
Somaliland faces import crisis as Berbera port boom fails to ease shortages
Despite a surge in cargo traffic at the UAE‑backed Berbera port, Somaliland is experiencing severe import shortages. Port revenues have risen to roughly $200 million annually, yet disruptions in the Red Sea have pushed consumer prices up, with inflation in Hargeisa exceeding 15%.
Also developing:

Babcock has secured a five‑year, £60 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to manage its white fleet of non‑combat vehicles. Named Phoenix 3, the deal continues the work begun under Phoenix 2 and includes options to extend for another five years. The contract covers sourcing, maintenance, accident handling and delivery of a bespoke Fleet Management Information System. It is expected to protect roughly 60 jobs within Babcock’s service network.

Engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro says its Middle East operations remain largely uninterrupted, with about 95 percent of its roughly 100 sites functioning normally despite regional tensions. Only 5 percent of sites near conflict zones have been temporarily halted, and no major projects...

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh travelled to Moscow to sign a suite of energy agreements, including oil‑and‑gas cooperation and a nuclear power plant partnership, as Hanoi seeks to bolster fuel reserves. The deal covers trade, investment, exploration, extraction and...

Developers in Maine have placed ten fully permitted affordable‑housing projects, representing 400 units, on hold after the federal Buy America rule took effect. The regulation mandates that 95 % of construction materials, including HVAC systems, be sourced from U.S. manufacturers, a...
I’ve been accused of being too soft on @SecWar. Fine. Problem is his performance has been exceptional. But here’s where I’m livid: no serious DoW pressure on Newsom and the California Coastal Commission which are both getting massive support from China. Oil...

GXO Logistics and Hasbro have opened a 600,000‑square‑foot flagship distribution centre in Midway, Georgia, expanding Hasbro’s omni‑channel capabilities across North America. The hub supports both brick‑and‑mortar retail partners and the Hasbro Pulse direct‑to‑consumer platform, creating up to 70 permanent and...

MODEX 2026, scheduled for April 13‑16 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center, will host over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 200 free educational sessions focused on AI, robotics, and supply‑chain digital transformation. The agenda features high‑profile keynote speakers such as...
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, overturning a key tool used to target imports linked to fentanyl, migration and other concerns. The decision opens the door to potentially $166 billion in refunds...

Sidra Line announced the launch of Algerian Express, a new maritime service linking Spain and Algeria. The fortnightly route will operate a multipurpose vessel capable of carrying both containerized and general cargo. Ports of call include Sagunto and Alicante in...

The last LNG tankers from the Gulf arrive in the next 10 days. After that, many countries face a sharp drop in supply. Qatar's Ras Laffan — 20% of global LNG — could be offline for 3-5 years. Fossil fuel...

The Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca combined handle more than 40% of all maritime oil trade. Source: Vizualytiks https://www.voronoiapp.com/trade/How-is-Oil-Transported-Globally-7879

Aqua Titan, a Cameron‑flagged tanker carrying 96,099 tonnes of Russian crude loaded at Primorsk, began discharging at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd’s single‑point‑mooring facility in New Mangalore Port on Sunday. The arrival marks the latest in a series of Russian crude...
These comments by former @CENTCOM commander General Votel highlights a disconnect between the military and economic strategy regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks on shipping and the Strait were expected. When it comes to escorts, General Votel acknowledged that it can...

The Philippines imports roughly 60% of its coffee, leaving the market vulnerable to global price swings. Nestlé Philippines, which generates $3.2 billion annually, sources only 20% of its Nescafé beans locally and is spearheading a push for self‑sufficiency. Domestic green‑bean output...

China’s grain‑output forecasting system, honed over 46 years, now predicts national harvests with sub‑0.2% error, far outpacing the 5‑10% margins typical in the West. The model’s April release gives Beijing a six‑month lead before the autumn harvest, allowing pre‑emptive moves...

Interstate trailer transport services enable individuals and businesses to move camper, boat, car, and equipment trailers across state lines using specialized trucks and experienced drivers. The process typically involves requesting a quote, booking, collection, tracked transport, and final delivery, taking...
Zambia Railways Limited has hired Pangaea Securities as transaction advisor to raise US$60 million from development finance institutions and private investors, supplementing a €50 million European Union grant. The financing underpins Phase 1 of a US$113 million rail‑modernisation programme that will upgrade tracks, signalling...

This, from Bloomberg, illustrates how the Middle East War threatens a widening set of global supply chains. (On Monday, the FT is scheduled to post my column on a separate global risk that has yet to receive sufficient attention: the likely...

China's Rare Earth Weapon: Inside the "Mineral War" with Tomasz Nadrowski. Read more and sign up to my newsletter here: https://t.co/uDfSXat1Xl https://t.co/MXFQAofK9T

Iran launched two missiles that struck the Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, injuring more than 100 people, including civilians and a child. The attack damaged residential structures and hit the area believed to house Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal, prompting...
What if Asia gets worried and stops sending petroleum to California. (Where did you think Californians get their gas since @GavinNewsom started closing oil refineries?)

Global merchandise trade will slow less this year than the WTO predicted, but risks a sharper downturn if prolonged Middle East conflict keeps energy prices elevated https://t.co/nhU9axrKFm via @b_muzz https://t.co/Vo7S63a3JN
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema warned oil‑marketing firms that hoarding fuel creates artificial shortages, despite the country holding 30‑60 days of reserves. He linked the issue to the broader Middle East conflict that is tightening global energy supplies. The administration announced...

"The Waha market’s collapse underscores a pressing issue in global energy: Even when there’s enough raw-material output, many parts of the world lack the critical supply chains necessary to ship product where it’s needed" https://t.co/SUdaWtbJpH https://t.co/I9cYdXcGNR

"Fertilizer Shock Escalates as New Supply Risks Emerge" https://t.co/lgfrgMYRFg "almost half of the world’s supply of sulfur—which is turned into sulfuric acid for the processing of phosphate fertilizer—comes from countries in the Middle East" And US tariffs are making things worse:

Indonesia now provides roughly 40% of the world’s nickel, a critical component for electric‑vehicle batteries. A 2014 export ban and a 2020 full ban forced the country to build a domestic refining sector, which exploded from six plants in 2015...
Discover the urgent need to promote machining trades with 𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠! Join us as we discuss solutions and the importance of skilled machinists. Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/YDD8CFWpgh 📽️ https://t.co/wX4sInst3D 🔗https://t.co/DmYp21NDA3 #Manufacturing #MachiningTrade https://t.co/7xgzIeY5Zb

New day, new cycle high. National trucking spot rates up to $2.89/mile. +$.11/mile in the past week. Spiking demand + tightening capacity will keep new entrants from ruining the party. https://t.co/By2VKHcsO8
The Trump administration, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, issued a one‑month license that temporarily lifts sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea, unlocking roughly 140 million barrels of supply. The move is intended to ease global fuel‑price pressure as the...
The New Weapons of Global Power Are Oil, Rare Earths and Microchips This is a classic WSJ story, very well executed concept, good insights. Good read. https://t.co/OLjtrroo6Y
“March 4 — the day after the Pentagon formally finalized its supply-chain risk designation against Anthropic — Under Secretary Michael emailed Amodei to say the two sides were “very close” on the two issues the government now cites as evidence...

Volunteers in Mexico’s Yucatán state loaded modest boats with rice, baby wipes, beans, and medical supplies for Cuba, launching the “Nuestra America Convoy” to deliver essential goods amid a deepening economic crisis. The convoy aims to consolidate aid at a...

The tanker RARITY sits at anchor as lightning flashes in the distance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, off Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas https://t.co/NOCb6qvWgC
Iran to the International Maritime Organization: All ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz except for "enemy" ships
As a buying customer, your organization's interests and needs should always win. Prioritize what you need most; let that guide your decisions above all else. #Procurement #BusinessDecisions https://t.co/K5Vvn5zLpT
It feels like I should run a bunch of polls like this again, but about the Strait of Hormuz.
If Iran—facing threats from President Trump—now announces that the Strait of Hormuz is OPEN, would that immediately end the crisis and get ships moving through it again? Why or why not?
What if the Houthis enter the war, asks @citrinowicz ? A disruption at Bab el-Mandeb, on top of Hormuz, would turn global economic shock into panic #RedSea #Houthis #Hormuz #OilMarkets #SupplyShock #EnergySecurity #Trade #Geopolitics
Trump gives Iran a 48 hour ultimatum and warning. Iran replies. Will things get worse? Supply of supply chains.

If Hormuz isn’t open in 48 hours Trump says he’ll start hitting Iranian power plants. https://t.co/HQZe2Sax7l

President Trump threatened to attack Iran’s power plants if the country didn’t swiftly open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ship traffic (The remarks mark a shift in tone since Trump on Friday said the US was considering “winding down” military...
The Strait of Hormuz saw no disruptions—even during the intense 12-day war with Iran last June—yet the Trump administration's National Security Strategy, released last November, still states: 👉"America will always have core interests in ensuring that Gulf energy supplies do not...

When the Iran war ends. How the Iran war ends. Will firms around the world be dealing with their own circles of supply chain hell? All the products. Their applications. How and how long to fix? And the cost? https://t.co/ViUVhryJZY
Brokers are taught to not ask too many questions. Don’t like that? Blame the trial attorneys
Strait of Hormuz 3-Week Recap | What is the Status of the Ships, Transits and Escort Mission? Video: https://t.co/UqZWLMlwVT https://t.co/k0LjjVKtXf

“An effective Procurement function should be continually leveraging its functional expertise to ensure the organization gets value for money from supply markets.” ➤ https://t.co/gy1EdLmJwM #procurement #purchasing #supplychain https://t.co/8VvIIvA67f
I’ve spent my Saturday diving into the Helium supply chain. Spoiler: AI might survive this wave longer, but automotive and industrial chips? Not so much.

From fuel rationing in Sri Lanka to restaurant closures in India, flight cancellations in Thailand, and food and fertilizer shocks across Asia -- the ripple effects of the US-Israeli war on Iran are global. THE US-ISRAELI WAR'S COLLATERAL DAMAGE IS MASSIVE. https://t.co/jD1WHbQj6T

He has this backwards. Containers from China to the US post CNY are just getting started. https://t.co/GdRTZKb28Q
Many commentators on Iran war have seemingly not thought any further ahead than “China is hurt most by Hormuz closing” Below is just one small example of why that view is so wrong 👇