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
House Labor Caucus Joins Growing Backlash Against Trump’s Jones Act Waiver Extension
The White House extended a Jones Act emergency waiver for another 90 days, allowing foreign‑flag vessels to transport fuel, fertilizer and other cargoes between U.S. ports amid Middle East shipping disruptions. House Labor Caucus co‑chairs Donald Norcross, Mark Pocan, Steven Horsford and Debbie Dingell joined maritime unions and industry groups in condemning the extension, arguing it harms American mariners and fails to lower fuel prices. Critics contend the waiver exceeds historic emergency limits and undercuts the administration’s own shipbuilding and merchant‑marine goals. The debate highlights tension between short‑term energy flexibility and long‑term maritime competitiveness.
OroCommerce and iPaaS.com Launch Certified Integration to Streamline B2B Data Flows
OroCommerce announced a certified integration with iPaaS.com, giving manufacturers a low‑code, standards‑driven bridge between ERP, CRM and commerce systems. The integration is now live in the iPaaS.com Certified Integration Marketplace, promising real‑time data synchronization across fragmented tech stacks.
Altech Smart Relays and Multi-Timer Combine Scalable Control and Fast Installation
Altech Corporation has launched a new line of smart relays and a universal multi‑timer aimed at small‑ to mid‑size industrial automation projects. The relays feature a compact DIN‑rail‑mountable housing, free configuration software, and Modbus communication for real‑time monitoring. They support...
Drones Gain Altitude in Manufacturing Facilities (and Challenges Emerge)
Manufacturers are adopting industrial drones to tackle margin pressure, labor shortages, and dispersed assets. Equipped with barcode scanners, computer‑vision, thermal and LiDAR sensors, drones automate inventory counts and inspections that once required scaffolding or shutdowns. The high‑resolution, timestamped data feeds...
Aviramp Launches Standards Survey to Address Compliance Language Barrier
UK‑based ground‑support equipment maker Aviramp announced a new standards survey at the AAAI conference to quantify how US procurement teams verify compliance with FAA, ARP and IATA specifications. The company highlighted that while US and international standards align, the procurement...
Funding Gap Cripples Mariner Credentialing, Delays Threaten Dominance
You want to hear how messed up the mariner credentialing pipeline is from this funding gap? The National Maritime Center just warned mariners not to send USPS shipping labels with applications because processing delays are now so long the labels...
Wait-and-See Approach
U.S. railroads are adopting a cautious stance toward battery‑electric (BE) and hydrogen locomotives as the current administration favors traditional coal and oil energy. While diesel will dominate for years, companies like Wabtec have begun delivering FLXdrive BE units and hybrid...
Cellular Origins Collaborates with Immatics on Automation for Cell Therapy Manufacturing
Cellular Origins has partnered with immuno‑oncology firm Immatics to integrate its Constellation® automated mobile robotic platform into select steps of Immatics’ cell‑therapy manufacturing workflow. The joint effort will test how robotics can boost efficiency, scalability and cost‑effectiveness for next‑generation therapies,...
FourKites Takes Aim at Automating Ocean Bookings for Shippers
FourKites has introduced Booking Connect for Ocean, a software solution that digitizes the entire ocean freight booking workflow. The platform automates request submission, carrier confirmation, and shipment creation, eliminating the traditional email‑and‑phone loops. By handling these steps internally, shippers can...
Why the DOE’s Newest Initiative Demands a Full-Spectrum Nuclear ETF
The U.S. Department of Energy unveiled the Nuclear Fuel DPA Consortium 3‑33, a Defense Production Act‑backed program that will secure three domestic suppliers for key nuclear fuel stages by 2033. The initiative aims to create a cost‑competitive, home‑grown supply chain...
Bosnia Steel Shutdown Hits Railways, Port and Regional Supply Chains
Bosnia’s flagship Zenica steelworks halted integrated production on April 23, citing unsustainable losses and a lack of state protection. The shutdown eliminates roughly 30% of rail freight turnover for the Federation’s railway operator and threatens 2,500 railway jobs and thousands of...
DOT Week Survival Guide: What to Expect and How to Prepare
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck, known as DOT Week, runs May 12‑14 and triggers more than 15 vehicle inspections per minute across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In 2025 the CVSA logged over 50,000 inspections—a 15% increase—resulting in...
Krispy Kreme Outsources Delivery Logistics as Turnaround Gains Speed
Krispy Kreme posted a modest 0.7% rise in system‑wide sales to $485.3 million in Q1, signaling momentum in its multi‑year turnaround. The company is accelerating a refranchising push, aiming to lift franchise‑generated sales from 25% to 50% of total by 2027....
Protein Powder Shortage Threatens America’s Biggest Food Craze
The U.S. protein market is facing a severe whey powder shortage as demand for protein‑fortified foods surges. Prices for standard whey have risen more than 50% since January, with 80% concentrate topping $11 per pound and isolates holding firm in...
CLR: Gulf Coast Rail Gateway Development-Ready
CLR announced its Gulf Coast Rail Gateway in Sinton‑Odem is development‑ready, launching with roughly 500 railcar slots and a design that can scale to 3,000. The site features a full‑loop track, transload facilities, car cleaning and a locomotive shop, and...
Mac Studio, Mac Mini Buyers Are Losing Options Amid AI Demand
Apple has quietly removed several high‑memory configurations from its Mac Studio and Mac mini lines as AI‑driven demand and global DRAM shortages tighten supply. The top‑tier M3 Ultra Studio can no longer be ordered with 256 GB of unified memory, and...
Maple Leaf Foods Adds Freight Surcharges as Middle East Conflict Increases Costs
Maple Leaf Foods announced a temporary fuel surcharge to offset rising transportation costs tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict, particularly the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the surcharge, the company reported a 6.2% sales increase to $962.9 million,...
Trust Is the New Currency in Chemicals
Procurement cycles in the chemicals sector are moving from price‑centric talks to a focus on third‑party certifications such as RSPO, halal and kosher. The EU Deforestation Regulation, effective Dec 30 2026, and the $2.5 trillion halal market are driving this shift, making traceability...
Optimize Load, Network, and Mode to Control Carrier Rates
Most logistics and supply chain leaders I speak to are fighting the same losing battle. They renegotiate carrier rates. Costs climb anyway. They renegotiate again. Same result. The problem isn't the rates. It's the inputs that shape them — load optimisation, network...
Bulk Rail Data Better Gauge of Economy than Intermodal
Intermodal is down because of soft imports relative to last year. Intermodal was stronger last year because of all the prestocking to front run Liberation day tariffs. Frankly, I am more excited about the bulk rail data, it tells you...
Solutions that Save: How Amazon’s Supply Chain Services Give Back Time, Money, and Peace of Mind
Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS) bundles warehousing, transportation, and last‑mile delivery into a single, flexible offering, leveraging Amazon’s global fulfillment network. The platform promises to cut costs, accelerate delivery, and reduce operational complexity without requiring long‑term contracts. AI‑driven forecasting and...
Jet Fuel Crisis Exacerbated by Hoarding, Not Supply
✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ The Global Jet Fuel Crisis: It Would Have Been Mitigated Were It Not for Hoarding Daily Energy Report https://t.co/m1p26knF8S
AI Supply Chain Bottlenecked, Regulation Likely Biggest Constraint
$AMD and $ARM further validated this week that the entire AI supply chain is constrained. Compute, memory, storage, networking, energy, and talent. All the while regulatory may be the biggest bottleneck of all. https://t.co/mezQjhNsfi
2026 North American Profinet Plugfest Takes Place in Minnesota
Emerson hosted PI North America’s fourth North American Profinet Plugfest in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, on April 15‑16, 2026. The two‑day event drew 36 engineers from 13 companies, who tested seven controllers and 15 devices ranging from drives to virtual PLCs. Participants...
Biden Didn't Initiate Iran War Closing Hormuz Strait
Bro. Biden didn’t start a War with Iran that closed the Strait of Hormuz stranding 20% of the world’s oil shipments.
U.S. Urea Imports Soar to Record, Russia Leads Supply
🇺🇸U.S. imports of urea, a nitrogen fertilizer heavily used in farming, hit an all-time high in March 2026. The shipments were valued at $576 million. Q1 2026 imports were up 15% on the year. Top Q1 suppliers by volume: 🇷🇺Russia 30% 🇶🇦Qatar 25% 🇴🇲Oman...
MnDOT Releases Updated State Rail Plan
The Minnesota Department of Transportation released an updated State Rail Plan on May 5, outlining a 20‑year strategy to boost safety, capacity, and service across more than 4,000 miles of rail. The blueprint calls for additional freight‑rail funding, a refreshed process...
Stadiums Offer Hourly Truck Parking Through ParkPro
Some stadiums are starting to open their lots up for paid hour truck parking. This isn't via TPC. It's by a company called ParkPro https://t.co/E66PoPHuLD
Tender Rejections to Stay Firm as Demand Returns
RXO: Tender rejections will continue to firm through the rest of the year as capacity comes out the market and demand returns https://t.co/XOl8PQM9fX
RXO Boss Optimistic About Supply-Side Recovery
RXO reported a Q1 net loss of $36 million on flat revenue of $1.43 billion, while highlighting growing momentum across its brokerage and managed‑transportation units. The company saw a 2.8% rise in truck‑brokerage revenue to $1.1 billion, even as overall brokerage volume fell...
EU's Sluggish Tech Sovereignty Plan Cedes Ground to US
The #EU’s tech sovereignty push will be a challenge 2 realize—b/c it’s too sluggish. E.g., it: - “has several plans in motion…” - “will seek 2 tweak procurement rules…” ⏳ Meanwhile US cos. solidify their Big Tech dominance. Via @pieter_haeck @Politico https://t.co/cjIpySw9vI
Considering Mining Hormuz After Blocking Their Blockade
We already blockaded their blockade… but what if we also threaten to mine Hormuz …?? https://t.co/V96W6vpcTn
Walmart Inc. (WMT) Opens Third Milk Processing Facility in the United States, Reuters Reports
Retail giant Walmart has opened its third milk‑processing plant in Robinson, Texas, investing over $350 million. The new facility will bottle Great Value and Sam’s Club Member’s Mark milk products for more than 650 stores across the South Central United States...
RXO at $10.50 Before Freight Recession Ends
RXO was a $10.50 stock when we first started talking about the end of the freight recession in November https://t.co/IPSD9ophPQ
U.S. Freight Rail Will Grow When Its Structure Stops Working Against It
Freight rail remains the safest, most fuel‑efficient land transport, moving a ton 500 miles on a single gallon and emitting up to 75% fewer emissions than trucks. Yet its market share has slipped because the Class I network is fragmented,...
Rheinmetall Submits Non-Binding Bid for GNYK Shipyard
German defence conglomerate Rheinmetall has lodged a non‑binding offer to acquire the German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK) shipyard, entering a bidding war with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. The bid size was not disclosed, and Rheinmetall said due‑diligence is underway with a...
Iran Reduces Oil Production by 400,000 Bpd, Further Cut Back Expected
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Iran has already cut oil output by about 400,000 barrels per day and may trim it further as domestic storage fills. A naval blockade has sharply reduced Iranian crude exports, leaving tankers stranded and...
Elon Musk’s Texas Chip Plant Could Cost $119B, Filings Show
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has filed plans for a massive semiconductor complex in East Texas dubbed “Terafab,” with projected costs soaring to $119 billion. The facility, which would serve Tesla, xAI and SpaceX, includes a $3 billion research fab in Austin and an...
Summer Airfares Set to Surge as Jet Fuel Shortage Grips Market
Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the Iran‑related conflict began, pushing U.S. Gulf Coast benchmarks above $330 per gallon—about 50% higher than pre‑war levels. The surge has forced major airlines such as Delta and American to record $2‑$4 billion...
Oil Shock Far From Over: Energy Giants Warn Global Fuel Supplies May Stay Tight for Months After Iran Deal
Oil supplies will continue to tighten in the coming weeks even if a U.S.-Iran peace deal ends the conflict, because it will take weeks for shipments to resume from the Gulf and for inventories to rebuild. Executives from TotalEnergies, Equinor...
Motherboard Sales 'Collapse' By More Than 25%
Motherboard sales have collapsed by more than 25% as AI‑driven shortages and price spikes for memory, storage and CPUs force price‑sensitive consumers to postpone upgrades. Asus, which sold 15 million units in 2025, shipped just over 5 million in the first half...
Parliamentary Panel to Review Domestic Output of Petroleum Products on 15 May
India’s parliamentary panel on petroleum and natural gas will meet on 15 May to assess domestic fuel and fertilizer supplies amid disruptions from the West Asia war. While petrol and diesel inventories remain comfortable, LPG imports are strained due to the...
USGC Crude Rerouted Through Panama to West Coast
Great map of Jones Act-waived intra-US petroleum flows. Some of it is intra-PADD optimization, but as expected we see a big push of USGC barrels transiting the Panama Canal to the US West Coast.
What the Jet Fuel Crisis Means for Your Summer Flights and Travel Plans
Canadian summer air travel faces unprecedented turbulence as a U.S. travel boycott and a global jet‑fuel crisis converge. Airlines have slashed U.S. capacity—Air Transat will end all U.S. flights by June—while expanding domestic routes to capture displaced demand. Jet‑fuel prices...
Trapped in Hormuz: Indian Sailors Describe Nights of Missiles, Fear, and Hunger
Indian sailors Tithi Chiranjeevi and Anant Chauhan endured more than a month stranded in Iran’s port of Khorramshahr after the Strait of Hormuz blockade halted the vessel Ilda. Nightly missile and drone attacks, food shortages and lost communications made the...
Estimating Timeline Until Hormuz Returns to 50
How much longer, from today, does it take for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen**? **defined as >50% of pre-war transit levels
Cyber Cargo Theft Cases Surging, FBI Warns
The FBI has warned of a sharp increase in cyber‑enabled cargo theft, noting that criminals are using spoofed emails, fake URLs, and fraudulent load‑board listings to hijack freight operations. By delivering malicious executables disguised as carrier‑broker agreements, thieves gain undetected...
Turkey’s Albayrak Group Will Get Fast Delivery of Two New Damen ASD Tugs
Damen Shipyards Group signed its first contract with Turkey’s Albayrak Group to deliver two ASD tugs—model 2111 and 2813—within five to six months. The 21‑meter tug will serve Conakry Port with 50 tonnes of bollard pull, while the larger 25‑meter vessel...
U.S. Sanctions Iraq’s Deputy Oil Minister Over Alleged Iranian Oil Scheme
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Iraq’s Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al‑Bahadly and several militia‑linked firms for allegedly channeling Iraqi crude into networks that blend it with Iranian oil. The move is part of the Trump...
Sherpas Advance Toward South Col as Nepal Reverses Drone Ban Amid Geopolitical Tension
Sherpas are moving toward the South Col on Mount Everest as Nepal lifts a sudden ban on cargo drones following an avalanche that injured two climbers. The reversal comes amid a high‑profile U.S. drone demonstration, new photo‑restriction rules, and growing...