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:
Morocco’s appointment as a co‑host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup is prompting a sweeping rail expansion. The government plans to invest billions in high‑speed and regional lines to link major cities and stadium sites. Projects are timed to meet the tournament deadline, aiming to showcase modern transport to global audiences. The initiative also seeks to boost tourism and freight efficiency beyond the event.
Hindalco Industries has suspended sales of its extruded aluminium products, invoking force‑majeure clauses as the Iran‑Israel conflict chokes shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and disrupts gas supplies vital for processing. While Indian smelters continue operating, the lack of reliable...
Greater Poland province has signed a €263 million contract with Swiss‑German manufacturer Stadler for ten five‑car Flirt electric multiple units, with an option for an additional ten. The aluminium‑bodied trains will be built in Poland and are slated to enter service...
Shopify’s 2026 guide outlines how merchants can master international logistics to capture the booming cross‑border ecommerce market, where 59 % of shoppers buy from overseas and 35 % do so monthly. It breaks down the distinct challenges of moving goods across borders—customs,...
#Technology #Thread #Semiconductor #Manufacturing #Silicon The Semiconductor Let Us Learn About Data Supply Chain: 1/ - The Semiconductor Data Supply Chain Is Becoming A Critical Layer Of Modern Chip Development And Manufacturing. - It Connects Design Data, Process Data, Test Data, And Analytics...
Glad this was killed. It was the worst export bill I’ve ever seen floated in a decade. I was discussing this in DC this week. It would have required every company in the supply chain the get permission to ship...
A new AidData report shows China granted or loaned $23.9 billion to finance 168 ports across 90 countries between 2000 and 2025. The investments, covering construction, expansion and equipment, often sit near Chinese‑financed mines and have hosted naval visits at more...
"The Narrowing Straits: Why the Middle East Crisis is a Fault Line for Global Industry" - my own expert comentary on a recent interview with Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, and the impact on key heavy industries and supply chains they...
MORE US LNG EXPORTS 🇺🇸 🚢 Venture Global will move forward with an $8.6 billion expansion of its third LNG plant in Louisiana Global demand for US LNG is surging as the war in the Middle East cuts off shipments from...
Thai rice exporters halted two ships carrying 80,000 tonnes bound for Iraq after a Thai vessel was struck near the Strait of Hormuz, effectively pausing Middle‑East shipments. The disruption comes as Thailand’s rice export outlook has already slipped 11% to...
Newest FW show: Fraud Watch We will cover the crazy stories of theft and fraud that have become so pervasive in freight
The FMCSA issued an emergency bulletin prohibiting the sale, purchase, or lease of USDOT and MC numbers, labeling such transactions as fraud that will trigger revocation of operating authority. The agency clarified that DOT numbers are permanent, non‑transferable identifiers tied...
It's not just oil and gas. What other crucial commodities are under threat from the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz? Fertilisers, aluminium, plastics, helium and more. https://t.co/H1tRNgqzv6
Rural broadband providers participating in the $42.45 billion BEAD program are encountering unexpected cancellations of orders for Build America, Buy America‑compliant fiber. Prices for BABA‑qualified cable have surged roughly 40 percent, straining project budgets and timelines. Manufacturers such as Corning cite...
Enterprises are eyeing retired server hardware as a new source of rare earth elements after Korea Zinc entered talks with major U.S. tech firms to recycle data‑center waste. The initiative follows Western Digital’s pilot with Critical Materials Recycling and comes...
A recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the vulnerability of LNG buyers reliant on Middle‑East cargoes, prompting a reassessment of supply diversification. Analysts argue that this "concentration risk" creates a strategic opening for existing and planned LNG export...
CMA CGM announced it will re‑flag ten 24,000‑TEU vessels under the French flag starting in 2026, boosting its home‑registered fleet by 30% to 40 ships. The decision follows CEO Rodolphe Saade’s 2025 Oval Office appearance with President Trump, where a...
The Inter‑American Development Bank is backing the Bi‑Oceanic Corridor—a 2,300‑mile road and rail link from Brazil to Chile—with a $200 million loan for the critical Paraguay segment. The corridor, slated for completion in late 2026, promises to shave roughly two‑and‑a‑half weeks off...
US exporters are scrambling to locate containers shipped to the Middle East after ocean carriers halted almost all services due to the war with Iran. Mediterranean Shipping Company invoked an “end‑of‑voyage” clause for shipments bound for Dubai’s Jebel Ali, leaving cargo...
Kontron AIS unveiled new FabEagleMES capabilities aimed at high‑volume photovoltaic cell and module production. The suite adds configurable material‑flow routing, real‑time defect analytics, long‑term data‑lake storage, an enhanced web client with role‑based dashboards, and a REST API for seamless machine...
CPG food manufacturers are midway through digital transformation, with foundational projects delivering measurable gains while advanced AI and autonomous supply chains lag. Real‑time production and warehouse visibility, clean‑data AI demand forecasting, and digital traceability are showing up to 20% output...
Leaders in agriculture and manufacturing emphasized the stability of the US‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (USMCA) as essential to North‑American supply chains. Soybean exports to Mexico have quadrupled and to Canada doubled since the pact took effect, while Canadian pork and cross‑border equipment...
Brad Forester of JBF Consulting warns that logistics technology projects often fail because companies skip a strategic roadmap, turning implementation into a costly trap. He recommends allocating just 1‑2% of the budget to a thorough assessment, which can mitigate up...
In this episode, Sean Kim explains how the Strait of Hormuz— a critical shipping lane for energy— could become a bottleneck for the global technology sector, especially advanced semiconductor manufacturing. He highlights that chip fabs, like those in Taiwan, consume...
Iran’s recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints, prompting a sharp rise in global crude prices. While the United States sources only a modest fraction of its oil from the...
It is 5,000 miles from Japan to the Strait of Hormuz. Even if the ships left early and conduct a high transit speed that is 10 to 14 days to get to the scene. If this is going...
My take on Iran's biggest advantage in the war: "The US & Israel are making mincemeat out of Iran, but Iranians still hold their key card: the Strait of Hormuz, which remains shut down. A great friend in Dubai said he...
Ocean carriers have demonstrated effective capacity management by maintaining stable vessel utilization despite sharply volatile demand. The practice dates back to the 2008‑09 financial crisis when carriers laid up roughly 10% of global tonnage to rebalance supply. A recent Maersk...
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad (CSS) and New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA) are advancing extensive locomotive rebuild programs under Anacostia Rail Holding. CSS plans to have 12 of its 13 road locomotives overhauled by the end of 2026, adding upgraded...
Himax Technologies saw its shares surge over 16% after Hunterbrook linked the company to Nvidia’s AI data‑center optics and hinted at a role supplying Apple’s upcoming smart‑glasses. The report suggests Himax is manufacturing critical optical components for Nvidia’s AI infrastructure,...
Costa Rica has leveraged its long‑standing sustainability framework to launch a nationwide, deforestation‑free coffee program ahead of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). A pilot with the CoopeTarrazú cooperative in 2024 introduced satellite‑based mapping, AI tools, and due‑diligence training, leading to...
Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates’ primary oil‑export gateway, has become the most critical outlet for crude as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by the ongoing Gulf war. In the past ten days the port endured two aerial attacks, testing...
IDB’s active contract funding dropped to $2.4 billion in 2024, a 29% decline from the previous year. Seven thousand contracts were issued, with works projects receiving $1.4 billion, consulting‑firm contracts $204.4 million, and goods contracts $170.9 million. Brazil‑based contractors captured the most funding at...
Ammonia fertilizer prices have jumped as the Middle East conflict disrupts shipments from key producers, lifting European spot rates by roughly $50 per tonne. The region, responsible for 23% of global ammonia trade, saw vessels stranded and diverted, tightening supply....
India’s imports from China have decelerated sharply, rising only 87.8% in FY2015‑25 versus a 618% surge in FY2005‑14, while exports to China accelerated to a 38.3% year‑on‑year gain in April‑January FY2024‑25 compared with a 13.8% import rise. The slowdown is...
Hegseth says the Navy is performing better than expected. He says the Navy had a comprehensive plan for the Strait of Hormuz. He says we have the best warships in the world. He says we have enough munitions. All of that can be true. And...
Trump's timeline for the #Iran war: "As long as is necessary..." "Militarily, we're WAY ahead of schedule..."
MORE COLLATERAL DAMAGE FROM THE US-ISRAELI WAR ON IRAN: Fertilizer shipments from the Persian Gulf are stuck. Fertilizer prices have jumped about 30%. US FARMERS ARE STARTING TO TURN AGAINST TRUMP. https://t.co/IwXKoWCUj0
Secretary Hegseth on the Strait of Hormuz: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT | March 13, 2026 Update Video: https://t.co/P2LCJM2Jqm https://t.co/u911Em6TwP
Ocean carriers and new ways to serve the Middle East with the Strait closed. How much of the new approaches will be maintained at war’s end? At the minimum as viable secondary services to keep them functioning.
New MPO article by Lisa Anderson: From Reactive to Proactive: planning strategies for Medtech customer and margin success. Ready to move from firefighting to proactive planning? Contact LMA. #MedTech #SIOP #SupplyChain https://t.co/6Kr0hpMRaq
Middle East Conflict Dampens Fears of Container Sector Overcapacity. Reshaping of maritime and supply chains. https://t.co/RTI4NDrVRx
Container line shipping and transshipment hubs. Like the airlines’ hub and spoke. For the carriers vs multiple handlings of cargo.
I am sorry @SecWar, but there are some of us are worried about the Strait of Hormuz.
At least someone is escorting a commercial ship. Wrong sea, but I will take it.
More than “Five Asian petrochemical plants have declared force majeure in the past ten days because their naphtha supply was cut off at the Strait of Hormuz. The emergency reserves are crude oil. The shortage is chemicals.”
The auto industry people are noticing the massive uptick in freight fraud and cargo theft
With the Strait of Hormuz closed, the UAE has turned to its rail network. Etihad Rail Freight has transported 459,000 tons of cargo and 7,900 containers in only 9 days. UAE’S INFRASTRUCTURE MITIGATES THE WAR’S COLLATERAL DAMAGE. https://t.co/cRyWRv4gvD
Asking freight fraud scammers what time it is where they are trips them up so much more frequently than you’d think
"We had a plan. We just didn't execute it and that is why the Strait is totally open except for the missiles, explosive UUVs, and maybe some mines."
