Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Oman transit corridor revives India’s West Asia trade
India’s May 2026 exports to West Asia rebounded to $5.30 billion after a sharp dip, thanks to a new transit corridor through Oman’s Sohar, Salalah and Duqm ports that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The routing restored trade levels to near‑year‑on‑year levels, driven by higher shipments from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
Maersk Removes Gwangyang From Asia–West Coast Latin America AC3 Service
A.P. Moller – Maersk will permanently remove the South Korean port of Gwangyang from its Asia‑West Coast Latin America (AC3) service, effective on outbound voyage 619E scheduled for 19 May 2026. The return‑leg adjustment begins with voyage 624W departing Balboa on 9 June 2026. Maersk framed the move as part of ongoing network optimisation to improve schedule reliability and operational efficiency. The removal may redirect cargo to other Korean or regional hubs within the carrier’s network.
Cosco Doubles Down on Emerging Trades as Q1 Net Profit Plunges 49%
Cosco Shipping reported a 49% plunge in first‑quarter net profit, blaming heightened geopolitical risk and a slowdown in traditional trade lanes. The carrier highlighted conflicts in the Middle East as a key factor destabilizing global shipping. In response, Cosco is...
Continuous Lamination Unlocks Stable Production of Large-Area Flexible Circuit Boards
Researchers at Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials have unveiled a roll‑to‑roll (R2R) direct lamination process that enables continuous, large‑area production of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs). By systematically mapping how semi‑cured adhesive films fill circuit gaps under varying speed...
FABTECH Returns to Las Vegas for First Time in a Decade
FABTECH, North America’s largest metal‑forming and fabricating expo, will return to Las Vegas from Oct. 21‑23, 2026, its first appearance there since 2016. Organizers project about 31,000 attendees and a 725,000‑square‑foot show floor featuring more than 1,400 exhibitors across 40 product...
Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Ships in International Waters, Organizers Decry Move
Israel intercepted a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza in international waters off Greece, boarding crews from 17 of the 55 vessels. The organizers of the Global Sumud flotilla denounced the seizure as piracy and a violation of international...
Signature Solar to Open New Distribution Warehouse in Nevada
Signature Solar announced a new warehouse and retail store in Reno, Nevada, slated to open later this summer. The facility will act as a regional hub for distribution and customer engagement across the Western U.S. The company will hire 30...
Lockheed Martin, E-Vac Magnetics, Oerlikon Air Critical Minerals Concerns
At the Safe Summit, executives from Lockheed Martin, Oerlikon Surface Solutions and e‑Vac Magnetics detailed how they are coping with rising costs and supply constraints for critical minerals, especially rare‑earth elements. Lockheed Martin avoids buying raw materials, instead coordinating with...
India Plans ₹51,000 Crore Push to Procure 62 Ships Amid West Asia Crisis
India’s Shipping Corp. and state oil firms plan to issue tenders for 62 vessels worth about $6.2 billion this fiscal year. The fleet, totaling 2.85 million gross tonnage, will include container ships, LPG carriers, crude oil tankers and green tugs, with 34...
The Problem-Solver: Trucker of the Month Sam Kelly's Big Biz Comeback
Owner‑operator Sam Kelly, who runs Black Sheep Express from Mississippi, has turned a near‑bankruptcy after $180,000 in lease payments into a growing three‑truck fleet. After a failed expansion in 2022, he restructured, partnered with CST Lines for dedicated cheese hauls,...
FBI Links Cybercriminals to Sharp Surge in Cargo Theft Attacks
The FBI warned that cyber‑enabled cargo theft surged to an estimated $725 million in losses across the United States and Canada in 2025, a 60% jump from the prior year. Confirmed incidents rose 18% while the average value per theft climbed...
China’s African Mineral Strategy Threatens Kansas City’s Rail Hub, Endangering 30,000 Jobs
China’s long‑term investment in African mineral logistics, including a $1.4 billion upgrade of the Tanzania‑Zambia railway, could divert cobalt and copper away from Kansas City’s classification yards. A U.S. $753 million loan for Angola’s Lobito Corridor aims to counter the shift, but...
How RFID, ERP, and AI Work Together to Support Tracking in Manufacturing
Manufacturers are turning to a tightly coupled trio of RFID, ERP, and AI to achieve real‑time visibility and predictive decision‑making on the shop floor. RFID tags automatically capture material movements, feeding instant updates into modern, cloud‑based ERP platforms that serve...
USGS Finds $64 Billion Lithium Deposit in Appalachians, Could Cut Imports by 328 Years
The U.S. Geological Survey disclosed a 2.5‑million‑ton lithium reserve in the Appalachian Mountains valued at roughly $64.4 billion. The find could replace 328 years of U.S. lithium imports, bolstering mineral security and challenging China’s dominance in the battery supply chain.
Japan’s March Industrial Output Slips 0.5% as Middle East Conflict Spikes Oil Prices
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported that industrial output fell 0.5% in March, the first monthly decline after a 2% drop in February. The slide reflects higher crude oil prices and supply‑chain disruptions linked to the Middle East...
TrueCommerce Appoints Sean Flynn as CRO to Drive AI‑powered Supply‑chain Growth
TrueCommerce announced the appointment of Sean Flynn as chief revenue officer, tasking him with scaling its AI‑focused supply‑chain and omnichannel platform. Flynn, who joins from Avalara after senior roles at IBM Sterling Commerce, will lead global revenue and partner strategy...
Firestorm Labs Secures $82 Million to Deploy Containerized Drone Factories
Defense startup Firestorm Labs closed an $82 million Series B round led by Washington Harbour Partners, bringing total funding to $153 million. The money will fund its xCell platform – a shipping‑container‑sized 3‑D‑printing factory that can produce combat drones in under 24 hours for...
ONE Expects 11% Decline in FY26 Net Profit Due to War in Middle East
Ocean Network Express (ONE) reported FY25 net profit of $338 million on $16.6 billion revenue and warned that FY26 profit will fall 11% to $300 million. The decline is attributed to the ongoing war in the Middle East, which the carrier expects to...
Oil Prices Spike as US‑Iran Conflict Deepens, Raising Stakes for Emerging Markets
Brent crude surged to $126.41 a barrel and U.S. WTI to $108 as the United States escalated its blockade of Iran, prompting a $25 bn Pentagon cost estimate for the war. The price shock is straining emerging‑market importers and reshaping global...
Port Houston Gets $48M Grant for Bayport Terminal Expansion
Port Houston received a $48 million federal grant from the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program to fund a new container yard and an east exit gate at the Bayport Container Terminal. The port will match the grant with roughly...
Iran War Pushing India Back to Coal, Off Gas
The escalating US‑Iran conflict has tightened global LNG supplies, forcing India to lean on coal to meet its summer peak power demand. Traditionally, Indian utilities boost gas‑fired generation during April‑June, supported by government subsidies that cap retail electricity rates. With...
TIME Names 10 Most Influential Supply Chain Companies of 2026
TIME’s annual TIME100 Companies list identified the ten most influential supply‑chain firms of 2026, highlighting how AI, tariffs and automation are reshaping the industry. Notable deals include Corning’s $6 billion fiber‑optic contract with Meta and Emirates Global Aluminum’s $4 billion new plant...
Ukraine's TLK-150 Sea Drone Eyed to Clear Mines in Strait of Hormuz
Toloka’s TLK-150 underwater drone, proven in the Black Sea, is being considered for use in the Strait of Hormuz where Iranian mines have halted 20% of world energy shipments. Experts say the U.S. lacks comparable tools, while Ukraine’s four‑year demining...
Carmakers Bank on $2.3B in Future Tariff Refunds
Automakers are booking anticipated tariff refunds after a February Supreme Court decision invalidated portions of the Trump administration’s import duties. Ford, GM, Mercedes‑Benz and Stellantis collectively recorded about $2.3 billion in expected reimbursements, lifting first‑quarter earnings but not yet cash flow....
Kion Group Posts Q1 Profit and Record Order Intake, Signaling Strong B2B Demand
Kion Group AG turned a €46.9M loss into a €92.2M net profit in Q1 2026, while order intake rose 10% to €2.985B. The German material‑handling leader reaffirmed its full‑year outlook, underscoring resilient B2B demand for logistics equipment.
From Concept to Track: PJM’s End-to-End Rail Vehicle Development and Certification as Well as Leading Digital Rail Freight Solutions
PJM Group has broadened its ISO/IEC 17025‑accredited laboratory to include pantograph testing, making it Austria's sole provider in that area, and launched EMC Rail Services as a seventh testing discipline. The company also unveiled INFRATRACK, a dedicated test track built on...
GM to Invest in ICE Manufacturing
General Motors announced an $830 million infusion into three North‑American facilities to expand internal‑combustion‑engine (ICE) production. The Romulus plant will receive $300 million to boost 10‑speed transmission capacity, Toledo gets a combined $80 million for light‑duty truck transmissions, and Saginaw will add $150 million...
Intermodal Offers a Pricing Edge Amid Fuel Pressures: Uber Freight
Uber Freight reports a five‑month tightening in the U.S. trucking market, with truckload spot rates climbing 27% for dry vans and 30% for reefers year‑over‑year. Contract rates are also up 5‑6% and tender rejections have risen roughly 10%, signaling constrained...
Emerging CO2 Trade Gets Real with First Bimco Time Charterparty
Bimco has issued CO2TIME 2026, the industry’s first time‑charterparty specifically drafted for liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) transport. The new form responds to the accelerating rollout of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects that require reliable maritime logistics. By codifying freight terms,...
Shin‑Etsu's Naphtha Shortage Signals Chip Supply Risk
“Japan’s largest chemical company, Shin-Etsu Chemical, has withheld its full-year forecast,citing supply constraints on naphtha-derived products due to the war. Shin-Etsu, which also makes silicon wafers for semiconductors, says it’s difficult to “reasonably predict” performance for the fiscal year. Its...
Supply Chain Disruptions Cost Companies $16 Million a Year, Study Finds
A Coupa and Incisiv survey of 133 senior procurement leaders reveals that supply‑chain disruptions cost companies an average of $16 million annually. Every respondent reported at least one major disruption in the past 24 months, leading to expedited freight, production shutdowns,...
Coco Robotics Appoints Ralf Wenzel to Board of Directors
Urban delivery startup Coco Robotics announced that Ralf Wenzel, the founder of Foodpanda and former CEO of JOKR, has joined its Board of Directors. Wenzel brings two decades of experience scaling last‑mile logistics across more than 40 countries and a...
Tanker Market Finds Delicate Balance as Oil Prices Surge to Multi-Year Highs
Oil prices surged to a multi‑year high of $126 per barrel before easing below $115, driven by President Donald Trump’s warning of a prolonged Iranian port blockade. The price spike has kept tanker charter rates elevated, even as the market...
Siemens, Diageo, Oxbo and Others Open US Facilities in April
April saw a surge of U.S. manufacturing openings as six companies launched major facilities across the South and Northeast. Diageo invested $415 million in a 360,000‑sq‑ft plant in Montgomery, Alabama, while Siemens Mobility opened a $220 million rail‑manufacturing hub in Lexington, North...
Maersk Raises Intermodal Fuel Fees in Australia and New Zealand Amid Energy Cost Surge
A.P. Moller‑Maersk announced a hike in its Intermodal Fuel Fee for Australia and New Zealand, effective 1 May 2026. The surcharge climbs 27% in New Zealand and 18% across all Australian states. Maersk attributes the increase to ongoing volatility in global energy markets, especially disruptions...
Siemens and the Industrial Backbone of Digital Supply Chains
Siemens demonstrates that a true digital supply chain rests on an integrated industrial layer that connects engineering, automation, manufacturing execution, and operational data. The company’s approach shows that dashboards and planning software are only as effective as the quality and...
Talking Headways Podcast: The Logistics of Package Delivery
In a recent Talking Headways episode, ASU professor Benjamin Fong dissected the logistics behind e‑commerce giants like Amazon, highlighting the complexities of last‑mile delivery and the growing reliance on third‑party delivery service providers (DSPs). He examined state‑level legislation such as...
Air Cargo Carriers Add Fuel Surcharges Driven by Iran War
Air cargo carriers are rolling out new fuel surcharges as the Iran‑related conflict drives jet‑fuel prices to near‑double historic levels. Spot U.S. Gulf Coast kerosene hit $4.03 per gallon on April 27, prompting carriers such as United, Air Canada, Cathay, ANA...
All‑in‑One Tool Cuts Product Development From Weeks to Days
Cursor for code. Lovable for apps. @Genpire_ai for products you can actually hold. One workflow handles the whole cycle, from idea to design to tech pack to manufacturer match. A DTC founder using it said they cut their development time from...
Strategic Approach Yields 70%+ IEEPA Refunds
40 cents on the dollar for IEEPA refunds? No. Some companies are getting 70% – or way more It comes down to how you approach it: https://t.co/6EiKb7BOy1 #IEEPATariffs #IEEPARefunds https://t.co/NdeBcJC33T
Express Firm SF Selects Changi as Its First Overseas Hub
Chinese logistics giant SF Group announced that Changi Airport will serve as its first overseas hub, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding with Changi Airport Group. The partnership targets the rapidly expanding air‑cargo market across Southeast Asia, South Asia and...
Truckload Contract Rates Jump 10% YoY, Poised to Rise Further
Truckload contract rates (net of fuel) are already up 10% YoY with a lot more runway ahead. https://t.co/LgbZupjD98
US Industrials Lead Unprecedented Freight Market Turnaround
It has been a remarkable turn around in industrials. The current freight market is unlike any that I have ever seen, with US industrials leading the pack, not consumers.
Samsung and SK Hynix Warn AI-Driven Memory Shortages Could Last Until 2027 and Beyond, as HBM Demand Explodes — Customers...
Samsung and SK Hynix warned that AI‑driven memory shortages, especially for high‑bandwidth memory (HBM), could persist through 2027 and beyond. Customers are already reserving supply years in advance, reflecting record‑low fulfillment rates. The shortage is spilling into the broader DRAM...
USC Launches Smart Manufacturing Program on Peggy Smedley Show
@ThorstenWuest shares about the smart #manufacturing program at the University of South Carolina. Learn more on The Peggy Smedley Show. https://t.co/yzTt3d1mY3 #IoT #sustainability #AI #digitaltransformation #PeggySmedley #podcast
U.S. Can Blockade, Yet Fails to Restore Trade Confidence
I have no doubt the U.S. military can execute an effective blockade. What it has not shown is an ability to restore commercial confidence once a major waterway is disrupted, which we have seen in the Red Sea and is...
Averitt Plans $200 Million Logistics Campus In Charlotte Area
Averitt is investing over $200 million to build a 100‑acre logistics campus near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, slated for completion in 2028. The development will consolidate trucking, warehousing, and fulfillment services into a single site featuring a two‑story office, a large...
Create Your Own FreightGuard Report to Expose Bad Brokers
Hey truckers/carriers do you want your own version of FreightGuard reports so you can call out bad brokers?
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Submit Revised Plan for Transcontinental Rail Merger
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have filed an amended merger application with the Surface Transportation Board, presenting new traffic modelling that incorporates data from all six Class I railroads. The plan envisions a coast‑to‑coast single‑line network that could save shippers roughly...
UPS Ramping up Ground Saver Deliveries Handled by USPS
UPS announced it will increase the daily handoff of parcels to the U.S. Postal Service from about 977,000 in Q1 to roughly 1.5 million in Q2, under the revived Ground Saver agreement. The volume represents about 44 % of UPS’s economy‑shipping business...
JuliaHub Raises $65M Series B and Launches Dyad 3.0, Bringing Agentic AI to Industrial Digital Twins
JuliaHub announced a $65 million Series B round led by Dorilton Capital and the launch of Dyad 3.0, its agentic AI platform for industrial digital twins. Dyad 3.0 claims to shrink hardware design and testing cycles from months to minutes by coupling autonomous AI...