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:
Pharmaceutical firms are accelerating onshoring efforts, with more than $270 billion pledged for U.S. manufacturing since early 2025 and 80% of global producers weighing domestic or near‑shore options. Legislative moves such as the BIOSECURE Act and incentives like BARDA Project NextGen are nudging companies toward U.S.-based contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs). Onshoring promises tighter regulatory compliance, reduced supply‑chain exposure, faster time‑to‑market, and long‑term cost savings despite higher labor rates. Sharp’s U.S. sites exemplify the end‑to‑end service model that underpins this strategic shift.
European shipowner UECC ordered two 3,000‑ceu multi‑fuel battery hybrid PCTCs from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard. The vessels combine LNG engines, battery storage, and an aerodynamically optimised hull to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and include shore‑power and real‑time emissions monitoring....
The article argues that leaders’ overreactions to normal variation, waste, and mistakes generate fear that silences improvement efforts. Across his four books, the author shows that tools like Lean or Kaizen succeed only when leadership responds calmly and proportionately. Overreactive...
GE Aerospace’s 2025 shareholder letter spotlights a simple tape‑dispenser fix that illustrates the company’s deep‑rooted lean culture. The CEO describes how frontline empowerment, respect for people, and the SQDC framework drive continuous improvement across the factory and supply chain. Small...
In this episode, Kevin Lawton chats with Gary Allen of Ryder about the rapid evolution of warehouse technology, focusing on automation and AI. Allen explains how automation—from autonomous mobile robots to autonomous forklifts and emerging humanoids—is becoming more affordable and...
Automotive logistics providers such as Geodis and CEVA are balancing cost efficiency, risk mitigation and speed across OEM and aftermarket flows. Ocean freight remains the primary mode, while air freight is reserved for line‑down prevention, recovery and high‑value spare‑part deliveries....
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is leveraging National Careers Week to spotlight the breadth of opportunities in freight forwarding and logistics. It is rolling out targeted school outreach, apprenticeship promotion, and resources that connect students with industry professionals. A...
In this episode, Jeff Hendricks, Chief Customer Officer of Bimbo Bakeries USA, discusses how the company is leveraging real‑time customer and POS data to close the gap on missed sales and improve supply‑chain execution in an omni‑channel environment. He explains...
AD Ports Group announced that all its port, maritime, logistics and economic‑city operations remain fully functional despite heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The company activated its crisis‑management and business‑continuity plans and worked closely with UAE authorities to safeguard...
The fourth edition of the Lead the Charge Auto Supply Chain Leaderboard shows that major carmakers are accelerating the greening of EV supply chains, with Tesla, Ford, Volvo and Mercedes posting the strongest scores. EU regulations, especially the Batteries Regulation,...
Nemak, a Tier‑1 aluminum die‑casting supplier, equipped its Spanish plant with Creaform’s HandySCAN BLACK | Series and the Inspection software to modernize mold maintenance. The portable, high‑accuracy 3‑D scanner replaced manual checks, delivering precise deviation data against CAD models. Technicians used the scan...
SpotSee introduced WarmMark QR, a battery‑free, QR‑enabled temperature sensor designed for cold‑chain logistics. The device delivers affordable, real‑time, package‑level temperature data, replacing error‑prone visual indicators. By allowing remote data access, it improves recipient adoption and streamlines monitoring for shippers. The...
Force testing is shifting from a simple verification step to an integrated, data‑driven function as products become smaller, more complex, and digitally connected. Manufacturers now demand low‑force, high‑precision sensors, semi‑automated test sequences, and software that standardizes methods across multiple labs....
London‑based Zodiac Maritime is expanding its crude carrier renewal by ordering five new tankers in Asia. The deal includes four 319,000‑dwt VLCCs from Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry at roughly $120 million each, slated for 2029 delivery, and a 157,000‑dwt...
Gujarat Gas announced a 50% cut in gas supplies to industrial customers after the US‑Iran conflict disrupted regasified LNG imports, sending its shares down 4% to Rs 382 on the BSE. The company, which sources roughly 70% of its gas from...
Australian manufacturing group SEMMA has warned that Victoria’s proposed work‑from‑home legislation could clash with federal industrial‑relations law and is ill‑suited to many manufacturing operations. The alliance highlighted that most small and medium manufacturers already negotiate flexible arrangements directly with employees...
The United States Postal Service announced a temporary suspension of acceptance for items bound for 18 countries, citing logistics impacts from the Middle East conflict. The list includes Algeria, Iran, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. In parallel,...
Escalating conflict in the Middle East is destabilizing maritime supply chains, with vessel itineraries adjusting by the hour and many shipments facing uncertain destination outcomes. Xeneta’s analyst briefing highlights three immediate pressure points: containers already at sea, forced diversions and...
Oil prices surged as Iran's IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, cutting 70‑80% of traffic. Brent crude rose above $80 per barrel for the first time since July 2024, while U.S. energy stocks outperformed the broader market. Analysts, led...
India faces a looming gas crunch after Qatar halted LNG production, jeopardising the primary feedstock for urea manufacturing. The country currently holds only about two months of buffer stocks for urea and DAP, and prolonged shortages could force local plants...
I'll do this one public...always liked this Co. and is wildly cheap at these levels... Unusual Call Spread in High Quality Software Player at Record Cheap Valuation with Limited AI Disruption Risk SPS Commerce $SPSC with an interesting trade of 3/3 as...
What I don’t understand is the position of PRC companies. Do they want the headache of dealing with geopolitics? They’re competitive in their own right. If this goes on, Chinese products will be shut out of Western markets.
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp reported a 5% decline in Q4 2025 net sales to $76.8 million, with full‑year sales also down 5% to $276 million. Gross margin fell to 44.1% from 47.9% as incremental tariffs added roughly $16 million in costs, outpacing a...
This sort of thing was enough to effectively “close” the Red Sea for 2+ years so we’ll see what happens
The article urges supply‑chain leaders to revisit first‑principles and apply design‑thinking before adopting AI‑driven tools. It contrasts traditional, metric‑focused planning with a newer model that prioritizes adaptive, bi‑directional flows and user experience. The author shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how...
South Australia has been chosen as the site for HAMR Energy’s $700‑800 million methanol‑to‑jet sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant, the first of its kind in the country. The facility will use Honeywell technology to convert 300,000 tonnes of low‑carbon methanol into about...
China’s foreign ministry publicly condemned Israeli and U.S. military strikes against Iran, urging an immediate cease‑fire and emphasizing diplomatic solutions. Wang Yi’s call with Israel’s Gideon Sa’ar highlighted Beijing’s call for de‑escalation and protection of shipping lanes in the region....
Flatbed length of haul is shrinking and currently at the lowest levels we’ve ever seen. This is despite the fact that demand continues to surge. We believe this is because flatbed demand increases are in the rust belt and tied...
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has launched two concept papers for public consultation, proposing revisions to PIC/S GMP Annex 6 for medicinal gases and Annex 15 for qualification and validation processes. The Annex 6 update seeks to reflect modern manufacturing technologies and computerized...
The LMI, a survey of 400+ shipper executives, affirms that freight rates should see substantial increases in coming months as transportation capacity remains tight and should tighten further. “Transportation prices are expected to significantly expand over the next 12 months, with...
Class 8 (“semis”) truck orders surged 159% YoY as fleets gain confidence in recovery https://t.co/hmyEmcDtbU
FourKites introduced Loft in February 2026, an AI‑driven orchestration platform that links internal ERP, CRM and ITSM systems with its Intelligent Network of over 500,000 trading partners. The platform centers on Sophie, an AI developer agent that converts natural‑language requests...
We had teams at multiple industry events this week. Our channel checks came back far more bullish than expected.
Shippers that route freight by intermodal rail versus trucking are saving more than they have since 2022, approx 25% https://t.co/Xrb8PprDhI
Gemini’s ocean alliance has sustained roughly 90% schedule reliability, allowing Hapag‑Lloyd to trim the buffer capacity built into its 2025 service. The carrier says the reduction yields faster, more competitive transit times without sacrificing predictability. Shippers such as Dollar General and...
“#Procurement managers at all levels must invest significant effort in managing individuals’ performance to up their game. And the tactics employed must drive the desired capability, behaviors, and results.” 🔗 https://t.co/6geUHYOgNn #purchasing #supplychain https://t.co/zenBvK0dKe
Singapore’s building‑material sector is entering a digital modernization wave, making ERP systems mission‑critical for finance, logistics, and compliance. A recent e27 report ranks the top five ERP platforms chosen by local distributors, emphasizing deep integration with Singapore’s GST, InvoiceNow e‑invoicing,...
Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen announced that artificial‑intelligence tools can trim roughly 10% off the back‑office component of ocean freight costs, enabling logistics firms to scale without proportionate hiring. He revealed that Flexport entered a "code red" mode in November 2025,...
US‑Iran hostilities have disrupted Middle‑East sea lanes, prompting carriers to suspend loadings, impose a $3,000 emergency surcharge and reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. The resulting capacity crunch is tightening polyethylene and polypropylene shipments to Brazil and the...
Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, a Russian LNG tankers exploded. I mean what other SHIP can happen?
Emerson Bearing, a Boston‑based supplier with more than six decades of experience, has released a complimentary e‑book titled “Choosing the Correct Type of Bearing for Your Application: A Selection Guide.” The guide outlines two primary and seven secondary factors influencing...
The US Navy and government are now the protectors of global shipping? So, what does it mean to fly an American flag versus that of Panama, Liberia or the Marshall Islands? The US Navy has stated they dont have the ships...
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics CEO Jens Drewes told the TPM26 conference that global ocean freight volumes remain robust despite heightened geopolitical risks, including ongoing trade tensions and the expanding Middle East conflict. He highlighted continued strength in worldwide trade and pointed...
Schneider Electric released its 2025 extra‑financial results, closing the 2021‑2025 Schneider Sustainability Impact (SSI) program with an overall rating of 8.86 out of 10. The initiative delivered 862 million tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions, a 56 % cut in supplier emissions, and...
ExxonMobil said its worldwide scale and diversified portfolio allow it to mitigate disruptions from the latest Middle East conflict. Senior vice president Jack Williams highlighted the company’s ability to shift feedstock and products using its trading arm and long‑term charter fleet....
The Container News (CN) Index climbed to 543 this week, keeping global container shipping in the High Pressure zone. Freight rates across major East‑West lanes showed mixed movement, with softness on Asia‑USEC and Asia‑USWC but strength on Far East‑North Europe...
Fastmarkets announced that, effective March 5, its price assessments for ilmenite concentrate (cif China) and two rutile grades (fob Australia) will shift from a fortnightly to a monthly cadence. The change follows market feedback indicating that prices have been moving slowly...
Air cargo originating in Asia for the US and Europe will soon pile up at regional airports as the expanding Middle East conflict grounds a sizable share of available capacity. Kuehne + Nagel CEO Stefan Paul warned that backlogs will materialise by...
Xometry is upgrading its AI‑driven marketplace with a new lead‑time prediction model and enhanced dynamic pricing logic. The lead‑time model, trained on a dataset four times larger, now incorporates supplier certifications, material requirements and specialized finishing specifications, improving forecasting accuracy...
Fluke Corporation is hosting Xcelerate 2026, its flagship predictive‑maintenance conference, in Austin, Texas from March 9‑11. The event blends high‑energy keynotes, hands‑on pre‑conference training on eMaint CMMS and Fluke condition‑monitoring tools, and networking sessions for maintenance professionals at all career stages. Speakers...
