Today's Supply Chain Pulse
U.S. DOT earmarks $774M to modernize ports amid global supply shocks
The Maritime Administration announced a $774M program covering 37 projects to upgrade coastal, Great Lakes and inland river ports, adding rail tunnel expansions, advanced screening technology, two‑tier docks and a new cargo terminal. The upgrades aim to boost capacity and resilience as the Strait of Hormuz blockade strains global supply chains.
Also developing:
Paccar, Volvo CEOs See Production Picking up From Q1 Pace
Volvo Group and Paccar CEOs said production rates are picking up after a weak first quarter, but they differ on how many build slots will be available in the coming months. Volvo idled U.S. plants 25‑30% in Q1 and plans to use its idle capacity starting in May, while tightening truck build slots to protect pricing power. Paccar, whose Q1 profit rose to $605 million on $6.23 billion sales, says its Class 8 capacity is full for Q2 and largely booked through Q4. Both firms kept 2026 forecasts unchanged despite stronger order trends.
Middle East Diesel Spike Wipes Out 30 Per Cent of Log Volumes at NZ Ports
A diesel price surge driven by the Middle East conflict has slashed New Zealand’s log exports by more than 30% as contractors halt harvesting. Fuel now costs around NZ$4 per litre (≈US$2.40), wiping out margins for family‑owned logging firms that have...
Diesel Prices Decline Nationally While Gasoline Costs Rise Across U.S. Markets
Diesel prices slipped nationally this week, with the EIA reporting a 5‑cent drop to $5.351 per gallon, while gasoline climbed 8 cents to $4.123 per gallon. The West Coast saw the steepest diesel decline at 9 cents, whereas the Rocky...
Nuclear $81M Verdict Highlights Broker Liability Risks
$81m awarded in trucking nuclear verdict. “In the first trial, the jury determined the driver was not negligent, which in turn led to no finding against Allied/Beacon. For the company to be found liable, the driver first needed to be...
Textiles Ministry Sets Up Monitoring Cell to Ensure Supply Stability Amid West Asia Crisis
India’s Ministry of Textiles has created a monitoring cell to coordinate exporters, industry bodies, and government agencies as the West Asia conflict drives raw‑material and logistics costs higher. In Surat, shipping rates have surged up to 400% and polyester fibre...
China’s Sanctions Hit Europe’s Emerging Drone Doctrine
On April 24, China’s Ministry of Commerce placed seven European defence firms on an export‑control list, banning dual‑use items over alleged arms links to Taiwan. The sanctions target Germany’s Hensoldt, Belgium’s FN Herstal and FN Browning, and four Czech companies, cutting off...
Policy Divide Widens Over Cotton Import Duty Amid Cost Pressures and MSP Concerns
India’s cotton value chain is split over the 11% import duty reinstated in January 2026. Textile manufacturers argue the duty inflates raw material costs and hurts export competitiveness, while farmer groups warn that lowering the duty could flood the market with...
Competition Is Shifting Control: Rethink Global Supply Chains
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥. In Boston, we will spend two hours examining what I call the 90% Model: how industries are being reshaped, how dependencies are being built, and what this means...
OOIL Orders a Dozen LNG Dual-Fuelled Container Ships Worth $2.2bn
Orient Overseas International Ltd (OOIL) has placed a $2.2 billion order for twelve 13,600‑TEU neo‑panamax container ships powered by LNG dual‑fuel engines. The vessels will be built by Hudong‑Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a Chinese state‑owned yard under CSSC, at roughly $185 million each. The...
Fuel Surcharges and Slow-Steaming Making Waves for Shippers
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced carriers to adjust fuel surcharge practices, with Hapag‑Lloyd moving to monthly emergency fuel surcharges and reporting an extra $50 million in weekly fuel costs. Japanese carrier ONE lifted its EFS to $160...
CASE STUDY - 3D PEOPLE HELP IN CREATION OF GEOMETRICALLY COMPLEX HEAD-MOUNTED POV CAMERA
James Medcraft’s Cyclops is a head‑mounted POV camera that captures exactly what the operator sees, using custom optics and a lightweight 3D‑printed housing. The device’s geometrically complex parts are produced in PA12 via additive manufacturing, eliminating the need for costly...
Spirit Electronics Named Authorized Distributor for Microchip Technology, Expanding High Reliability Semiconductor Access for Defense and Aerospace Programs
Spirit Electronics announced it is now an authorized distributor for Microchip Technology in the Americas, giving defense and aerospace customers direct, DFARS‑compliant access to Microchip’s high‑reliability semiconductor portfolio. The partnership covers radiation‑tolerant and radiation‑hardened MCUs, MPUs, FPGAs, power devices and...
Innovative FAULHABER Drive System for Smart Logistics
FAULHABER unveiled DualGear, a compact drive that fuses its BX4 brushless motor with GPT planetary gearheads, delivering two synchronous movements from a single unit. The system is offered in 42 mm and 68 mm motor lengths, allowing flexible integration into tight conveyor...
Woodside LNG Trading Shielded From Iran War
Woodside Energy reported that its LNG shipments remained unaffected by the Iran‑Israel conflict, thanks to a strategy of securing term shipping contracts. Q1 LNG sales rose to 22 MMboe, up from 20.47 MMboe in the prior quarter, while realized LNG prices were...
FMC Orders Record Payback by Shipping Line for Unfair Fees During Covid
U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a record $45.6 million award against Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) for breaching service contracts and retaliating against the bankrupt Bed, Bath & Beyond administrator, Butterfly‑1. The decision follows three years of investigations into...
Will the EU’s Electricity Tax Plans Be of Any Help to Rail Freight?
The European Commission’s AccelerateEU package proposes capping electricity taxes at the level of diesel taxes to protect rail freight’s cost base amid the EU energy crisis. Rail freight advocates argue that lower electricity taxes would boost the sector’s competitiveness against...
Door Open for Taiwan to Enter 'Non-Red' EU Drone Supply Chain: Expert
European policymakers are wrestling with fragmented economic‑security authority, making it difficult to build a unified "non‑red" drone supply chain that limits reliance on China. Experts say the split between EU‑wide trade rules and national defence control creates policy gaps that...
AI Export Controls Are Not the Best Bargaining Chip
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced export‑control bills and the Chip Security Act aims to block advanced chips from reaching China, treating semiconductors as the AI chokepoint. Analysts argue that this hardware‑centric view is outdated because AI progress now...
Mercuria Adds VLCCs and Bulkers as Year-to-Date Newbuilding Spree Reaches $1bn
Mercuria Energy Group has placed orders for two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and a series of Kamsarmax bulkers, bringing its 2026 new‑building spend to roughly $1 billion. The new contracts follow a first‑quarter push that added about $700 million in tanker...
Salesforce Expands Beyond the Front Office with Agentforce Operations
Salesforce unveiled Agentforce Operations, an AI‑driven platform that automates back‑office tasks such as auditing, onboarding, and invoice processing. The company says the solution can cut cycle times by up to 70% and eliminate 80% of manual data‑entry work. Built on...
Saudia Cargo Announces Critical Medicine Logistics Initiative
Saudia Cargo has launched a joint initiative with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority to reinforce pharmaceutical and medical supply chains across the Kingdom. The program offers upgraded handling facilities and shipping cost reductions of up to 50%, aiming to...
Goldman Sachs Hikes Oil Forecasts Amid Hormuz Shutdown
"Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted oil-price forecasts as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz spurs 'extreme' inventory draws." -BBG
Why the Ideal Magnet Remains Out of Reach
Researchers worldwide seek a cost‑effective permanent magnet that avoids rare earths, a goal that would break China’s near‑monopoly and reshape supply chains. After a decade of classical computing attempts, a Franco‑American team led by Alice & Bob, backed by a $3.9 million...
Exploring Armada’s Recipe for Resilience & High-Performing Teams with Kim Hadlum, VP of Inventory Planning at Armada Supply Chain Solutions
In this episode of Unpacked, Insights, VP of Inventory Planning Kim Hadlam discusses how Armada Supply Chain Solutions builds resilient, high‑performing teams for restaurant clients. She highlights the unique challenges of food‑service inventory—perishability, yield variability, and a vast SKU mix—and...
White Smoke for an EU-US Mineral Deal
After years of talks, the EU and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Joint Action Plan on critical minerals, introducing a border‑adjusted price floor and rapid‑response mechanisms aimed at curbing China’s market dominance. The agreement also...
Autonics CT Series Counter/Timers From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added the Autonics CT series counter/timers to its catalog, offering a fast‑setup solution for counting, timing and batching tasks. The units can be programmed directly from front‑panel pushbuttons, with select models supporting RS‑485 communication through Autonics DAQMaster software....
IronHorse ES1 AC Drives From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has launched the IronHorse ES1 series of AC drives, targeting 0.75‑to‑2 hp three‑phase motors while accepting a single‑phase 120 V or 230 V input. The drives are built in the USA, feature a hardware‑only setup with trim pots for speed, current limit,...
5 Big Energy Stories: Starving Iran, Transiting the Strait, Exposing Congressional Fools, and More
President Trump has directed senior aides to prepare an extended naval blockade of Iran, aiming to choke the regime’s oil exports and force a nuclear capitulation. The move follows a cease‑fire that ended major bombing campaigns in early April. Blockade...
US Commits $774m to Upgrade Port Infrastructure Nationwide
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced a $774 million investment to modernize port infrastructure across the nation. Funding will support 37 projects spanning coastal, Great Lakes, and inland river ports, focusing on rail tunnel expansions, advanced screening technology, two‑tier...
Equipment Fraud: The Scams Targeting Food and Drink Manufacturers
Equipment fraud is emerging as a hidden threat for food and drink manufacturers, exploiting urgent maintenance and procurement processes. The most common schemes involve inflated or duplicate invoices, payment‑detail diversion scams, and conflicts of interest that can trigger Bribery Act...
Wilson Sons Pilots Drone Delivery for Offshore Operations
Brazilian maritime logistics leader Wilson Sons has begun a proof‑of‑concept trial using Speedbird Aero drones to deliver and retrieve documents for offshore supply vessels in Guanabara Bay. The unmanned aircraft, approved by Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency and the Department...
Watkin Jones Forward-Buying Materials to Mitigate Against Cost Inflation
Watkin Jones announced it is forward‑buying construction materials and securing subcontractors early to shield against potential cost spikes linked to the Middle East conflict. The London‑based contractor, the UK’s 54th‑largest by turnover, also flagged heightened interest‑rate uncertainty but expects half‑year...
Market Views: Shipping Strategies in a World of Conflict and Change
In a recent DNV Market Views episode, NYK Group Europe’s Carl‑Johan Hagman discussed how shipowners must adapt to heightened geopolitical turbulence. He evaluated the International Maritime Organization’s consensus‑based regulatory framework, noting its strengths and limitations amid fast‑moving crises. Hagman emphasized...
Arrive AI Deploys NVIDIA Tech for Autonomous Delivery Training
Arrive AI announced it is using NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim and Blackwell‑based GPU workstations to accelerate training of its autonomous delivery systems. The physics‑based simulation platform creates labeled data in virtual environments, allowing parallel model training without extensive field collection. The...
South Korea Offers Shippers a Helping Hand with Freight Rate Discounts
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) have launched a three‑pronged support scheme that offers 10‑20% discounts on full‑container‑load sea freight, LCL discounts on more than 20 routes via Samsung SDS, and...
Decoupling Inventory: Protecting Orders With Strategic Supplies
In this episode of the MRP Easy Manufacturing Podcast, host(s) explain decoupling inventory—a strategy of placing buffer stock of sub‑assemblies and work‑in‑process between production stages to absorb equipment failures, supplier delays, or demand spikes. They differentiate it from safety stock...
The Railway Project Between Oman and the United Arab Emirates Is 40% Complete
Hafeet Rail, a joint venture of Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment, announced that the 238‑kilometre railway linking Oman and the United Arab Emirates is 40% complete. Construction is underway at key nodes such as Al Ain, Al Buraimi, Sohar and...
Geely Taps Volvo’s EU Plants to Propel Regional Expansion
Geely announced it will expand production of its brands at Volvo Cars' European factories rather than build new plants, leveraging spare capacity in Sweden, Belgium and Slovakia. The move addresses China's severe automotive overcapacity and avoids the 28.8% import tariffs...
COSCO SHIPPING Ports Reports Solid Q1 Growth as Throughput Nears 39 Million TEU
COSCO SHIPPING Ports posted solid Q1 2026 growth, handling 38.9 million TEU, up 8.9% YoY. Revenue rose 10.3% to $420.9 million and profit to $85.6 million, up 2%. Growth was driven by non‑controlling terminals (+10.6% throughput) and overseas assets (+19.8%)....
Gulf Crisis a Blip in India’s Airfreight Growth, Claim Bullish Stakeholders
India’s international air‑cargo volumes fell 6% YoY in April as Gulf airport closures disrupted routes, but the sector still posted a 5.4% annual increase for FY 2025‑26. Chennai Airport led the surge with a 12% freight rise, while Ahmedabad logged a...
Iran Shuts Hormuz, Oil Markets Wobble, Rial Crashes
🇮🇷 Iran Intel Brief | Geopolitical Brief ─────── Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supplies and impacting European energy security. The Iranian rial hits a record low of 1,672,500 per U.S. dollar on the open market. EU requires any peace deal...
Reshoring Index Stays Negative Despite Trump Tariff Surge
Kearney's annual Reshoring Index, which measures imports from 14 Asian countries as a share of US manufacturing output, "remained in negative territory in 2025 despite a surge of Trump administration tariffs aimed at reviving American assembly lines" https://t.co/AJkVit3Iwx https://t.co/r9GzEb8Wji
The Changing Economics of Renewable Electricity Procurement
Corporate electricity procurement is evolving from a back‑office sustainability task into a strategic, finance‑driven decision. Companies across transport, retail, hospitality and other sectors face rising demand from fleet electrification and tighter scrutiny of renewable claims. Uncertainty around Renewable Energy Guarantees...
Markets Price Oil, Ignore Systemic Supply Chain Risks
Markets are pricing oil, not the system, writes @annerquaye Chips, chemicals, logistics… all exposed. Markets are calm because nothing’s broken yet. That’s not the same as safe. #Markets #SupplyChains #Semiconductors #Oil #Geopolitics https://t.co/ENxhdTgdv5
Trump's Hormuz Blockade Threatens Global Supply Chains
Trump. Extend Hormuz blockade. With no care of what it means. What will global supply chains do? And the global economy?
Charter Market Benefits From Tonnage Shortage in ‘Fully Employed’ Box Ship Fleet
Container shipping remains effectively at full employment despite the Gulf conflict, with commercially idle capacity dropping to 0.7% of global tonnage. Alphaliner reports that at least 58 containerships, representing roughly 310,000 TEU, have been diverted or sheltered, tightening supply further....
Higher Tariffs Drive Importers to Smuggle Plywood
"The Plywood Smuggling Ring That Ensnared a Building-Products Giant" https://t.co/jK6i2JcEW7 "The yearslong plywood smuggling saga shows the lengths to which some importers will go to skirt duties and tariffs" More tariffs = more evasion. https://t.co/t50j64SDNJ
Chinese EVs Already Rolling in El Paso Amid Ban Push
I covet a Chinese EV. The U.S. wants to ban China’s high-tech, low-cost cars. They’re already here in El Paso. https://t.co/rMpBgCaqPG
Building Bharat’s Commerce Backbone: The Team Behind Shiprocket’s Rise
Shiprocket, founded by Saahil Goel, Gautam Kapoor and Akshay Ghulati, has evolved from a simple shipping‑aggregation tool into a full‑stack commerce platform that powers checkout, fulfillment, ads and cross‑border logistics for millions of Indian sellers. The leadership team, augmented by...
Modern TMS: Real‑Time Tracking, Reaction, and Rerouting
Most people think a TMS is a planning tool. Something that gets goods from A to B. That description was accurate 20 years ago. Today's TMS tracks, reacts, reroutes, and manages execution in real time. Descartes' Elmer Spruijt explains what's changed 🎧 https://t.co/TraZI2qUVe