Know What's Happening in Supply Chain
Know What's Happening in Supply Chain
VinFast scales EV deliveries and launches $500M plant in India
VinFast delivered 3,520 electric vehicles in a single 24‑hour period in Vietnam, showcasing its production and logistics capabilities. The company is breaking ground on a $500 million plant in Tamil Nadu that will support a 150,000‑vehicle‑per‑year capacity and serve as a regional export hub for right‑hand‑drive markets. Its next logistical test will be expanding into India and Indonesia.
Also developing:
Swiss rail freight arm SBB Cargo posted a 122 million CHF loss for 2025, a 60 % increase from the prior year, driven largely by asset depreciation. Both domestic and international tonnage continued to fall, with Swiss‑only volumes slipping below five billion net tonne‑kilometres for the third straight year. Only block‑train services remain cost‑covering, while combined transport and single‑wagonload segments face restructuring, including the closure of eight terminals. The federal government pledged 260 million CHF through 2029 to sustain the single‑wagonload business.
Russia will push its nuclear‑powered icebreakers to sea for up to 270 days a year, up from the previous 240‑day target. The move reflects pressure from an aging fleet, sanctions‑induced maintenance delays, and unpredictable ice conditions on the Northern Sea...
PTC secures an aerospace-grade titanium ingot order for ISRO and scales VAR and PAM capability. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/aerospace-grade-titanium-ingot-order.html
Invoice processing maturity is moving beyond simple automation rates toward managing exceptions. While early AP automation focused on touchless processing of standard invoices, organizations now face a plateau as complex, high‑risk invoices dominate. Modern platforms use probabilistic confidence scoring and...
Dürr introduced EcoNextJet, a robotic drop‑on‑demand printing system that applies custom graphics directly onto vehicle bodies during the paint process. The system uses a 2,000‑nozzle printhead capable of two‑color, 720 dpi resolution and five‑micron paint thickness, replacing traditional film decals. Developed...
President Trump urged commercial vessels to have the “guts” to cross the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a rebuttal from Captain Akee Sharma of Sailor’s Cart. Sharma emphasizes that seafarers already endure months away from families, hazardous conditions, and constant operational...
The United States faces renewed munitions shortfalls after intensive use in Iran, Ukraine and other theaters, prompting officials to stress that stockpile depth alone will not ensure resilience. Recent Pentagon initiatives, including the 2025 Munitions Acceleration Council and $25 billion FY‑2026...
The United Kingdom and Australia are assessing how their steel sectors can jointly support the AUKUS submarine programme, following the first UK‑Australia Defence Industry Dialogue since 2018. Defence Minister Luke Pollard highlighted that British firms, notably Sheffield Forgemasters, are already...
Global seaborne salt shipments jumped 19% year‑on‑year to 13.5 million tonnes in January‑February 2026, driven by Egyptian exports that more than doubled to 2.9 million tonnes. The United States recorded a record 4.2 million tonnes discharged, reflecting heightened de‑icing demand after severe winter...
South Africa's Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has issued requests for proposals to privately operate and invest in three rail sidings—Klaserie, Krugersdorp and Ngagane—for ten‑year terms. The RFPs require bidders to fund refurbishments, loading facilities, security and access upgrades while...
Aerowash has been awarded a multi‑year leasing contract by International Airlines Group to provide aircraft‑washing robots for British Airways at London Heathrow. The deal follows a competitive tender and will see several automated washers deployed across BA’s Heathrow operations. CEO...
The UK government will waive import duties on 33 wind‑farm components from 1 April, using an “authorised use” customs measure that eliminates tariffs on items such as cables, blades and rotors. Officials say the relief will save manufacturers millions of pounds...
Italian product tanker owner d’Amico International Shipping has expanded its new‑building programme in China by exercising options for two additional 50,000‑dwt MR2 tankers at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding. The vessels, priced at $45.4 million each, are slated for delivery in August...
Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has acquired a 25 % equity stake in V.Ships France through its subsidiary MOL Euro Energie SAS, while deepening a long‑standing partnership on LNG vessels. Under the deal V.Ships France will assume full technical management of two new‑build LNG carriers slated...
Global PC manufacturers announced price increases of 5%‑10% as semiconductor shortages and higher freight costs persist. The hikes hit both consumer and enterprise segments, squeezing budgets for schools and businesses. Taiwan, home to major chip fabs and motherboard producers, faces...
Oro Labs announced a $100 million Series C round, led by Goldman Sachs Growth Equity and Brighton Park Capital, bringing its total funding to $160 million. The Silicon Valley AI startup, which overlays existing ERP and procurement systems with an orchestration platform, reported...
Cyprus‑based shipowner Petros Panagiotidis is spinning off Robin Energy's tanker unit into a new Nasdaq‑listed entity called AI Okto. Existing Robin shareholders will receive one AI Okto share for every 6.5 Robin shares, and the new company will launch with...
Greek shipowner Venergy Maritime has placed firm orders for two suezmax crude tankers with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, adding options for two more vessels. The 158,000 dwt, scrubber‑fitted ships are priced at roughly $82 million each and are scheduled for delivery in 2029...
The Retail Solutions UK guide outlines a step‑by‑step framework for UK retailers to simplify imports, reduce customs delays, and cut freight costs. It highlights the importance of correct paperwork, EORI registration, and choosing the right transport mode—road for Europe, sea...
Let me tell you the secret difference between a Navy and merchant ship captain that goes beyond the obvious. It’s 1AM & I feel sick to my stomach over this war and can’t sleep. I’m at a shipowner conference & I had...
Foodpro 2026 will partner with the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) for a dual‑track event in Melbourne from 26‑29 July 2026. The four‑day expo will host more than 400 exhibitors alongside the AIFST26 conference, which runs 27‑28...
The Australian government announced a 60‑day temporary amendment to fuel quality standards, permitting higher sulfur content to unlock roughly 100 million litres of petrol each month. This measure addresses regional fuel shortages triggered by Middle East supply constraints after the Strait...
🚨Iran is still pushing oil through the Strait of Hormuz: At least 11.7 million barrels of Iranian crude have passed through the strait since February 28, all headed to China. Many tankers have "gone dark," switching off their GPS tracking systems...👇 https://globalmarketsinvestor.beehiiv.com/p/the-iea-has-proposed-the-largest-emergency-oil-release-from-strategic-reserves-in-history
The India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was unveiled under India’s G20 presidency as a multi‑layered framework linking market access, digital connectivity and risk mitigation. Despite the shock of the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent Iran‑Israel‑U.S. clashes, India has kept the...
India's food and beverage sector faces an acute LPG shortage due to disrupted Gulf supplies, forcing many restaurants and cloud‑kitchens in Bengaluru, Delhi and Pune to shut or trim menus. Outages affect up to 30% of kitchens, with some outlets...
Cotton Australia reports that a portion of lint bales from the Northern Territory and Western Australia are being trucked over 3,500 km to Brisbane for export, despite the closer proximity of Darwin and Wyndham ports. High transport costs, limited infrastructure, and...
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said ten of the carrier’s vessels are trapped in the Persian Gulf after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. The ships have been grouped offshore for safety, with one under a U.S. Military Sealift Command contract....
Trump has a few days to finish the war before oil finishes him, says @JavierBlas That's wrong. This was finished on March 1 when tankers stopped moving through the Hormuz Strait. Trump has a few days to find a way to get...
Australian manufacturers ended 2025 with solid performance, posting 5.1% annualised sales growth and maintaining a 38.47% profit margin. Companies reduced average stock on hand to A$233,763 while purchase order values rose 22%, indicating a shift toward just‑in‑time replenishment. Lead times...
Two tankers, the Malta‑flagged Zefyros and the Marshall Islands‑registered Safesea Vishnu, were struck while conducting a ship‑to‑ship transfer 5 nm south of Al Basrah, igniting a fire and killing one crew member. Thirty‑eight crew were rescued and all Iraqi oil terminals were...
The Australian Government announced a $66 million Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC‑P) grant round, funding 27 projects across manufacturing, artificial intelligence and other sectors. WV Technologies secured a $2.2 million grant for its Aboriginal‑led Global Cyber Innovation project, leveraging CSIRO AI to...
As a member of the UAE’s Financial Advisory Council (2008–2014), I made many friends. Here's what an old friend just texted me from Dubai: "Our paper recycling plant is still running because 95% of the raw material is collected locally. But...
Swiss shipping giant MSC Group has secured a 45‑year concession to develop a new container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos, partnering with Nigerian firm Nigerdock. The engineering, procurement and construction contract was awarded to ITB Nigeria and DEME...
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 Economic Census shows chemical manufacturing expanded while the broader manufacturing sector contracted. Establishments in the chemical subsector rose 10.2% to 14,961 and shipment values jumped 22.4% to $901 billion between 2017 and 2022. Growth was anchored...
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) detained the Liberian‑flagged bulk carrier Ocean Bright and imposed a six‑month ban from Australian ports after discovering that eight crew members had not been paid for two months, totaling US$46,334. The detention followed a...
exploding tankers, the us releasing 40% of its remaining oil reserve, and trump bragging about how well things are going: not indications for low oil prices.
US launches probe into trading partners including the EU, China and India https://t.co/JsVy4bXFEc Announcement: https://t.co/UgsOQ97Tzp
The global container‑ship order book has reached a record 1,350 vessels, totaling 11.8 million TEU, despite a 13 % drop in average freight rates and rising trade protectionism. In 2025, container volumes grew 4.7 % year‑on‑year, prompting owners to order a historic 4.8 million...
The IEA says the war in turning into the biggest oil disruption in world history https://t.co/UJZqGyrhUP
Six vessels attacked in Gulf, Strait of Hormuz as war puts merchant ships on front lines https://t.co/pAYt6WBG5O
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling trimmed the weighted tariff on Chinese goods from 32.4% to 22.3%, creating a temporary reprieve through July. Some exporters, like equipment maker Chen Zhuo, are accelerating shipments to lock in lower duties, while others remain...
Who everyone I talked to at the shipowners conference today thinks is blowing up merchant ships: Trump & Hegseth Who is actually blowing up ships: Iran
We are witnessing the end of globalization If the US military with the massive armada assembled within 500 miles can’t protect ships in this region, we stand little chance of protecting our container shipments from Asia in the event of a...
Robotics is entering a new era as artificial intelligence, especially large neural networks, merges with physical machines to create embodied AI capable of handling novelty. Traditional robots excel at repetitive, well‑defined tasks, but recent breakthroughs allow them to perceive, decide,...
We've already lost roughly a quarter *billion* barrels in cumulative oil supply thus far in the Strait of Hormuz stoppage.
Nature is healing. Qualified and compliant truck driver applicants are starting to increase substantially as the government crackdown happens. Proof that if you get rid of the riff-raff, the good guys will come back.
A 400M barrel release can cushion the shock, but only briefly. If Hormuz shipping isn’t restored by late March, losses outpace the reserve fast—about 80M barrels per week. The SPR buys time, not supply. #OilMarkets #SPR #EnergySecurity #Hormuz #EnergyCrisis
This is true. A lot of the shipping and procurement execs have never lived through a carrier's market and are unprepared for Carrier Revenge.
It Was a Bad Day for Merchant Mariners in the Strait of Hormuz | March 11, 2026 Video: https://t.co/dY5IeBnvWF https://t.co/5AFou3YOMp
Good morning from Hong Kong. Day 13 of the Iran War. Hormuz effectively closed, impacting not just global energy supply chain but also food and metals. https://t.co/yXfDXHwzMN
