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:
The joint US‑Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February escalated into a full‑scale conflict that has choked the Strait of Hormuz, sending Brent crude from under $70 to a volatile $90‑$100 range. Disruptions to oil, sulfur, ammonia and urea shipments are inflating gasoline, diesel, fertilizer and plastics prices worldwide. Industries from automotive to electronics face acute input shortages, while higher energy costs erode consumer purchasing power and corporate margins. The crisis also sharpens the US‑China strategic rivalry, as Beijing secures Iranian crude through selective transit, limiting Washington’s leverage.
Wagon Automotive has installed an automated inline metrology cell that combines a KUKA robot, Leica Absolute Scanner AS1 with an AT960 laser tracker, a motorized turntable, and Eleven Dynamics’ EDAS software. The system replaces manual measurement and legacy CMMs, delivering high‑precision,...
Rayence has launched the Flash Series, a high‑speed CMOS X‑ray detector tailored for semiconductor automated X‑ray inspection (AXI) and 3D CT systems. The platform delivers 49.5 µm pixel resolution at up to 70 frames per second, while withstanding X‑ray doses of 20,000 Gy....
BioCina has launched a comprehensive Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) program for Patrys Ltd’s injectable formulation RLS-2201, a proprietary quetiapine product aimed at treating acute delirium in intensive‑care patients. The manufacturing effort is based in BioCina’s sterile facility in Perth...
IMF economists published a paper quantifying how shipping delays translate into consumer price inflation. By constructing a port‑to‑port shipping time index from AIS maritime data and linking it to granular trade and price information, they find that a 100‑hour delay...
TRIMEDX unveiled an upgraded AI‑native platform, TRIMEDX‑AIQ, that adds automated parts ordering, purchase‑order automation, and predictive failure forecasting to its clinical supply chain suite. Leveraging a dataset of over 6.1 million device records spanning 25 years, the system anticipates equipment degradation and...
Manufacturers relying on handwritten counts and spreadsheets face frequent stockouts and excess inventory, disrupting production schedules and cash flow. The article argues that manual inventory is a self‑inflicted liability that hampers scaling and compliance. Switching to an ERP‑driven, real‑time inventory...
I am convinced there are just some folks in freight that just want truckers to suffer more. They will tell you that the compliance developments won’t be impactful. Then the market tightens. You ask them if it’s volume, they say...
Cosco tankers positioned to exit Middle East Gulf as speculation mounts over Hormuz crossing ▶️Cosco and China Merchants shares rallied on unverified reports that Chinese shipowners have been told to prepare for Hormuz transit ▶️Seven Cosco tankers are gathered in central Middle...
Minister Julie Collins warned that fertiliser shortages could hit Australian growers by late May or June if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. While current stocks cover the early cropping season, 95% of Australia’s urea—65% shipped through the Persian Gulf...
Call for a Black Sea-style safe shipping corridor for Hormuz ▶️States, industry groups looking for ways to resupply stranded ships and change crews ▶️IMO could ‘encourage’ a safe shipping corridor, but it would need countries to implement it ▶️Russia blasts lack of regard...
Concerns mount over rate hangover after wartime tanker boom ends ▶️Global seaborne crude liftings volume plunged last week; alternatives to MEG are replacing only half of lost VLCC tonne-mile demand, according to Vortexa ⏩️Oil at ses is down ⏩️Nobody will keep oil at...
Finnish supermarket chains S Group and Kesko are integral to the nation’s comprehensive security strategy, maintaining detailed contingency plans and strategic food reserves. They cooperate with the National Emergency Supply Organisation and participate in government‑led preparedness committees and training exercises. The...
This won't lower gasoline prices. The issue is overall global supply and not acute domestic shortages caused by transportation shortfalls.
Only if the United States lets them. The US Navy can close the strait at anytime to anyone paying the enemy.
Oakley’s city council approved the Bridgehead Industrial Project, a 3.2 million‑square‑foot logistics campus on 164 acres of eastern Contra Costa County. The development will consist of ten buildings, with construction slated to take six to ten years, and will become the largest...
Lots of chatter in the oil market about whether a Saudi refinery in the Red Sea was attacked or not. One thing, however, appears clear: crude loadings at Yanbu and Al Muajjiz continue as normal, with 4 tankers getting their...
Trying to explain the role of a freight broker to anyone outside the trucking industry is…. Challenging.
OnRobot is hosting a free, in‑person “Build Your Automation Roadmap” event in Reno on April 9, 2026, showcasing FANUC robots and end‑of‑arm tooling for manufacturers. The session targets metal fabrication, CNC machining, electronics, aerospace, food & beverage, and industrial equipment firms...
Container port congestion eases after initial Iran shock Initial disruption to container supply chains from the Middle East crisis appears to have eased but rates remain elevated. https://t.co/fvMVOw29Pz
IMO states condemn Iran’s attacks on shipping ▶️92 countries back motion for declaration condemning Iran ▶️China said such a motion ‘not conducive to solving the issue’ ▶️Iran says it is acting in self-defence in response to US and Israeli attacks https://t.co/g2z8WA9O2b’s-attacks-on-shipping
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Turkmenistan’s leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Beijing, reaffirming the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. Xi emphasized unwavering support for Turkmenistan’s sovereignty, neutrality, and independence, while urging deeper collaboration in the natural‑gas sector. The dialogue...
We are all critical of the ATA, but having the organization endorse this law is very important. The ATA is a very important lobbyist group that has an outsized influence on Congress. They are on the right side of history...
Dalilah’s law is a massive pivot from the FMCSA rule. It would mandate that current non-domiciled CDLs are banned 1 year out from the enactment date. The FMCSA offered 5 years. If this passes, go long truckload.
Yale Lift Truck Technologies will showcase a suite of automated lift trucks and operator‑assist solutions at the MODEX supply‑chain exhibition in Atlanta. The booth features an interactive Automated Lift Truck Portal that lets visitors map routes without coding, the Reliant...
It’s not even that the US Navy is unwilling to secure world trade, they are eager to do so. We have the people, resources, systems and weapons to do so. What we don’t have is shipyard investment. But guess what? Our...
Iran pledged to strike oil and gas facilities across the Persian Gulf after a missile attack damaged its South Pars gas field, a joint Iran‑Qatar reserve. Tehran named Saudi, UAE and Qatari sites as legitimate targets, including the Samref refinery...
i’ve yet to hear a workable near term (next 4-6 weeks) plan for how to open the strait that doesn’t involve us boots on the ground.
Not only will Dalilah's law permanently eliminate non-domiciled CDLs, it will also restrict foreign dispatchers and freight brokers https://t.co/zQYNP3Ja4g
The American Trucking Brokers Service (ATBS) will host its first 2026 Owner‑Operator Trends update on March 24, focusing on mileage, rates, fuel costs and net income. Recent data show owner‑operators achieving an average fuel economy of about 7.5 mpg, while spot...
Citi: High oil prices will drive additional freight demand "North American production boosting freight demand over the medium-term." https://t.co/nzbc3PYiKa
This would make the efforts by the DOT permanent and set off a trucking super cycle Truckload carriers would be one of the most investible asset-classes
Dematic announced Command Center, a vendor‑agnostic, cloud‑based intelligence platform that unifies real‑time monitoring, AI‑driven decision support, and analytics for warehouse operations. Unveiled at LogiMAT 2026 and showcased at MODEX 2026, it aggregates data from automation, software, and manual processes into a single...
Trucking spot market over 6 months. Trucking spot rates are up $.50/mile, while fuel up $.22/mile during that period https://t.co/c9g69l8Rkr
New index inside of SONAR: The cost of diesel per mile for truckers. MPG.USA uses 7 miles per gallon to calculate the cost of fuel for truckers. https://t.co/N8r6Tx66IO
REC Ltd's board convenes today to deliberate a fourth interim dividend for FY26, a move that could signal confidence despite volatile earnings across the Indian corporate landscape. Analysts watch the outcome closely, noting contrasting profit trends at peers and fiscal...
We chased commercial tankers half way across the world and called it maritime dominance but can’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
They keep showing this years old picture. That viaduct is connected and they are now laying track
MAXOLUTION, an SEW‑EURODRIVE company, launched the Mobile Robot Platform 1600 (MR P1600), a standardized, modular robot designed for pallet transport in factories and warehouses. The platform offers up to 1 600 kg payload, 1.6 m/s speed, and optional contactless inductive charging via MOVITRANS solutions....
Argus: Early Jones Act waiver fixtures are coming in well above recent domestic benchmarks, signaling a sharp rise in U.S. coastwise shipping costs as foreign-flag tonnage now enters the market. https://t.co/kXsOyRdoaw
Australia’s bitumen stocks are dwindling as Middle‑East conflicts disrupt supplies from Asian refineries, prompting the Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AFPA) to warn of possible depletion within weeks. Exporters have invoked force‑majeure clauses, cancelling contracts and driving price forecasts above a...
Every product has a journey—raw materials ➝ factory ➝ customer. It looks simple, but behind it are constant adjustments, coordination, and problem-solving. When it works, it feels seamless. That’s the power of a strong supply chain. 🚚 https://t.co/CVEBanvR6l
Most supply chain leaders obsess over procurement savings and demand planning accuracy. Meanwhile, their warehouse quietly bleeds margin — through poor layout, undertrained staff, outdated tech, and safety shortcuts nobody wants to talk about. This edition changes that. https://t.co/abRK9zzCJN via @LinkedIn
Manufacturers face a talent shortage, with 49,000 UK factory jobs vacant in April 2025, prompting a need for rapid upskilling. A new ranking of seven employee training platforms evaluates them on compliance automation, mobile/offline access, multilingual capability, IoT integration, and...
Approaching 3 weeks of Strait closure and no end in sight. Crazy things are happening out there.
Looks like Iran struck the abandoned Safeen Prestige, a 23k ton, Malta-flagged container ship, previously hit on March 4th and abandoned. https://t.co/gs0BwcrHY2
United Natural Foods (UNFI) announced the closure of its 425,000‑square‑foot Racine, Wisconsin distribution center, eliminating 443 positions. Operations will shift to a newer facility in Joliet, Illinois, where the company is installing modern technology to boost capacity. The move coincides...
The Madagascar?-flagged 74k m3 LPG tankers just entered the Persian Gulf, swinging through the Iranian Checkpoint. https://t.co/flNbjNxP6L
The White House has temporarily waived the Jones Act for 60 days, easing U.S. vessel restrictions amid heightened geopolitical tension. Simultaneously, the war in Iran and a Greek tanker attack in the Black Sea have driven up container rates and...
Lisa Anderson will be a panelist on a Tacto Technology webinar: Tariff Shock: What Procurement and Supply Chain Leaders Must Do Now — Wed 3/25/26 at 1pm ET (10am PT). Register today: https://t.co/LRxNSF4jW5 #Tariffs #Procurement #SupplyChain #Manufacturing https://t.co/tYXsBEPIez
