Intel Reportedly Planning Another CPU Price Increase in May Amid Massive Demand
Intel is preparing a third CPU price increase in May, following 10‑15% hikes in February and a further 15% rise in March. The cumulative adjustment aims for roughly a 30% premium over 2025 pricing and will affect both Core Ultra consumer chips and Xeon server processors. Demand remains robust, but Intel’s ability to meet it is hampered by supply constraints, especially for multi‑die products that depend on TSMC silicon. The company expects the May adjustment to vary by segment but overall lift prices by a few additional percent.
This Is Ascent Health Services – the Secretive Swiss Company at the Heart of the Express Scripts Scandal
Ascent Health Services, a Swiss‑registered group purchasing organization created by Cigna’s Express Scripts in 2019, channels billions of dollars in manufacturer‑paid fees that should be passed through as rebates. The GPO’s offshore structure lets Cigna and its partners keep these...
Why a War in the Middle East Is Hitting Australians at the Petrol Pump
Escalating tensions between Iran and regional rivals are reverberating in Australia as oil markets tighten. Treasury modelling predicts the conflict could lift inflation by about 1.25 percentage points and shave roughly 0.6% off medium‑term GDP growth. Fuel prices may spike...
Oil’s New Arms Race: Efficiency, Geopolitics, and the Rise of Industrial 3D Printing
Oil and gas firms are turning to industrial 3D printing to cut lead times, lower inventories, and boost resilience amid price pressure, geopolitical shifts, and supply‑chain bottlenecks. Companies such as Petrobras, SLB, and Baker Hughes have built dedicated additive‑manufacturing labs...
A Potential Game-Changer: Three Tankers Navigate Hormuz Along Oman’s Coastline
On April 2, three Omani‑flagged tankers—two crude carriers and one LNG vessel—transited the Strait of Hormuz along Oman’s coastline. The ships completed the passage without incident and are now safely docked in Omani ports, as confirmed by Kpler satellite maps. This...
Hapag-Lloyd Adjusts MSW Service
Hapag-Lloyd has revised its Mediterranean‑to‑South‑West (MSW) service rotation, adding a direct call at Callao, Peru, and moving Colombia’s Buenaventura to a transshipment model. The updated loop now runs Vigo‑Malaga‑Valencia‑Genoa‑Leghorn‑Barcelona‑Caucedo‑Cartagena‑Callao‑Paita‑Posorja‑Guayaquil‑Cristobal‑Moin‑Cartagena‑Vigo. The change aims to improve port coverage and operational efficiency across...
SITC Adjusts Multiple Services
SITC has overhauled three regional services to sharpen its Asia trade focus. The CPX4 loop now runs exclusively between China and the Philippines, dropping all Japanese and North Philippine ports and adding Xiamen and Cagayan de Oro. A new S7...
Winning 2026: The CPO 45-Second Briefing – “The Low-Grade Fever: Persistent Inflation”
Andrew Bartolini, founder of Ardent Partners, has launched a new 45‑second video series titled “Procurement 2026: Big Trends and Predictions.” The inaugural episode, “The Low‑Grade Fever: Persistent Inflation,” warns that inflation will remain modest yet enduring, pressuring cost structures across supply...
Amazon Is Betting on Speed in a Market that May Not Need It
Amazon began testing a 30‑minute delivery service in select U.S. cities, expanding its one‑ and three‑hour options and echoing ultra‑fast pilots in India and the UAE. Quick‑commerce thrives in China’s $125 billion market but has struggled in Western economies, where funding...
North-South Corridor Functioning Helped by Russian-Azerbaijani Thaw: Suspicion Mounts that Russia Is Using the Route to Ship Arms to Iran
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan warmed dramatically after a March 2 meeting in Baku, smoothing the western branch of the International North‑South Transport Corridor. The thaw has allowed the route to remain operational despite the U.S.–Israeli aerial campaign against Iran,...
US LNG Exports Rise as Elba Island Terminal Gains Additional Export Capacity
The U.S. Department of Energy approved a 22% increase in LNG export capacity at the Elba Island terminal, adding 28.25 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) for non‑free‑trade‑agreement destinations. This raises the terminal’s authorized volume from 130 Bcf/yr to roughly 158 Bcf/yr, with...
CATL Signs Deal with Chinese Express Giant to Electrify Delivery Trucks
Chinese battery leader CATL has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with logistics giant STO Express to accelerate electrification of its delivery truck fleet. The partnership will deploy charging and battery‑swap infrastructure, leveraging CATL’s Qiji Energy network, which already includes over...
Wang Yi Works the Phones About Iran War; CICIR Head on National Security; Pig Overcapacity; Wemby's Time at Shaolin; Balanced...
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has been actively dialing diplomatic lines over the past 24 hours, speaking with the foreign ministers of Germany, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as well as the EU’s High Representative on the Iran crisis. He has...
How Freight Fraud Stole the Show at MATS: Carriers Getting Smart, FMCSA Bringing Heat
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) used the Mid‑America Trucking Show to unveil a sweeping crackdown on freight‑fraud schemes, targeting “ghost offices” that list hundreds of carriers at a single address. Over half of owner‑operators say they’ve been victimized,...
The Risks of Autonomous Vehicle Self-Certification in Freight
The article warns that allowing autonomous‑vehicle (AV) manufacturers to self‑certify their freight trucks could bypass critical safety oversight that human drivers currently undergo. It highlights the stark contrast between mandatory medical exams for Class 7/8 drivers and the proposed lack of...
How to Vet Trucking Fleet Vendors
The article outlines a structured approach for trucking companies to vet fleet vendors, emphasizing criteria beyond price such as experience, financial stability, and service‑level agreements. It advises firms to define their needs, issue RFPs, score proposals on expertise, cost and...
Nexperia’s China Unit ‘Nears Fully Local Production’ of Chips
Nexperia’s China unit is close to achieving full local chip production, having shifted from European wafer imports after Dutch restrictions. The plant in Dongguan and a new wafer fab in Shanghai are operating at 60‑70% capacity and aim to reach...
Steam Deck 2 Ditches Semi-Custom APU for Off-the-Shelf AMD Silicon, Eyes 2028 Launch
Valve is planning a second‑generation Steam Deck for a 2028 release, according to leaker KeplerL2. The new handheld will abandon the semi‑custom AMD APU used in the original and instead adopt an off‑the‑shelf AMD processor that requires no bespoke tuning....
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[NEW] Cliff Note #138: An Aerospace Supplier with a Decade of Aircraft Backlogs and a Generational Defence Spending Surge
A leading aerospace parts supplier that serves Boeing, Airbus and major defense primes is riding a dual tailwind of a ten‑year, roughly 15,000‑aircraft backlog and a resurgence in global defence spending as NATO allies pledge 3.5% of GDP. Gross margins...
CMA CGM Introduces PSS for Shipments From China to West Africa
CMA CGM will impose a $500 per TEU Peak Season Surcharge on shipments from China to West Africa beginning April 6, 2026. The fee applies to all cargo types on short‑term contracts and remains in effect until further notice. The...
A Long-Needed Database For Filament Management
3D Filament Profiles launched a massive online database cataloguing nearly 24,000 filament options from over 900 manufacturers, positioning it as the largest collection globally. The platform lets users add filaments to personal portfolios, search by RGB hex code, and generate...
Containers Fall Into Kaohsiung Waters as ONE-Operated Ship Scrapes Feeder Vessel
Four containers fell into the waters of Taiwan’s Kaohsiung port after a large container ship operated by Ocean Network Express (ONE) collided with a stationary feeder vessel at Pier 77 on April 1 around noon. The impact caused the containers to slip...
Scaling Security and Speed in Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Delivery at the Last Mile
Consumer expectations have shifted to hour‑level delivery, prompting big‑box retailers to add pharmaceutical cold‑chain shipments to their last‑mile services. This introduces stringent temperature, security, and compliance requirements that differ sharply from general‑merchandise fulfillment. Companies must blend rapid order processing with...
MSC Updates Emergency Fuel Surcharge for Asia–North America Trades
MSC, the world’s second‑largest container carrier, announced an updated Emergency Fuel Surcharge for its Asia‑to‑U.S. and Canada services, effective May 1, 2026. The surcharge reflects rising marine fuel prices and limited bunker availability linked to Middle‑East tensions. Rates differ by destination,...
HIMA Expands Into Colombia and Peru
HIMA Group announced the opening of new facilities in Lima, Peru on March 3 and Bogotá, Colombia on March 5, expanding its Latin American footprint. The sites will deliver safety automation, engineering, commissioning and after‑sales services to oil, gas, chemical and petrochemical...
Short Sea Shipping Under the Hormuz Pressure Architecture
The escalating crisis in the Hormuz Strait, traditionally a deep‑sea chokepoint for VLCCs and ultra‑large container ships, is now reverberating through short sea shipping (SSS) networks. Heightened geopolitical risk is prompting carriers to reassess routing, insurance and cost structures for...
Hormuz: Open — But Still Not Usable at Scale
The Strait of Hormuz, handling roughly 20% of global oil, is technically open but remains unreliable for commercial use. Selective vessel passages and unpredictable closures have eroded shippers' confidence, turning the corridor into a sporadic route. Alternative pathways are absorbing...
CITGO Sale Twists In The Wind As Treasury Department Stalls
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez is moving to cement control of CITGO Petroleum by installing a new board of directors, including Asdrubal Chavez, a cousin of Hugo Chávez. The appointments require approval from the U.S. Treasury and State Departments, which have...
Impacts of the RAM Shortage
Since late 2025, a global RAM shortage has emerged as leading chipmakers pivoted to higher‑margin AI data‑center memory, curtailing production for smartphones, PCs and other consumer devices. In Q4 2025, demand outstripped supply by roughly 10%, pushing RAM prices up...
Salesforce & Shopify Inventory: One System of Truth for Orders, Stock & Fulfillment
Shopify merchants often face inventory mismatches that cause overselling and delayed fulfillment. Axolt replaces fragmented integrations with a native Salesforce ERP that synchronizes orders, stock, and finance in real time. The solution provides instant inventory updates across multiple warehouses, built‑in...
Gallium, Supply Chain Security, and the Next Frontier of 3D Printing
The United States is pouring federal money into domestic gallium production to curb reliance on China, which supplies roughly 98% of the global market. The Pentagon allocated $150 million to Atlantic Alumina and $29.9 million to ElementUS Minerals for gallium extraction and...
Hapag-Lloyd Announces PSS Increases From Europe to North America
Hapag-Lloyd will impose new Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) on shipments from Europe to North America and Mexico starting in April and May 2026. For North Europe routes, the surcharge is $250 per 20‑foot container and $500 per 40‑foot or 40‑foot...
Building Ethical Leaders in Freight: Inside TIA’s Freight Leadership Lab
The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) launched the Freight Leadership Lab, a certification program aimed at mid‑level brokerage managers to develop ethical, high‑performing leaders. The curriculum includes six modules covering profit mechanics, communication, problem‑solving, decision‑making, and a dedicated ethics component taught...
In the Gulf, GPS Jamming Leaves Delivery Drivers Navigating Blind
GPS jamming by military forces in the Persian Gulf is spilling over into civilian navigation tools, leaving delivery drivers in Dubai unable to rely on maps. The interference, which also affected more than 1,650 ships on March 7, can either block...
Port of Rotterdam Develops Liquid Hydrogen Facility
Air Products is building a liquid hydrogen plant in the Port of Rotterdam that is now more than 65% complete and slated to start operations in 2027. When online, it will be Europe’s largest liquid hydrogen facility, bolstering Rotterdam’s status...
Hansen’s Models Are a Great Addition to the Pool of Analyst Offerings …
Hansen Procurement has introduced a new suite of models that combine organizational maturity assessment, vendor fit measurement, and strategic advisory to improve technology solution selection. The offerings fill a gap left by traditional analyst firms, which often overlook readiness and...
The Energy Superidiot Strikes Back
Gas prices on the U.S. East Coast have stabilized at roughly $10 per gigajoule as the regional gas export cartel continues to prioritize domestic supply. The author labels this a resurgence of “gas idiocy,” implying the cartel’s actions are intentional...
Li Qiang Inspects Sichuan; Iran War; Another Call for Balanced Trade; Museum Scandal Fallout
Premier Li Qiang’s three‑day Sichuan tour emphasized clean energy, AI‑driven manufacturing, and advanced technology integration, urging firms to target frontier science and market demand. He highlighted nuclear, hydro‑power and AI integration as pillars for new breakthroughs. Meanwhile, the UAE’s push...
Trump to Overhaul Steel, Aluminium Tariffs, Lifting Effective Import Costs
The Trump administration is preparing a major overhaul of the Section 232 steel and aluminium tariff regime, proposing a flat 25% duty on the full customs value of finished goods containing these metals. While the headline rate is lower than the...
Opinion: A Rail Line Would Better Serve the Ring of Fire – by Peter J. Barnett (Sudbury Star – April...
The Ring of Fire in northern Ontario contains vast deposits of critical minerals such as nickel, copper, chromium and platinum‑group elements, but its remote location limits development. Current access relies on seasonal winter roads, driving up costs and threatening Canada’s...
Protecting Protest Rights When a Procurement Scandal Is Unfolding
New allegations reveal that former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Special Government Employee Corey Lewandowski may have steered $220 million advertising contracts and a $1 billion procurement toward politically connected firms, demanding "success fees" and other improper payments. The claims, detailed in...
The Invisible Chokepoint: Sulfur, Nitrogen, Helium – and the Strait of Hormuz
The article warns that sulfur, nitrogen and helium—key inputs for fertilizers, sulfuric acid and high‑tech applications—are tied to oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of global oil and gas, 30% of nitrogen‑fertilizer trade, 45‑50% of...
(PR) SEMI Projects Double-Digit Growth in Global 300 Mm Fab Equipment Spending for 2026 and 2027
SEMI’s latest 300 mm Fab Outlook projects worldwide fab equipment spending to jump 18% to $133 billion in 2026 and 14% to $151 billion in 2027, marking the first time the market exceeds $150 billion. The surge is driven by exploding AI chip demand...
Strategic Logistics: Optimising Equipment Safety for High-Value Asset Transport
Transporting high‑value AV and precision engineering equipment now demands purpose‑built containers rather than generic industrial crates. Flight‑certified cases, meeting ATA 300 Category 1 standards, combine rigid outer shells with engineered foam to absorb shocks and vibrations. Their ergonomic handles, heavy‑duty castors and...
Daily Memo: France-Japan Meeting, Russia-Armenia Talks
France and Japan signed a strategic roadmap to deepen cooperation on critical minerals during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Tokyo. The agreement includes securing raw material supplies for a rare‑earths refinery in southern France, where a Japanese state‑owned firm holds...
ISA Seeks Help on Distributed Workflows
The International Society of Automation (ISA) has opened a 30‑day call for experts to join the newly formed ISA113 committee, which will develop a vendor‑neutral standard for distributed workflow interoperability. The standard will decouple workflow logic from execution locations, enabling...
10 Must-Knows From Robert Maersk Uggla on the New Rules of Global Shipping
Global shipping is shifting from growth scarcity to growth management, as volumes rise while margins compress and uncertainty spikes. Geopolitical disruptions, especially heightened U.S. tariffs, are reshaping trade routes and forcing carriers to adapt to a multipolar world. Robert Maersk...
Europe’s Battery Supply Chain: From Permits to Progress
Europe's battery supply chain is gaining momentum as several key projects move from planning to construction. In France, Orano and XTC New Energy broke ground on a cathode material plant in Dunkirk slated for 2028, while Germany's Vulcan Energy secured...
Scrambling for Energy Security: Navigating Unstable Energy Supplies Amidst Global Conflict
The war in Iran has triggered a sharp rise in global natural‑gas prices, exposing the fragility of energy systems that depend on Middle‑Eastern supplies. Policymakers across Europe, Asia and the United States are now prioritising energy security over convenience, sparking...
R&J Trucking Migrates From Legacy System to Cloud-Based TMS
R&J Trucking, a bulk carrier with over 600 trucks and 1,000 trailers, retired its IBM AS/400‑based system in favor of a custom cloud transportation management system called BulkOffice. The new TMS was built on the Microsoft Power Platform by TwoSommers,...