTs...
From the 3 Americans who died because of Biden’s Gaza Pier, to the US Merchant Marine ships under a barrage of fire by Houthis in the Red Sea, to decades of under reporting the shipyard crisis. I can list dozens of...
Ocean container imports are just starting to roll in from CNY. This index tracks container at the point of bookings, which take about 3 weeks from bookings date to hit US ports. It is updated daily. In coming weeks, we will...
Wait, why are we giving anyone special priority to our LNG exports. Why aren’t we selling it to the highest bidder?
Goldman Sachs: Brace for worldwide inflation surge. The supply shortages created with the Iran war. What will that do to demand, China & other exports, inventory, supply chains, and logistics? Especially the transportation modes.
