Know What's Happening in Supply Chain
Know What's Happening in Supply Chain
Ningbo Ocean Shipping launches $390M fleet and container expansion
Ningbo Ocean Shipping's board approved a capital program exceeding $390 million to boost its fleet and container inventory. Up to $246 million will fund four 1,900‑TEU feeder vessels, while $145 million is earmarked for acquiring 64,500 TEU of new containers.
Also developing:
Flexport launched its winter technology suite amid a Supreme Court decision that nullified Trump‑era tariffs and a sudden Middle East conflict that disrupted shipping lanes. The free Atlas portal now offers real‑time visibility into port congestion, while a tariff simulator was updated within days of the court ruling. Additional AI‑driven tools include a digital routing guide, natural‑language search, live translation in six languages, and a TikTok seller integration. Together, these features aim to help shippers navigate tariff uncertainty and geopolitical freight chaos.
UPS and FedEx have introduced temporary per‑pound surcharges for shipments to and from the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa in response to the Iran‑related conflict and rising fuel costs. UPS levies a $0.64/lb surge fee on 15 Middle‑East countries,...
DPD has opened two new 60,000‑square‑foot distribution centres in Crawley and Sittingbourne, replacing older depots and adding state‑of‑the‑art automation. Each hub can process up to 80,000 parcels daily and will support more than 100 new driver routes in the South...
Regional Container Lines (RCL) announced an immediate End of Voyage for three vessels—Mv SM MAHI, Zhong Gu Chong Qing, and Zhong Gu Tai Yuan—citing the heightened escalation of war in the Middle East. The ships will discharge cargo at intermediary...
Truckload 2026 panelists warned that fleet size alone no longer guarantees profit in the three‑year freight downcycle. Executives from Knight‑Swift, Hill Brothers, Cargo Transporters and Bison Transport highlighted earnings per mile, cost efficiency and driver productivity as the new success metrics. Companies are...
Amazon India has launched a new Amazon Air route linking Guwahati and Kolkata, extending its dedicated cargo network into the Northeast. The service, which previously served Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, aims to accelerate shipments by up to five times...
Andrew Bartolini, founder and chief research officer at Ardent Partners, has launched a new 45‑second video series called “Procurement 2026: Big Trends and Predictions.” The inaugural video, “Savings Tops the CPO Priority List (Again),” underscores bottom‑line savings as the leading metric...
Flatbed spot rates surged to their strongest level since October 2022, rising more than 5 cents per mile and pushing weekly volumes up 5.3%, the highest since May 2022. While dry‑van and refrigerated segments posted modest week‑over‑week declines, their rates...
Hyundai Motor Group’s Indonesian JV with LG Energy Solution, PT Hyundai LG Indonesia Green Power, has teamed up with Zhejiang Huayou Recycling to process both production waste and end‑of‑life EV batteries. The $1.1 billion Karawang plant, operational in 2024, will ship waste to Huayou’s local...
Industry Week highlights that the next two decades of robotics will be defined less by software breakthroughs than by the physical components that power machines. Cost analysis shows actuators and gearboxes consume 35‑40% of a robot’s bill of materials, followed...
Maersk has signed an agreement with East‑West Intermodal Logistics (EWG) to launch a container depot and dry‑port service at EWG’s terminal in Fényeslitke, Hungary. The dry‑port model moves traditional seaport functions inland, allowing cargo to be processed closer to end‑users....
Conflict between the US‑Israel coalition and Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing commercial vessels to reroute through the Indian Ocean. At least 18 ships have been attacked and dozens have disabled AIS, while Iran permits Chinese‑flagged traffic,...
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, turning the vital oil chokepoint into a geopolitical weapon. The International Energy Agency warns this blockade represents the largest supply disruption in oil market history,...
German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd announced an immediate suspension of all dangerous‑goods bookings for three key Red Sea ports—Sokhna in Egypt, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Aqaba in Jordan. The halt applies to both import and export shipments and will remain in...
The U.S. Treasury issued a one‑month OFAC wind‑down licence, allowing Russian crude already at sea to complete voyages through April 11. The licence is intended to stabilise energy markets amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis that has disrupted Gulf supplies. Broker...
Hupac reported a 4.3% rise in road consignments, reaching 1,853,000 TEUs in 2025. Growth was driven by a new Gent‑Piadena service and higher frequency on the Zeebrugge‑Piacenza link, strengthening the Belgium‑Italy corridor. The company noted that without these volumes, trans‑Alpine...
An uncontrolled fire beside Glasgow Central Station forced the indefinite closure of Scotland’s busiest rail hub, halting passenger services and prompting widespread diversions. While freight traffic escaped major impact, the incident highlighted how external urban hazards—fires, floods, structural failures—can cripple...
CMA CGM has lifted the March 3 suspension and reopened both export and import bookings for Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The carrier is routing cargo through a mix of land bridges and feeder services,...
Polish railway infrastructure manager PKP PLK signed a EUR 750 million contract with a Budimex‑Ferrovial consortium to build a 20‑km double‑track line linking Krakow to Gdów. The project, part of the broader Podłęże–Piekiełko programme, includes new stations, fully accessible platforms, and 42 engineering...
Iran has systematically transformed the Strait of Hormuz into a de‑facto geopolitical checkpoint, deploying naval mines, missile batteries and heightened patrols to control one of the world’s most vital oil arteries. The move coincides with escalating regional tensions and a...
The Czech railway sector contributed roughly 2% of national GDP in 2025, generating €5.4 billion in turnover and employing about 23,700 people. Export activity was a key driver, with 52% of production – valued at CZK 68 billion (≈€2.8 billion) – shipped abroad, marking...
The Trump administration has proposed a rule that overturns the Biden-era definition of independent contractors affecting roughly 350,000 truck drivers. The new regulation restores the 2021 definition used under the first Trump administration, emphasizing the economic realities test focused on...
Japanese shipping giant NYK has acquired full ownership of Saga Welco, ending its 12‑year 50:50 joint venture with Norway’s Westfal‑Larsen. The deal, with undisclosed financial terms, gives NYK control of Saga Welco’s fleet of 48 open‑hatch vessels that serve global...
Amazon Australia disclosed a A$750 million investment to build a four‑level, 150,000 m² robotics fulfilment centre in Brisbane, slated for completion in 2028. The warehouse will handle more than 125 million parcels per year and store up to 15 million small‑item SKUs across categories...
Taiwanese carrier Yang Ming Marine Transport has cleared an order for six LNG‑dual‑fuel neo‑panamax boxships, part of a broader plan to add 13,000 TEU vessels to its fleet. The new ships will replace older 4,250‑6,500 TEU vessels and reinforce Yang Ming’s east‑west trade...
IFS is positioning its cloud ERP as a control tower for end‑to‑end supply‑chain intelligence, merging planning, execution and Industrial AI on a single platform. The solution delivers real‑time visibility across demand, inventory, production, logistics and sustainability, and embeds predictive analytics...
Circle Digital Ventures, led by CEO Meei Wong, is pivoting maritime technology from ship‑centric solutions to human‑centric risk management. The company leverages AI to detect early signs of fatigue, stress, and health issues, enabling proactive support and reducing operational incidents....
Ward Automation delivered a compact robotic cell that inspects, labels, and palletizes 36,000 syringes per hour for a multinational pharma maker. The system uses three Stäubli robots, dual machine‑vision stations, and a dedicated lid‑sealing module, all built to meet 21 CFR...
We are trying to build a startup aimed at modernizing local kirana stores by providing an optimized supply chain, marketing support, and operational efficiency. Our platform enables kiranas to increase margins, streamline inventory, and serve customers better, while creating a...
NEW ODD LOTS: What War in Iran means for the 'teapot' oil refineries in China. @tracyalloway and I talk to @Erica_Downs_ about what the closure of the Strait of Hormuz means for Chinese energy security. https://t.co/ZdGwLQJV8E
WheelsEye, a logistics SaaS provider, posted FY25 operating revenue of Rs 243.4 crore, a 17% increase from the prior year. Subscription services drove the growth, contributing 62% of total revenue and rising 20% year‑on‑year. Hardware costs, especially GPS devices, surged 68%, while...
German chemical firms see output cuts as war crimps supplies https://t.co/3dmaDk6yyK via @WillWilkesNews @martin_marilen https://t.co/kS9KPiFuqU
The Iran‑Iran war has turned the Suez‑Oman shipping corridor into a high‑risk, high‑cost route, pushing container freight from $2,000 to $10,000. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is driving volatile oil and gas prices, while broader supply‑chain bottlenecks are...
The Australian Fashion Council and RM Williams unveiled a ten‑year National Manufacturing Strategy aimed at building a globally competitive fashion and textile sector in Australia. The plan responds to the industry's vulnerability, highlighted by Middle‑East conflicts, and seeks to shift the...
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun maintenance dredging in Brunswick’s inner and outer harbor to restore the channel to its federally authorized depth. Funded by $11.35 million in federal money and $6 million from the state, the work is slated...
Trump admin picks another fight: “forced-labor” accusations as means to a tariff end. ❌ Section 301 permits the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries found to have engaged in unfair trade practices without congressional authorization. https://t.co/4pSaGKCo2K
The Home Depot will roll out the industry’s first real‑time delivery tracker for large and bulky items by the end of Q1 2026. The feature, embedded in the company’s mobile app and website, offers minute‑by‑minute GPS updates, route visibility, and estimated...
Maritime charity Stella Maris has begun distributing specialist safety kits to vessels calling at Ukrainian ports, aiming to protect crews from missile and drone attacks. The kits contain haemostatic tourniquets, pressure bandages, flash‑burn treatment, and multilingual emergency guidance, including shelter maps...
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, still recovering from a U.S. strike, declared that Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, leaving roughly 1,000 vessels stranded in the Gulf. While the closure is driven by political retaliation, insurers have confirmed that...
TAFE Queensland has introduced an Associate Degree in Applied Technologies, a higher‑education qualification designed to upskill workers in manufacturing, automation and digital technologies. The program was co‑created with industry leaders through the Queensland Future Skills Partnership, led by BHP Mitsubishi...
How does the US not plan on the closing of the Strait of Hormuz when it executes a multi-week bombing campaign against Iran. https://t.co/PD1g7fvdte
DP World reported a record 2025 with revenue climbing 22% to $24.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA up 18% to $6.4 billion. Net profit surged 32.2% to $1.96 billion, driven by higher port volumes and improved yields. Total TEU throughput rose 5.8% to 93.4 million...
I kid you not... The same White House that forgot that didn't realize that Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz, is now arguing (through Ron Vara) that the war is a good idea because it'll prevent Iran from closing...
Feederdock, a split‑vessel offshore wind installation system developed by ONP Management and Renewable Resources International, is set to enter the Australian market with Energy Estate as exclusive advisor. The concept pairs a heavy‑lift jack‑up vessel with shallow‑draught feeder ships, delivering...
Australia’s battery recycling industry contributes about $2.1 billion annually and supports nearly 20 000 jobs across 45 facilities. The Battery Stewardship Council projects the sector could grow to $6.9 billion and 34 600 jobs by 2050, highlighting its strategic role in domestic critical‑minerals supply....
The LMI is signaling low inventory, high turn retail supply chains. This bodes extremely well for freight carriers, as it means that we will either see: more inventory build in supply chains with slower turns (good for carriers) or a...
Will be on NewsNation - the Hill on 15 minutes to talk about the State of Freight
Chinese officials announced that Xinjiang’s textile sector added 46,800 jobs and saw yarn output rise over 20% and fabric production jump 36% in 2025, despite U.S. sanctions targeting the region’s cotton. Investment in the industry climbed 35%, and value‑added output...
"You've always got the option of putting that barrel of oil on a tanker and sending it abroad." Which is why energy independence ≠ price independence. https://t.co/BmuaLeZWk6
Manufacturers facing supply‑chain volatility and rising costs are redefining the CIO role to combine traditional IT oversight with direct responsibility for supply‑chain transformation. Modern supply‑chain CIOs must master emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, digital twins, and analytics while aligning...
