Fuel Rationing Starts to Bite
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a bilateral understanding with Singapore’s leader Lawrence Wong to maintain the flow of essential fuels such as diesel and liquefied natural gas. The pledge comes as both countries confront tightening global fuel supplies and domestic rationing measures. However, Singapore’s overall import demand from Australia is modest, limiting Australia’s bargaining power. The announcement underscores that diplomatic goodwill cannot overcome physical shortages in the energy market.
Port of Lázaro Cárdenas Formalises Contract for Terminal IV Development
Mexico’s Lázaro Cárdenas port has formalized a Partial Assignment of Rights contract with Porter Lázaro Cárdenas SA de CV to build and operate a new Multi‑Purpose Terminal IV. Signed on Jan 26, 2026 and registered Feb 26, the terminal will serve cabotage, mineral...
Global Oil Data Deck (March 2026)
Commodity Context released its March 2026 Global Oil Data Deck, highlighting the profound impact of the Iran‑War‑driven Hormuz stoppage on oil balances. Confirmed production shut‑ins are set to push the market into its largest deficit on record through March, while...
Port of Gioia Tauro Secures Funding for 5G Network Development
The Port Authority of the Southern Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas secured roughly €2 million (about $2.2 million) from Italy’s Fund for Technological Innovation and Digitalization to build a private 5G network at the Port of Gioia Tauro. The project, which earned a top‑score...
ABB Adds Symphony PLus to Automation Extended
ABB has released SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus distributed control system (DCS) package, integrating its Automation Extended platform. The update adds system‑wide OPC UA, an Ethernet backbone, and support for modern Microsoft operating systems and virtualization platforms, enabling secure, interoperable...
Explainer: Why Lamu Port Steps Into the Void
Kenya’s deep‑water Lamu port is rapidly becoming a fallback hub as cargo is diverted from the near‑shut Strait of Hormuz and the fractured Red Sea. The three‑berth facility is now handling volumes far beyond its original design, testing its operational...
Cold Chain Logistics In a Warming World
Rising global temperatures and volatile weather are threatening the pharmaceutical cold‑chain, jeopardizing vaccines and biologics that require strict temperature control. Industry leaders argue that AI‑driven analytics, real‑time IoT monitoring, and blockchain‑enabled transparency can predict disruptions and optimize routing. Packaging providers...
From Diesel Prices to Cyberattacks: How the Iran War Is Affecting Trucking
Rising diesel prices, driven by Iran‑related oil flow disruptions, have pushed crude near $100 per barrel and added an estimated $40 billion in fuel costs across the U.S. trucking sector. The surge in fuel expenses is compressing margins, prompting carrier exits...
Iran Media Reportedly Says There Has Been No Direct or Indirect Contact with Trump
Iranian media reported that there was no direct or indirect contact between former President Donald Trump and Tehran after Trump threatened to attack West Asian energy facilities. The claim, relayed by energy‑market analyst Amena Bakr, suggests Trump withdrew his stance...
UAE Resumes Operations at Its Largest Gas Processing Facility After Shutdown Last Week
The United Arab Emirates has restarted its Habshan gas‑processing complex, the nation’s largest facility, after a week‑long shutdown triggered by Iranian attacks. The plant now supplies the domestic gas network, drawing fuel from Qatar via the Dolphin pipeline, but the...
NHS Supply Chain Commits to Adoption of Value Based Procurement
NHS Supply Chain has formally committed to applying a new value‑based procurement methodology, co‑created with the Department of Health and Social Care, to all its purchasing activities. The framework, developed over three years, will be rolled out across England and...
The Gulf Was Silicon Valley’s Bet on the Future. Trump Has Put It in the Crosshairs
Iran’s drones struck three Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE and Bahrain, marking the first confirmed military attack on a hyperscale cloud provider. The incident shatters the assumption of stability that underpinned a multi‑billion‑dollar AI partnership between Silicon...
A Compounding Oil Shock: Part III
The article proposes a "Supply Accord" – a coordinated fiscal‑monetary framework to tackle a persistent, geopolitically‑driven oil shock that has moved from price spikes to real supply constraints. It argues that the Fed’s rate tool can protect the inflation anchor...
Finnair Opts For New Embraer E2s and Used Airbus A320/A321ceos
Finnair announced a hybrid fleet renewal, signing a firm contract for 18 new Embraer E195‑E2 jets with options that could expand the order to 46 aircraft. The airline will also acquire 12 used Airbus A320 and A321 ceo models to...
Using Kamishibai Boards to Strengthen Leader Standard Work and Layered Audits
Kamishibai boards, a visual control tool from Toyota‑style Lean, are gaining traction as a core mechanism for reinforcing Leader Standard Work and Layered Process Audits. By displaying colored cards that represent routine checks—such as safety, 5S, and coaching—leaders can instantly...
Glitch Shuts Australia's Biggest Maker Of Vital Fertilizer Input For 2 Months At Worst Possible Time
Australia’s largest ammonia producer, Yara’s Pilbara plant, will be offline for roughly two months after a power outage damaged equipment. The facility accounts for about 5% of the world’s traded ammonia, a key feedstock for urea fertilizer and ammonium nitrate...
Shopee and TikTok Shop Are Reshaping Vietnam Logistics
Vietnam's e‑commerce logistics is entering a consolidation phase as two major players, Ninja Van and Flex Speed, have withdrawn from B2C delivery. Shopee and TikTok Shop are projected to capture about 97% of the market, driving 429.7 trillion VND in...
Hellmann Expands Freight Forwarding Network in the Americas
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is expanding its freight‑forwarding network across the Americas through a partnership with ProTrans, integrating TOC's forwarding activities into its global platform. The move bolsters Hellmann’s presence in the United States and Mexico, key markets in a high‑volume...
Strategic Divestments: Turning Factory Closures Into Supplier Innovation Opportunities
Procurement leaders are increasingly tasked with managing strategic divestments, a role that flips their traditional buying focus to selling assets. Alessandro Comerci’s experience at Procter & Gamble shows that announcing a factory sale can instantly erode internal trust, requiring transparent...
Cavotec Secures €3M Shore Power Order for Southern Italy Ports
Cavotec has won a €3 million contract to install its PowerFeed, PowerReach and PowerMove shore‑power systems across several Southern Italy ports. The equipment will let cruise, container and RoRo vessels draw electricity from the grid while docked, eliminating the need for...
BAE Partners Brazil Firm on Vehicle Components
BAE Systems Hägglunds has launched a pilot partnership with Brazil’s Knightec Group to develop military vehicle components in Resende, Rio de Janeiro. The collaboration will initially produce conceptual designs for gear housings for the BvS10 all‑terrain vehicle, targeting lower costs...
Lloyd’s Register Partners with Echo Marine Group to Deliver Electric Ferry Fleet
Lloyd’s Register has entered a partnership with Echo Marine Group to certify the design and construction of five battery‑electric passenger ferries for Perth’s Swan River, creating Western Australia’s first fully electric ferry fleet. The vessels are part of the METRONET...
Babcock Wins MOD Vehicle Fleet Contract
Babcock has secured a five‑year, £60 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to manage its white fleet of non‑combat vehicles. Named Phoenix 3, the deal continues the work begun under Phoenix 2 and includes options to extend for another five years....
GXO and Hasbro Inaugurate Distribution Centre in Georgia
GXO Logistics and Hasbro have opened a 600,000‑square‑foot flagship distribution centre in Midway, Georgia, expanding Hasbro’s omni‑channel capabilities across North America. The hub supports both brick‑and‑mortar retail partners and the Hasbro Pulse direct‑to‑consumer platform, creating up to 70 permanent and...
Sidra Line to Launch Algerian Express Service
Sidra Line announced the launch of Algerian Express, a new maritime service linking Spain and Algeria. The fortnightly route will operate a multipurpose vessel capable of carrying both containerized and general cargo. Ports of call include Sagunto and Alicante in...
HHLA TK Estonia to Deploy Battery-Powered RTG Cranes
HHLA TK Estonia will become Europe’s first container terminal to run fully battery‑powered rubber‑tired gantry (RTG) cranes. The Konecranes‑built units, each with a 296 kWh battery, can operate up to eight hours on a single charge, allowing a complete shift without...
ANL Announces General Rate Increase for Asia–Oceania Trades
ANL, a CMA CGM subsidiary, announced a General Rate Increase for its Asia–Oceania services effective April 16 2026. The GRI adds $350 to 20‑foot dry and reefer containers and $700 to 40‑foot dry, high‑cube and reefer units. The hike covers shipments between Northeast...
Hutchison Refuses to Exit Quietly and the Panama Canal Deal Unravels
Li Ka‑shing’s Hutchison Ports is mounting a legal counter‑offensive to avoid a quiet withdrawal from its Panama Canal concession. The dispute has turned a U.S.‑backed showcase deal into a protracted standoff, complicating the planned transfer of terminal operations. The deadlock...
Port of New York and New Jersey Sees Rail and Auto Growth in January
The Port of New York and New Jersey logged 749,906 TEUs in January 2026, a 4% year‑on‑year increase. Export volumes jumped 13.9% to 112,426 TEUs, while imports slipped 1.5% to 372,973 TEUs. Rail activity rose 11.5% with 58,522 containers moved,...
A Blunt and Honest Appraisal.
The News Items Podcast featured a candid interview with retired Lt. General Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe and current NATO logistics mentor. Hodges, co‑author of *Future War and the Defence of Europe*, critiqued existing security structures and...
PortSide Stories: Valencia
The Port of Valencia is the Mediterranean’s busiest container hub, handling millions of TEUs each year and serving as Spain’s primary gateway for global trade. Modern terminals equipped with advanced cranes and automation enable rapid cargo movement across rail and...
SITC and Dalian Maritime University Sign Cooperation Agreement
SITC signed a cooperation agreement with Dalian Maritime University on 18 March 2026, overseen by Chairman Yang Xianxiang and attended by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Maritime Talent Cultivation Alliance. The pact seeks to fuse industry practice with academic research,...
‘Critical Minerals Corridor’ Seen Linking Mines, Markets – by Frederic Tomesco (Northern Miner – March 20, 2026)
Canadian developer BMI Group has assembled five former industrial sites in Ontario and Quebec into a “Critical Minerals Corridor” aimed at bolstering the North American battery supply chain. The repurposed pulp and paper mills now serve as deployment‑ready hubs equipped...
Stop Fulfillment Delays: The ROI of Automation Spare Parts
E‑commerce fulfillment centers that own automation hardware face severe risk from equipment failures, especially during peak seasons. The article outlines a practical framework for conducting a component criticality audit, prioritizing single‑point‑of‑failure parts, and building a targeted spare‑parts inventory costing $5,000‑$25,000....
The 3PL Marketplace Is Still Stuck in the 90s. Here’s How to Fix That
The logistics marketplace for third‑party providers still relies on 1990s‑style pre‑sales methods, creating friction for shippers seeking partners. Ryan, co‑founder of Warematch, turned his own distribution challenges into a tech solution that adds a digital matchmaking layer between shippers and...
Multiple Bottlenecks Face New Nuclear Builds
The Nuclear Scaling Initiative released a 73‑page report that maps critical bottlenecks in the U.S. advanced nuclear supply chain, highlighting fuel shortages, downstream manufacturing constraints, and a skilled‑labor gap that together create a market‑paralysis cycle. It recommends coordinated actions by...
9 Ways to Use the AI Lean Coach That You Probably Haven’t Tried
The article outlines nine unconventional ways to leverage the AI Lean Coach, especially its Coach Me mode, which asks questions instead of providing direct answers. It demonstrates how the tool can act as a role‑play partner for 5 Whys, a rehearsal aid...
Amazon Surveys Sellers on FBA Returns Solutions
Amazon is conducting a survey of FBA sellers to evaluate its ten returns‑management solutions and a dedicated dashboard. The questionnaire captures which tools sellers use, their satisfaction levels, and likelihood to recommend each option. It also asks participants to compare...
CMA CGM Launches Transatlantic Panama Direct Service to Cork, Ireland
CMA CGM announced a new direct service linking Cork, Ireland with New York and Savannah, launching on April 28, 2026 aboard the MV CMA CGM WHITE. The route adds an extra vessel to the transatlantic fleet, promising higher frequency and tighter schedules. Positioned...
NWSA Full Exports up 2.2% YTD Despite Overall Volume Decline
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) posted February 2026 container volumes of 207,725 TEUs, a 19.4% year‑over‑year decline driven by last year’s cargo front‑loading ahead of tariffs. Full imports fell 29.5% while full exports rose 4.9%, and year‑to‑date volumes remain 16.6%...
CMA CGM Announces FAK Rate Increases From Europe to India & Pakistan
French carrier CMA CGM announced a freight‑all‑kind (FAK) price hike for shipments from Europe to India and Pakistan, effective 1 April 2026. The new rates increase 20‑foot container charges by $150 on the North Europe‑India lane and $150 on the North Europe‑Pakistan lane,...
Supply Chain Salaries Are Rising in 2026: What Supply Chain, Procurement and Logistics Leaders Should Expect
Supply chain salaries are set to rise sharply in 2026 after years of underpayment, as firms scramble to secure logistics, procurement and analytics talent. Demand for these roles has grown 22 percent year‑over‑year since 2020, outpacing the modest expansion of the...
Latitude Naval Technologies Established at Port of Riga
Latitude Construction has launched a new subsidiary, Latitude Naval Technologies, at the Port of Riga to develop offshore platforms for security and defence. Leveraging over 20 years of shipbuilding experience and advanced composite capabilities, the unit’s first product is the...
UPS at the Crossroads: Finding Profit in a Disrupted Landscape with Bloomberg’s Devin Leonard
UPS is navigating a disrupted logistics market under new CEO Carol Tomé, the first woman and outsider in its 118‑year history. The company is shifting from volume‑driven growth to a high‑margin, "better, not bigger" strategy, scaling back low‑margin e‑commerce shipments....
APM Terminals Launches Rail Shuttle Connecting Helsingborg to the Port Gothenburg
APM Terminals has launched a five‑hour rail shuttle linking Helsingborg with the Port of Gothenburg, owned by APM and operated by Dania Connect. The service expands the port’s rail network to nearly 30 Swedish locations and follows a record‑breaking 529,000...
Iran War; PBoC's 2026 Tasks; US-China; Japan; Front-Loading 2026 Spending
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper about the escalating war in Iran and the broader Middle East. Beijing emphasized that the conflict undermines regional stability and directly impacts global energy, finance, trade, and shipping. China called...
North Sea Ports Complete Digital Container Release Process
Germany’s North Sea ports have completed the final integration step of their digital container import release process, requiring transport firms and truck drivers to connect to the German Ports IT platform. The Secure Release Order procedure now mandates a digital...
How to Successfully Migrate a Control System
Erik Cornelsen, a seasoned automation engineer, outlines a systematic approach to migrating control system code, emphasizing verification of auto‑migrated blocks and rigorous testing of rewritten logic. He stresses thorough PID review, including scaling, scan times, and dynamic simulation, while recommending industry‑standard...
Velotic Launches Combining Former Proficy, Kepware, ThingWorx
Velotic has launched as an independent industrial software firm, merging GE Vernova’s Proficy, PTC’s Kepware and ThingWorx under the financial backing of private‑equity firm TPG. The company is led by former Rockwell Automation executive Brian Shepherd as CEO and PTC...
China Voted Against the World on Fentanyl. Days Later, It Announced a Perfunctory Crackdown.
China was the sole nation to vote against a U.N. resolution aimed at tightening control over fentanyl precursor chemicals, prompting sharp criticism from Washington. Days later, Hubei Province announced a limited crackdown that resulted in 22 cases, seven arrests and...