Today's Supply Chain Pulse
U.S.-Iran Interim Deal Reopens Hormuz, Eases Oil Supply Strain
The United States and Iran signed an interim peace memorandum that normalizes traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, ending the naval blockade. President Trump warned that strategic petroleum reserves are draining fast, with Cushing, Oklahoma inventories just above 20 million barrels, the lowest level in years. The agreement also lifts Treasury waivers and releases roughly $24 billion in frozen assets.
Also developing:
By the numbers: USA Rare Earth secures $1.6B federal funding under CHIPS Act
SMA Says Overcapacity Remains a Threat
The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) testified before USTR investigators, urging the use of Section 301 tariffs to combat global steel overcapacity that threatens U.S. jobs and competition. SMA highlighted that China’s excess capacity exceeds U.S. steel output by more than eight times, while South Korea, Canada and Brazil were the top exporters to the United States in early 2024. The association warned that subsidies in the EU and Asian nations keep domestic producers afloat, depressing global steel prices. SMA also called for extending tariffs to downstream steel‑containing products to protect the full supply chain.
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Iraq Drops Out of Thai Rice Market Due to Hormuz Blockage
Thailand's rice exports to Iraq have stopped completely for three months after the war in the Middle East blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq, previously Thailand's largest rice market at 80‑90 000 tonnes per month, now receives no shipments. The disruption...
Slovak PM Fico Holds Urgent Talks with State Oil Company After Hinting that Moscow Is in Energy Talks with US
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and then called an urgent meeting with state oil transporter Transpetrol. He hinted that the United States is interested in buying Russian transit infrastructure and suggested a new...
Does Beijing RUN Things? Is Xi, China's Xi, Our Daddy Trump's Daddy? So Our Daddy Has a Daddy? Can His...
The post highlights that the U.S. Department of Defense now depends on Beijing’s approval to replenish critical rare‑earth minerals needed for weapons systems. It cites the Democracy Perception Index released on May 8, showing China’s global perception at +7% while the...
High-Productivity Benchtop 3D Optical Scanning for In-Process Metrology
Marposs unveiled the Optocloud S, a benchtop 3D optical scanner designed for in‑process metrology. The system combines multiple laser profilometers with a rotary axis to capture full‑360° geometry in under 30 seconds, enabling near‑100 % inspection rates on the shop floor. Its...
Qualiwise Advances Quality Intelligence for Industrial Manufacturing
Qualiwise has launched a ‘Quality Intelligence’ platform that automates inspection plan creation by interpreting technical drawings at the characteristic level. The system also performs automated cross‑checks of PPAP and CAPA documentation, instantly generating compliant inspection reports. Designed for shop‑floor usability,...
Climate Activists Again Block the Rotterdam Port Railway
Dutch climate group Geef Tegengas staged repeated blockades on the Rotterdam port railway over the weekend, re‑occupying the tracks on Monday morning. The actions, mirroring last year’s disruptions, halted freight movements for several hours and are estimated to have caused...
Hyundai Selects Danieli for Louisiana Equipment
Hyundai Motor Group and POSCO’s joint venture, Hyundai‑Posco Louisiana Steel, has chosen Italy’s Danieli as technology supplier for its planned greenfield electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mill in Louisiana. Danieli will deliver two EAFs, secondary‑metallurgy units, two thick‑slab casters, reheating...
India's SCI Launches Tender for Four Methanol Dual-Fuel Aframax Tanker Newbuilds
India's state‑run Shipping Corp of India (SCI) has issued a tender for four new Aframax‑size tankers equipped with methanol dual‑fuel engines, valued at roughly $300 million. The procurement mandates construction exclusively at Indian shipyards, underscoring a domestic‑first policy. These vessels will...
Italy’s Edison Expects Two-Thirds of LNG Supply From Qatar to Be Delivered Shortly After Any Peace Deal
Edison, QatarEnergy’s biggest Italian customer, said it will receive roughly two‑thirds of its contracted LNG volumes within 30‑45 days after any peace agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran. The company has already seen 12 cargoes cancelled, though eight...
Heil and Autocar Supply Recology with Electric Collection Truck
Heil and Autocar have delivered a fully electric side‑loader truck to Recology for use in Issaquah, Washington. The vehicle merges Autocar’s E‑ACX all‑electric chassis with Heil’s RevAMP automated side‑loader body, creating a hydraulics‑free platform that maintains payload and range. Recology,...
China Expanding Its Industrial Dominance, Warns US Business Group
A leading U.S. business coalition warned that China is rapidly expanding its industrial dominance through aggressive subsidies, state‑backed investment, and technology transfer policies. The group highlighted that China’s manufacturing output rose 6% year‑on‑year in 2023, while its high‑tech sector received...
Metalworking Growth Strengthens in April Despite Emerging Pressures
The Gardner Business Index (GBI) for metalworking rose to 56.8 in April, marking the fourth straight month of expansion. The index gained 1.5 points from March, recapturing lost ground and indicating activity levels not seen in years. Supplier deliveries improved...
The Winners and Losers of the Iran Energy Shock
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in March choked roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows, triggering national energy emergencies and sharp price spikes. Countries heavily dependent on imported fuels, from the Philippines to Zambia, scrambled for emergency...
What the World Can and Can’t Learn From China’s Industrial Policy
China’s industrial policy remains a polarising force in global economic governance as nations look to it for guidance amid geopolitical tension, supply‑chain disruptions, and green‑digital transitions. While high‑visibility subsidies target emerging sectors such as electric vehicles, semiconductors and green hydrogen,...
BeOne Medicines Recognized as "Outstanding Global Oncology Company of the Year" At HKCT Business Awards 2026
BeOne Medicines was named "Outstanding Global Oncology Company of the Year" at the 2026 HKCT Business Awards, recognizing its rapid R&D progress and manufacturing capabilities. The Swiss‑based firm now operates in more than 45 markets, employs over 1,200 oncology R&D...
Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory Refit to Trial World-First Timber Standard
Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory has been selected as one of two early‑2026 pilot sites for the PEFC Project Sourcing timber standard. The £45 million (~$57 million) restoration will use French‑oak sourced from PEFC‑certified forests and will test a framework that requires 70%...
The Seafarer Shortage Is Not What Shipping Thinks It Is
The article argues that the perceived global seafarer shortage is a mischaracterization; the real challenge lies in training, supporting, and protecting the existing workforce. While competition for senior officers is intense, many experienced sailors struggle to find safe, reputable jobs...
![MACC Focusing on Major Leakages Instead of Petty Bribery, Says Azam [WATCH]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://assets.nst.com.my/images/listing-featured/915E0743FFA74FE7732915556C4521F1_data_0_0.jpg)
MACC Focusing on Major Leakages Instead of Petty Bribery, Says Azam [WATCH]
Tan Sri Azam Baki says Malaysia's anti‑corruption agency, MACC, is pivoting from petty bribes to tackling systemic corruption, massive procurement leakages and large‑scale abuse of power. He highlighted that leakages of public funds total roughly RM277 billion (about $58 billion) over six...
Trump's Deal Gives China Unprecedented Leverage Over U.S.
Trump is poised to make a historic deal with China that gives it unprecedented leverage, writes @oren_cass The U.S. can threaten China all it wants—but China controls the materials that make those threats possible. This may be a rare case where...
Next‑Gen Robots Transform Smart Warehouse Operations
How Next-Generation #Robots Are Redefining Smart #Warehouses by @lukas_m_ziegler #AI #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/YGJuBmTUv7
Turkish Recyclers Set to Cut up Former Salamis Lines Roro Vessel
Turkish recyclers have purchased the 25,500‑gt ro‑ro vessel Akritas, a 1982‑built ship that last sailed under Cyprus‑based Salamis Lines. The vessel was sold for dismantling at Aliağa, Turkey, though the transaction price remains undisclosed. Akritas is being retired as Salamis...
EU Lags Behind in Global Critical Minerals Race
Race for critical minerals leaves the EU struggling to keep up https://t.co/aKOMiM6t2M via @jendeben https://t.co/w8GW85k9Y9
Sanctioned Iraqi Crude VLCC Crosses Hormuz, Faces US Block
📌This VLCC loaded with Iraqi Basra Medium crude just crossed the Strait of Hormuz. 📌Problem: the tanker and its Indian owner are under US sanctions. It slipped past the Iranians, but can it beat a US blockade? Watch for STS ops...
Mideast Conflict Sends Chinese Plastic Prices 50% Higher, Slowing Key Manufacturing Hubs
China’s Guangdong factories are feeling the pinch of the Iran‑Israel war as plastic resin prices have jumped roughly 50% since the conflict began. Factory managers and traders report shrinking margins, delayed shipments and a slowdown in output that could reverberate...
China's Steel Exports Dip to 2023 Low After 2025 Record
Chinese exported a record quantity of steel in 2025, which annoyed a lot of its trade partners. That pace has slowed somewhat this year. Year to date it's at the lowest level since 2023 (although still the fourth highest on...
RIVR Robot Sits to Deliver Packages From Below
RIVR Delivery #Robot Sits Down to Drop Packages from the Bottom by @rivr_tech #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/70fBYkWQCh
IBM Pushes Agentic AI Into Supermarkets as Grocery Retailers Race to Automate
IBM is expanding its agentic artificial‑intelligence platform to supermarkets, promising autonomous inventory, demand forecasting and dynamic pricing. The move intensifies a technology arms race among retailers in Europe and the United States seeking faster, data‑driven store operations.
Chile Senate Pushes Draft Law to Redefine Strategic Role of Critical Minerals
Chile's Senate is debating a draft law that expands the definition of strategic minerals to include rare earths, lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite. The proposal seeks greater state oversight and incentives to boost domestic processing, a move that could reshape...
Brazil Seeks Rare‑Earth Role in US Market as Lula Visits Washington
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his May 2026 visit to Washington to pitch Brazil as a reliable source of rare‑earth minerals for the United States. The diplomatic push comes as Washington tightens tariffs on Chinese rare‑earth imports, prompting Brazil to...
A New Dawn: Japan and Australia Make It Officially Critical
Japan and Australia formalised a strategic partnership on critical minerals, designating six joint projects as strategically important in a May 4 agreement. The deal highlights key Australian assets—including Lynas Rare Earths, Alcoa’s gallium recovery, Ardea’s nickel‑cobalt hub, and others—backed by Japanese...
ASEAN Leaders Issue Joint Action Plan as Oil Prices Surge, Growth Forecast Cut to 4.5%
At the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, leaders adopted a joint response to the Middle East energy shock, announcing coordinated measures to secure oil supplies and cutting the 2026 growth forecast for six core economies to 4.5% from 4.8%....
FDA Says No Estrogen Patch Shortage Amid Widespread Pharmacy Reports
The FDA, led by Dr. Marty Makary, asserted Tuesday that estrogen patches are not officially in shortage, even as the American Society of Health‑System Pharmacists and clinicians report difficulty filling prescriptions. The disagreement underscores tension between regulatory data and on‑the‑ground...
Pentagon Proposes $1.5T Budget Overhaul to Force Contractors Fund Own Expansion
The Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion defense budget, submitted April 3, calls for a sweeping acquisition reform that forces contractors to finance their own plant expansions and penalizes missed production milestones. The plan earmarks more than $100 billion for industrial‑base programs and introduces seven‑year...
Why Retailers Need More than Just Product From Meat Processors
Retailers across Australia, the UK and Europe are tightening requirements for meat processors, demanding real‑time animal‑welfare metrics, product‑level emissions data, and reliable supply commitments. Processors that digitise welfare outcomes and capture auditable carbon footprints are gaining a strategic edge, even...
Big Four Cloud Titans Boost 2026 Capex 77% to $725 B Amid AI Chip Price Surge
Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta announced a combined 2026 capital‑expenditure ceiling of $725 billion, a 77% rise from 2025. The surge is largely absorbed by soaring AI‑chip and memory component prices, reshaping budgeting for the tech‑finance ecosystem.
Tesla Halts Model S/X Production, Shifts Fremont to Humanoid Robots in July
Tesla announced it will cease production of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV at its Fremont plant and convert the lines to mass‑produce its Optimus humanoid robot by late July. The pivot sparked a 4% share rise even...
Nvidia Deploys $40 B in AI Equity Stakes, Led by $30 B OpenAI Investment
Nvidia announced a $40 billion equity program for 2026, front‑loaded by a $30 billion stake in OpenAI. The remaining $10 billion spreads across firms like CoreWeave, Nebius, Corning and IREN, tying GPU supply to downstream AI services and sparking debate over vertical integration.
Protecting Seafarers Lives IMO’s Top Priority in Middle East Conflict
International Maritime Organization Secretary‑General Arsenio Domínguez warned that roughly 20,000 seafarers aboard 1,500 vessels are trapped in the Strait of Hormuz after the waterway’s closure amid the Middle‑East conflict. He highlighted more than 30 ship attacks and ten crew deaths,...
Buyer Snaps up Chinese Bulker for Bargain Price at Online Auction
A Chinese online auction on Zhejiang Shipping Exchange’s Shipbid platform sold the 18,100‑dwt handysize bulk carrier Jin Ming 66 for CNY 18 million (≈US$2.7 million). The winning bid was 67.9% lower than the vessel’s estimated market value. Built in 2008, the 17,300‑dwt‑class ship changed hands...
China’s Furniture Hub Struggles Amid U.S. Tariffs
The Factory Town Known as China’s Furniture Capital Is Fighting to Survive—The U.S. lost much of its furniture industry to China years ago. Now, American tariffs and overseas competition are punishing manufacturers. @hannahmiao_ @TByGraceZhu @GillSabrie https://t.co/tcjOyNuP9h
Pidilite Walks Pricing Tightrope as Raw Material Costs Soar
Pidilite Industries, India’s leading adhesives maker, has implemented two staggered price hikes—4‑5% in early April and 5‑7% in early May—to offset a 40‑50% surge in its raw‑material costs. The cost shock stems primarily from the West Asia conflict, which pushed...
China’s Oil Aid Drives Asian Pivot From US
My take in @FortuneMagazine on China’s DIPLOMATIC POSITIONING: “China is deploying its 1.4-billion-barrel strategic crude reserve to aid its Asian neighbors while the US is blocking the Strait of Hormuz.” Seoul, Tokyo, and Jakarta are PIVOTING AWAY from Uncle Sam. https://t.co/PLQmOFRWfy
Airbus A220 Order – and Potentially a New Stretched Version – Open Market Opportunities for AirAsia
AirAsia has placed an order for 150 Airbus A220 aircraft, marking the largest A220 commitment in the Asia‑Pacific region. The carrier plans to integrate the A220s with its existing A321neo fleet to expand regional connectivity and improve unit economics. Airbus...
Pakistan Set to Welcome First Qatari LNG Shipment Since Early March
Pakistan is set to receive its first Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment since early March, with the 216,200 cbm carrier Al Kharaitiyat slated to dock at the floating regasification unit at Port Qasim on May 11. The vessel, chartered by QatarEnergy, underscores...
China’s 2025 Chip and Magnet Ban Elevates Trump‑Xi Stakes
Because of China's global export restrictions on rare earth permanent magnets and Nexperia chips in 2025, virtually **everyone** has a stake in the outcome of the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting. by @anniekbyx https://t.co/MX4XRhYr1h
A 67-Million-Year Cargo Story Takes Flight
Lufthansa Cargo transported two Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons—Rocky, the only known juvenile specimen, and Regina, an adult female—from Munich to Beijing in April for a temporary exhibition. The shipment attracted on‑site attention at Munich Airport, where crews examined a replica skull...
U.S. Weapon Restocking Now Requires Beijing's Approval
My take in @FortuneMagazine on the US replenishment of its depleted weapons stockpile: "To replenish weapons stockpiles depleted by America's wars, the U.S. Department of Defense now needs Beijing's permission to restock. The rules of the road are being rewritten in Beijing."...
Port of Brunswick Reclaims Title as Nation’s Busiest Auto Terminal, Handles 779,000 Vehicles
The Port of Brunswick handled 779,000 automobiles and more than 53,000 heavy‑machinery units in 2025, reclaiming its spot as the United States' busiest auto terminal. The throughput surge comes as Georgia Ports Authority rolls out a $100 million fourth berth and...
U.S. Rare‑Earth Push Targets Africa to Cut China’s Grip
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced a $2 billion portfolio focused on sub‑Saharan rare‑earth projects, pairing early‑stage grants from the USTDA with large‑scale financing. The move seeks to build African processing capacity and blunt China’s hold on the critical‑minerals supply...