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 ongoing conflict in Iran has crippled the International North‑South Transport Corridor (INSTC), forcing Russian exporters to confront severe disruptions. Alternative routes can only absorb about 70% of the displaced freight, while transportation costs on those corridors are 20‑30% higher and lead times to India and Iran have doubled to up to 60 days. Russian logistics firms estimate monthly losses of $40‑60 million, and a leading analyst warns that total freight turnover on the Russia‑INSTC link could shrink by as much as 25% this year.
Polregio, Poland’s largest regional rail operator, signed an agreement with CPK’s rolling‑stock company to lease up to 80 new 200 km/h trains for commercial service on the Warsaw‑CPK‑Łódź corridor. The planned “Regio Express” will combine high‑speed travel with intermediate stops, while...
Today, my co-founder and I had a call with our pharmacy partner — and it reinforced something we’re seeing very clearly: The future of healthcare in Malaysia isn’t just about medicine. It’s about logistics. Because you can have the best treatments,...
B9Creations and Würth Additive Group announced a strategic partnership at the AMUG Conference, merging B9Creations' validated 3D‑printing technology and quality‑control framework with Würth's global logistics and digital inventory platform. The joint solution lets manufacturers store spare‑part designs as digital files...
The New South Wales government has unveiled a $20 million Emerging Technologies Commercialisation Fund to accelerate high‑tech startups and strengthen local manufacturing. The first round, opening on 6 March, allocates $7 million in repayable grants to firms with early evidence ready to scale....
Thailand’s commerce ministry is negotiating a barter arrangement with Iran and other Middle‑East nations, offering processed food and raw materials in exchange for safe passage of Thai vessels carrying plastic pellets and fertiliser. Minister Suphajee Suthumpun warned that Thailand’s domestic...
The episode examines how the Middle East conflict has upended global MTBE arbitrage, causing sharp price spikes and volatility across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Asian producers face supply constraints as Middle‑East feedstocks dry up, while European demand for cheap...
Geopolitical events are increasingly moving directly onto corporate profit and loss statements, reshaping input costs, working capital and supplier access. Most firms lack visibility beyond tier‑one suppliers, forcing them to scramble when crises emerge. Without a structured risk‑assessment framework, companies...
The article explains how a suite of interoperability standards underpins the digital thread in smart manufacturing. Core standards such as STEP/AP242 for model‑based definition, DMIS and QIF for metrology, and STEP‑NC for manufacturing execution enable seamless data exchange across CAD,...
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc warned that the Strait of Hormuz and another major maritime corridor are simultaneously under strain, creating a cascade of supply‑chain disruptions. He outlined ten signals indicating a stressed shipping system, including rerouted vessel flows, rising freight...
The podcast highlights a shift toward connected procurement, where the entire source‑to‑pay cycle is unified into a data‑driven workflow. Accenture experts note that manual, siloed processes leave firms vulnerable to supply‑chain shocks, while real‑time visibility boosts agility and resilience. A...
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to establish an international port alliance under the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to link key maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Panama Canal. The proposal comes as China faces...
China-linked Hormuz transits retreat to shipping’s opaque fringes ▶️China-linked traffic through Hormuz has slowed sharply after recent attacks, with transits largely confined to an opaque bulker and one sanctioned VLCC ▶️Mainstream Chinese state-owned tanker fleets continue to stay out, citing safety, insurance...
ATA President Chris Spear warned that the Iran conflict, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has pushed diesel prices to about $105 per barrel and added roughly $1 per gallon, jeopardizing the trucking industry's expected 2026 recovery. He also highlighted that 45%...
During the entirety of the Red Sea operation closure ALL of NATO couldn’t muster more than 3 warships at a time you donut hole An entire German task force sailed around AFRICA to avoid the Houthis They are demonstrably WEAK & Trump...
CHART OF THE DAY: US retail average diesel prices have topped the $5-per-gallon barrier for the 2nd time ever. That’s freight inflation — and another big hit to the country’s farming economy (and it has received many hit since...
Asian container liners are seeing a earnings turnaround as the Red Sea remains closed due to the Iran‑Israel conflict. Spot freight rates climbed 8.4% to $2,123 per 40‑foot container, marking the second week of gains after two months of declines....
Iran war chokepoints begin to cast doubt on global chip supply https://t.co/oHuurB7rl9 via @debbywuintaipei @ckyrious https://t.co/EFKkB6ppV0
[MUST READ] IMO chief says convoys are not a long-term or sustainable solution to re-open Strait of Hormuz: https://t.co/5RH72OviGI
Governments across Asia and Europe are rolling out fuel subsidies, price caps, and emergency stock releases to blunt the surge in energy and food costs triggered by the US‑Israeli war on Iran. The conflict has cut roughly one‑fifth of global...
The US drops Section 301 trade bombshell on 16 countries | Article | Hinrich Foundation https://t.co/d4DGMQE6Zp
India- and Pakistan-owned ships transit Strait of Hormuz ▶️Iranian-linked tonnage still dominates Hormuz transits ▶️Attacks on shipping are succeeding in halting crossings ▶️Eastbound transits prevail westbound journeys ▶️US ‘fine’ with Iranian tankers sailing through Hormuz to ‘supply’ the rest of the...
Since the third Gulf war erupted three weeks ago, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has immobilized roughly 10‑15 % of global oil supply, pushing Brent crude above $106 a barrel. President Donald Trump has ordered the largest-ever strategic reserve...
India talks with Iran on safe Hormuz passage for up to 30 ships Vessels carrying LNG, LPG and oil earmarked to follow the voyages of two VLGCs https://t.co/3X81uYIrqD
War risk rates soar as Iranians ramp up ship attacks US reinsurance scheme light on details as convoy plans out of reach for now https://t.co/BoE7xMfsVr
IDC has sharply lowered its 2026 PC market outlook, now forecasting an 11.3% decline in shipments, far steeper than the previous 2.4% drop. Tablet shipments are also projected to fall 7.6% amid persistent memory shortages, rising component prices, and ongoing...
India and Pakistan Offering Escorts as Ships Pass Through Strait of Hormuz https://t.co/NgQFHd2nAa #maritime #maritime-news
If a meaningful fraction of the analyses I’m seeing on major supply disruptions to global energy, food and pharmaceutical inputs is real, the humanitarian crises and government responses that are about to unfold will make COVID mayhem feel quaint.
nShift introduced the AI‑powered nShift Companion, an assistant embedded in its Checkout product that helps retailers configure delivery options using plain‑language prompts. The tool taps the company’s Model Context Protocol to pull real‑time carrier data, ensuring recommendations are grounded in...
Drone strikes fuel truck at Dubai airport. What is happening is more than the Strait of Hormuz and oil. Supply and supply chains. A key product not moving is fertilizer as planting season is arriving. The impact on crop output...
Large trucking companies often run their own processes to recover stolen truckloads. The authorities are almost useless in recovering stolen cargo.
Port Houston reported a 4% rise in February cargo volumes, handling 4.38 million short tons and bringing the year‑to‑date total to 8.93 million short tons, a 5% increase. Container activity was flat in February with 326,799 TEU, leaving YTD container volumes up...
The surge in flatbeds predated the Iran conflict. I spoke about this at length in early February. The locations of the surge match up to the rust belt, auto, and heavy machinery. No one is moving oil field equipment off of...
There are a large number of accounts here that have an issue with the war and want the economy to crash because of it. We have yet to find an American war that didn’t drive more freight demand. I don’t make the...
Canadian pulse exporters say sales to the Middle East have effectively frozen due to the Iran‑related conflict. Shipping lines are diverting cargo, imposing surcharges up to $2,000 per container and rerouting fees, making deliveries unsafe and uneconomical. The MENA region,...
This is absolutely insane. It’s easier to book a million dollar truckload with someone you don’t know than it is to wire 5000 to someone you do.
Industrial production up. The high frequency freight data suggests this rally will continue and it appears to be shaking off the Iran war and high fuel prices
Bills of materials (BOMs) are moving from back‑office checklists to boardroom priorities for Australian asset‑intensive firms. Accurate, integrated BOMs link design, procurement, production and maintenance, turning them into a single source of truth. When well‑maintained, BOMs enable proactive spare‑part planning,...
There never was a truck driver shortage. This was a narrative told to Congress to lower the barriers to entry and to fund tax-paid driving schools. It’s always been a lie.
Wall Street investors have concluded that spiking oil prices will hurt truckers. It’s not that simple. In fact, the big carriers and brokers often make more money during periods of high fuel prices.
The U.S. Defense Department has signed a new supply agreement with Australian rare‑earths producer Lynas, marking the latest effort to secure critical minerals for national security. The deal is intended to diversify the U.S. supply chain away from China, which...
Some Ships Are Eastbound and Down from the Strait of Hormuz | March 16, 2026 1⃣Star Gwyneth Sails Through 2⃣Greek Tankers Set to Run 3⃣Iran May be Verifying Ships 4⃣Allies Rebuff Trump Request for Escorts 5⃣Has Iran Gained Control of the Strait? Video: https://t.co/ztLPpT7oYf https://t.co/iwTzLQlwoa
Iran Conflict Threatens Global Chip Supply Chain, Risks Higher Costs for TSMC - Bloomberg https://t.co/nu9qEGPpB0
Honda announced the cancellation of three North‑America EV programs, pivoting toward hybrid models amid weak demand, tariff pressure, and policy volatility. Simultaneously, freight surcharges and semiconductor price hikes are compressing margins across the automotive supply chain, while stranded battery capacity...
"Ship Tracking Suggests Iran May Be Verifying Ships Before Allowing Hormuz Exit" Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Ayatollah Khomeini Memorial Thruway. https://t.co/mT7tw2wjxp https://t.co/VaIa1Vv21k
A new US-China “Board of Trade”? The world has never before seen an attempt to manage trade at this scale. If the US government wants to do this seriously, it really has to do its homework. by @AnaSwanson https://t.co/ooAO5hs8Jv
Walmart has finalized its 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific shipping contracts with six major carriers, prompting container lines to resume stalled negotiations. The war in the Middle East had paused talks, but carriers now urge importers to lock in space allocations before the...
"China is tightening its curbs on fertilizer exports as the war in Iran disrupts trade of key crop nutrients, driving up prices globally." https://t.co/X35yEEwYZH
"Shipping Insurance Costs for Hormuz Passage Surge After Vessel Attacks" https://t.co/Aq3e4lGXyX "Details of a plan for the US International Development Finance Corporation to help insure tankers are still unclear." https://t.co/mC9xKl2B7o
#Cuba’s electric grid suffered a total power failure Monday as the island nation struggles with fuel supplies amid a de facto US oil blockade to pressure the communist government. https://t.co/5NRxiUILHa
