Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Strait of Hormuz closure stalls oil price surge despite 100‑day shutdown
The strategic waterway has been shut for 100 days, yet oil prices have not spiked. Prices fell after a U.S.–Iran deal was announced, and analysts warn that any relief to the oil market could take months to materialize.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
ASA Opens 50,000‑Sq‑Ft Syracuse Plant to Meet Data‑Center and Defense Demand
American Steel and Aluminum (ASA) opened a 50,000‑square‑foot manufacturing plant in Syracuse, New York, on May 6, 2026. The new site expands ASA’s domestic footprint to over 450,000 square feet, positioning the company to serve accelerating demand from data‑center, defense, renewable‑energy and industrial customers.
Pentagon Tells Satellite Builders: Good Enough Now Beats Perfect Later
The U.S. Space Force is redefining satellite acquisition by making speed the top priority, urging contractors to deliver "good enough" capabilities now and improve them later. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman framed this as a shift from an all‑or‑nothing model to...
Is Amazon.com (AMZN) the Best Strong Buy S&P 500 Stock to Invest In?
Bank of America announced Amazon’s launch of Amazon Supply Chain Services, a full‑stack third‑party logistics platform that opens its extensive freight, distribution and fulfillment network to external customers. The move follows Amazon’s Q1 earnings beat, with revenue of $181.5 billion and...
Weaker Ocean Rates Hit Maersk Q1 Profit
Maersk’s first‑quarter EBITDA dropped to $1.8 billion from $2.7 billion and EBIT fell to $340 million, shrinking the EBIT margin to 2.6% from 9.4% a year earlier. Higher container volumes could not offset weakened ocean freight rates, which were pressured by overcapacity, geopolitical...
GXO Logistics Beats Q1 2026 Forecast, Raises Full-Year Guidance
GXO Logistics reported first‑quarter 2026 earnings of $0.50 per share on $3.3 billion of revenue, surpassing consensus forecasts of $0.37 EPS and $3.22 billion revenue. The logistics firm lifted its full‑year adjusted EPS guidance to $2.90‑$3.20 and adjusted EBITDA to $935‑$975 million, sending...
Airlines Are Grappling with Dwindling Supplies of Jet Fuel
Airlines are confronting a sharp decline in jet‑fuel availability after the near‑total shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for both crude oil and refined products. The blockage has halted the export of Gulf‑sourced jet fuel, driving prices...
Vention Introduces "One-Stop Shop" End-of-Line Packaging Automation, From Case Packing to Conveying and Palletizing at Interpack 2026, in Collaboration with...
Vention unveiled its third‑generation Rapid Series Palletizer at Interpack 2026, showcasing a full end‑of‑line packaging solution that spans case packing, modular conveyors, and palletizing. The system runs on Vention’s plug‑and‑play MachineMotion AI controller and MachineLogic software, promising a unified user experience...
How Is MSC Moving Cargo Without Relying on Hormuz?
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is keeping cargo flowing despite the tightening of the Strait of Hormuz by redesigning, not merely rerouting, its shipping network. The carrier has shifted from a single‑passage corridor to a hub‑centric loop that weaves through the...
Zip Deploys AI Agents to Cut Invoice Processing Time by 96% for Large Enterprises
Zip introduced AI Automation for Procure-to-Pay, a suite of agents that automate the full accounting workflow. Early adopters report invoice coding up to 96% faster and a three‑fold increase in monthly processing volume, while the platform has already flagged more...
Shopee Launches Three Brazil Fulfillment Hubs, Adding 700,000 Daily Order Capacity
Shopee inaugurated three cross‑docking fulfillment centers in Vitória, Curitiba and Fortaleza, giving the platform the ability to process more than 700,000 orders per day and generating roughly 900 jobs. The expansion lifts Shopee’s Brazilian footprint to 22 distribution centers, 200...
SpaceX Files for $55 Billion Texas Semiconductor Fab, Expanding to $119 Billion Chip Hub
SpaceX has filed paperwork for a $55 billion semiconductor fabrication plant in rural Texas, dubbed Terafab. The project will sit beside its existing Bastrop packaging operation, pushing the total Texas investment to roughly $119 billion and giving the launch‑vehicle maker full control...
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European manufacturers are shifting from cost‑driven offshore production to nearshoring for greater supply‑chain resilience. A Capgemini report shows nearshoring adoption rose from 42% in 2024 to 56% in 2025, driven by geopolitical instability and rising freight costs. However, higher labour...
1X Technologies Launches Full‑Scale Production of NEO Humanoid Robots in California
1X Technologies has opened a 58,000‑square‑foot factory in Hayward, California, to produce its NEO humanoid robot at scale. The vertically integrated plant will supply research programs and, later this year, U.S. consumers, signaling a shift toward domestic mass‑manufacturing of advanced...
Tesla Semi Is Electric, Not Fully Autonomous
Guys, a battery electric truck is not the same thing as a fully autonomous truck The Tesla Semi that is being sold now is not a fully autonomous truck It is a human operated battery electric semi so there is...
Hanwha Ocean and Thordon Bearings Sign MOU
Hanwha Ocean and Thordon Bearings have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore cooperation on Canada’s large‑scale Conventional Patrol Submarine Program (CPSP) and other maritime projects. The MOU targets joint work on submarine systems, naval technologies and long‑term lifecycle support,...
Indian Army Launches Search for Bullet Proof Troop Carriers
The Indian Army has issued an RFI for 159 bullet‑proof troop carriers to equip Rashtriya Rifles units in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The request, released on 30 April, calls for a minimum delivery of 60 vehicles per year, each capable...
US Carmakers’ China Balance: Cooperate Abroad, Protect Turf at Home
Ford is weighing a partnership with China’s Geely to boost its European competitiveness while resisting any technology transfer that would allow Chinese automakers to enter the U.S. market. CEO Jim Farley emphasized the need for global IP sharing but framed...
Amid Middle East Conflict, ASEAN Countries Eye More Coordinated Response to Future Crises
Southeast Asian foreign and economic ministers met at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu to launch a crisis communication protocol aimed at coordinated responses to future emergencies. The dialogue focused on bolstering energy and food security, diversifying supply routes, and...
Mizuho’s Vikram Malhotra Sees Logistics Real Estate in Early Stages of New Upcycle
Vikram Malhotra, Managing Director of REIT Estate Equities at Mizuho, explains that the logistics and industrial real‑estate sector is entering a new upcycle, driven by strong demand for large‑box warehouses from retailers like Walmart and Amazon, as well as emerging...
Global LPG Conversations: From Shock to Softness: Why the European Propane Market Eased
In this episode, Argus editors Peter Wilton and Efkaris Skourou examine why European propane prices have softened despite a global supply shock caused by the war in Ukraine. They explain that steady U.S. LPG imports into Northwest Europe, driven by...
Wingzz China: Chinese Robotics and Technology Have Moved Beyond the Demonstration Phase
Chinese robotics and AI have moved from showcase projects to everyday operations across factories, warehouses, hospitals and retail. Companies such as Unitree, UBTech and DeepSeek are delivering low‑cost robots and affordable large‑language models that perform concrete tasks, while platforms like...
Hazardous Locations in Modern Factory Automation: Why Proportionate Specification Matters
As factory automation penetrates processing, handling and transport operations, motors increasingly operate near hazardous zones where explosive gases or dust may appear briefly. Traditional explosion‑proof motors for Zone 0/1 are heavy, costly, and over‑engineered for many modern applications that only require...
Naval Choke Point Expertise Missing From Mainstream Podcasts
Wow. Even Dave Chappelle has woken up to the importance of naval choke points. Problem is, how many people around the world are getting their choke point news from a quality source like @gCaptain, and how many are getting it from...
India Represents One of Most Dynamic Opportunities in Global Commerce: Walmart CEO
Walmart CEO John Furner highlighted India as a fast‑growing source of global merchandise, noting the retailer has already sourced $40 billion of goods from the market. The company aims to reach $10 billion in annual Indian sourcing by 2027 while expanding its...
Brightpick CEO to Discuss Lights-Out Warehouses at Robotics Summit
Brightpick CEO Jan Zizka will speak at the 2026 Robotics Summit in Boston about the practical path to "lights‑out" warehouses. He argues that fully autonomous facilities are becoming viable thanks to recent advances in robotics and AI, but adoption will...
Siemens Mobility Has Delivered Its 100th Vectron Locomotive to Polish Operators
Siemens Mobility delivered its 100th Vectron locomotive to Polish operators, christening the unit “Aleksander” under a 2024 framework agreement with leasing specialist CARGOUNIT. The locomotive is the 52nd Siemens unit in CARGOUNIT’s fleet, which now controls roughly half of all...
Nvidia Pours Billions Into a Glassmaker's Optical Factories
Nvidia announced a multiyear partnership with Corning, pledging up to $3.2 bn to replace copper interconnects with glass‑based co‑packaged optics in AI data‑center racks. The deal includes three new optical manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas, boosting domestic fiber capacity...
China Vows Action After EU Cuts Funding for Green Projects Using Chinese Inverters
The European Commission announced a ban on EU funding for clean‑energy projects that use Chinese‑made solar inverters, citing security concerns. Beijing denounced the move as unfair, labeling China a "high‑risk" country without evidence, and warned of retaliatory measures. Chinese firms...
Ifchor Galbraiths Sale-and-Purchase Director Joins Swiss Trader and Shipowner
Swiss trader and shipowner Montfort Group has appointed George Bolton, formerly the sale‑and‑purchase director at Ifchor Galbraiths, as head of maritime investments for its Montfort Maritime division. Bolton brings extensive experience in vessel acquisition, financing, and market analysis, positioning Montfort...
Five-Year-Old VLCC Prices Surge $9m Above Newbuilds as Depreciation Curve ‘Lost’
Signal Ocean reports that five‑year‑old ultra‑large crude carriers (VLCCs) are now trading about $9 million above the price of newbuilds, overturning the traditional depreciation curve. The data shows a tightening of age discounts as buyer interest shifts toward mid‑aged tankers. This...
New Zealand Eyes Japanese Frigate After Australia Picked the Same Ship
New Zealand’s defence ministry announced on May 7, 2026 that it is weighing Japan’s Mogami‑class frigate and Britain’s Type 31 as replacements for its two aging Anzac‑class vessels. The move follows Australia’s recent contract for three Upgraded Mogami frigates under the SEA 3000 program,...
DIS Expects Months of Tailwinds for Tankers if Strait of Hormuz Re-Opens
Italian tanker owner d’Amico International Shipping (DIS) says a rapid de‑escalation of the US‑Iran conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will create months of tailwinds for its product tanker fleet. The CEO highlighted that the war has...
Why Used Truck Sourcing Is Becoming a Wider-Market Decision for Smaller Fleets
Smaller and regional fleets are expanding their used‑truck search radius, often traveling hundreds of miles to secure units that meet specific mileage, service history, and condition criteria. A third of recent sales from SelecTrucks' Louisville hub went to buyers over...
Spot Freight Rates Climb Again as Flatbed Extends Multi-Week Growth Streak
Spot freight rates continued their upward trajectory last week, with dry‑van, refrigerated and flatbed equipment all posting gains. FTR data show dry‑van rates up about 4 cents and 38% year‑over‑year, refrigerated rates climbing roughly 10 cents and 33% YoY, while...
Sime Darby-Terberg JV Secures RM200mil Pre-Orders for New EV Tractor
Terberg Tractors Malaysia, a joint venture between Sime Darby Industrial and Royal Terberg Group, has secured more than 250 pre‑orders worth RM200 million (about $44 million) for its new YT201EV electric terminal tractor ahead of launch. The orders span domestic customers and...
Algeria Acquires New Wagon Fleet
Algerian National Railways (SNTF) signed a roughly $118 million contract with domestic manufacturer Ferrovial to purchase 800 wagons for phosphate transport. The fleet will lift annual capacity to about 13.6 million tonnes as the 422‑km Eastern Mining Line is upgraded. Deliveries begin...
COHR’s InP Ramp Threatens AXTI’s Margin Outlook
This terrible for $AXTI $COHR ramping InP capacity fast reads pretty bad for $AXTI. Here are some cliff notes: 1. COHR accelerated internal 6-inch ramp, now one qtr ahead of schedule, effectively "air-gaps" the merchant market. The biggest buyers are becoming their own...
Luzon Strait: America’s Next Critical Choke Point
I’m relistening to some of our new Under Secretary of the Navy @william_toti’s Unauthorized History of the Pacific War podcast Of course @mercoglianos guest appearances are my favorite but I just finished “Operation FORAGER, the American invasion of the Mariana...
Both Left and Right Are Deluding Themselves About the Scale of the Energy Crisis Britain Faces | Ewan Gibbs
Britain’s energy crisis stems from decades of privatization that stripped the state of control over oil, gas and refinery assets, leaving the country vulnerable to geopolitical shocks such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Gulf blockade. The loss of...
Iran Conflict Disrupts Global Fertilizer Supply, Hits US
The Iran war is already having major repercussions on fertilizer supply, even in the US! Chartbook Top Links of the day just dropped: https://t.co/p0abfkJwEY
Trump's Jones Act Waiver Undermines Security and Economy
🚨 My new @opinion column explains how the Trump administration's lengthy waiver of the Jones Act implodes many of the law's common security & economic defenses - and finally gives critics the data to prove it: /1 https://t.co/g8C9lAMJBO
Asean May Involve Private Sector in Oil Stockpiling Framework - Johari Ghani
ASEAN is weighing a private‑sector‑driven oil stockpiling framework to bolster long‑term energy security across the bloc. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said governments alone cannot execute the plan and suggested a pilot among three or...
New Breakthrough Promises Strait Reopening for Trapped Ships
Coming breakthrough for ships stuck in the Strait. What are the details for a reopening? Iran? US?Maritime security and safety?
Trucking Can't Fully Substitute Iran's Maritime Trade, Experts Say
My take in @RFERL on Iran's alternate trade routes: Iran’s alternative trucking routes can supply the Iranian economy, but “cannot replace a maritime container economy one-for-one. Trucking is more expensive and Caspian throughput is constrained by port and fleet capacity.” https://t.co/gRybziaMHm
Chad P. Bown on What to Watch for at the Trump-Xi Summit
Chad P. Bown, senior research staff at the Peterson Institute, joined Fox’s LiveNOW to preview the upcoming Trump‑Xi summit. He highlighted that the meeting will intertwine economic issues with broader geopolitical power dynamics. Topics include the lingering U.S.–China trade dispute,...
Regulation Delays Driverless Trucks; Sleeker Designs Await
The ones you see now have human safety drivers for regulatory reasons and they use sleepers because they have more space for the computer array When they have regulatory approval, they’ll start looking more like this (supposedly) https://t.co/3SKi968OZu
Better Signage Boosts Efficiency in Global Express Market
A new blog post is posted on the LTI website - Improving Signs in the Global Express Market - https://t.co/ec46Uq3lDg https://t.co/nWgyEYndFg
Tariff‑Heavy Whirlpool Misses Earnings Boost, Faces Inflation Drag
"Analysts at JPMorgan said the lower earnings outlook was driven by higher raw material inflation, a larger net tariff impact and weaker price and product mix benefits." Reminder: Whirlpool heavily lobbied for tariffs and was supposed to be one of the...
Project Vault Turns Public Reserve Into Market Manipulator
"How the Project Vault Mineral Reserve Threatens Markets" https://t.co/UXrFHrqChB "it’s less like an emergency stockpile and more like a state-sponsored market" "it blurs the line between public and private roles"😬 https://t.co/lTOxD2untn
Shippers Brace for Rising B
Maersk: Cost of bunker fuel. Supply and price. Are shippers ready as Strait of Hormuz remains blocked?