Israeli Ports Handle 24.3 Million Tonnes of Cargo in First Five Months of 2026
Israeli ports processed 24.3 million tonnes of cargo in the January‑May 2026 period, with containerized freight remaining the dominant segment. Ashdod handled about 8.56 million tonnes and Haifa 3.36 million tonnes, while newer terminals South Port and Bayport together moved over 6 million tonnes. The figures underscore the growing importance of private, concession‑operated terminals in Israel’s maritime logistics network. Overall cargo throughput signals resilience amid regional and global shipping challenges.
GXO to Operate New Action Distribution Centre in Italy
GXO Logistics has been selected to operate Action’s second distribution centre in Ferentino, Italy, bolstering the retailer’s expansion across central and southern regions. The site currently employs more than 200 staff, with plans to reach 300 permanent employees and up...
Rhenus Türkiye Receives AEO Certification for Customs Operations
Rhenus Türkiye has been awarded Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification by Turkey’s Ministry of Trade after a three‑year compliance overhaul. The status confirms the firm meets stringent standards in customs compliance, security, traceability and record‑keeping. Rhenus says the credential will...
Trump’s Big Nuclear Play Is Here
The Energy Department announced a $17.5 billion low‑interest loan program to fund up to ten Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, with utilities and Westinghouse sharing ownership. The initiative could add roughly 11 GW of zero‑carbon baseload power across five sites, targeting commissioning by 2035....
Energy Fuels and the Emergence of a Credible Magnet Competitor
Energy Fuels Inc. announced the acquisition of German magnet maker Vacuumschmelze, completing the first fully integrated rare‑earth permanent‑magnet supply chain in the West. The combined assets now cover mining, ore concentration, oxide separation at White Mesa, metal and alloy production via...
Daily Energy Report
Kpler data show LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz climbing to 4.8 mb/d, marking the first noticeable rise after weeks of near‑standstill. The uptick began before the U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) and accelerated once the agreement was signed, yet...
CMR Special Podcast: Critical Minerals, China, and the Limits of G7 Cooperation
The Critical Minerals Report podcast launched its first episode to dissect the G7’s fragmented approach to building resilient critical‑minerals supply chains. Hosts Tracy Hughes, Jack Lifton and Melissa Sanderson highlighted Japan’s disciplined strategy as a contrast to Western indecision and...
Truckload Rates Keep Rising as Tight Capacity Fuels Freight Market Recovery
Truckload spot rates continued to climb in May and June despite a dip in freight volumes, as tighter capacity outweighs modest demand growth. Van rates rose 22 cents per mile, refrigerated 24 cents, and flatbed 19 cents, while overall spot...
What Iran Wants and How It Can Still Fight
U.S. Vice President JD Vance hailed a breakthrough in Swiss talks aimed at ending the three‑month Iran war, but Tehran denies any new deal. The negotiations revolve around a 14‑point memorandum that must balance Iran’s demand for sanctions relief with...
Locus Robotics Develops Cold-Chain Hardware for HelloFresh
Locus Robotics unveiled a heated‑motor modification that lets its Origin autonomous mobile robots function reliably in chilled environments. The upgrade enabled HelloFresh to boost its cold‑storage fulfillment capacity from 100 to 500 SKUs, more than doubling picking productivity. After a...
Port of Melbourne Container Trade Rises in May
Container throughput at the Port of Melbourne rose to 300,000 TEU in May, a 2.4% year‑on‑year increase. Full imports grew 7.5% to 119,000 TEU and full exports climbed 9.7% to 60,000 TEU, while transhipment volumes surged 22% to 20,000 TEU....
Advanced Diagnostics in Ethernet IP Communication Protocol
Ethernet IP remains a cornerstone protocol for industrial automation, but communication failures can halt production. The article outlines a tiered approach: basic checks such as LED status, IP conflicts, speed/duplex alignment, and subnet matching, followed by advanced diagnostics covering Requested Packet...
Explainer: Berbera and the Bookending of the Hormuz–Bab Al-Mandab Axis
Within 48 hours, three reports emerged linking Somaliland to Israel: the Somaliland president made a historic visit to Israel, Israeli officials discussed establishing a military base at the Berbera port, and plans were outlined to forward‑deploy Dolphin‑class submarines to the...
Seed-Treating Machine Sprouts Storage and Analytics
Grazmec unveiled the GV500i Connect, a next‑generation seed‑treating machine that leverages Beckhoff’s CX5140 embedded PC and TwinCAT 3 automation. The redesign adds up to ten chemical formulations, four liquid product options, and a 15.6‑inch multi‑touch display for intuitive control. Integrated IIoT capabilities...
Identiv Launches ID-Pixels 3.0 to Enable Scalable Intelligence Across Physical Supply Chains
Identiv has introduced ID‑Pixels 3.0, a new family of battery‑free Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) inlays and labels built on Wiliot’s third‑generation IC. The tags harvest ambient Bluetooth and UHF signals to power sensors that record location, temperature, humidity and light, transmitting...
Interview with Vlassis Papapanagis, CCO of Tototheo Global: Building Cyber Resilience in Shipping
In a CN Talks interview, Vlassis Papapanagis, chief commercial officer of Tototheo Global, warned that soaring vessel connectivity and digitalisation are widening cyber threats across the maritime sector. He argued that shipping must move beyond isolated IT security toward a...
Material Requirements Planning on an Aircraft Assembly Line
Boeing will launch the 737 North Line this summer, the first 737 final‑assembly line built outside Renton in over 50 years. The new line aims to raise production from 42 to 52 aircraft per month, operating at a rate of...
Hormuz Maritime Security Mechanism Agreed by Iran in Switzerland Breakthrough
Iran’s foreign ministry announced a breakthrough maritime security mechanism that will safeguard commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement emerged after an intensive 18‑hour diplomatic marathon in Switzerland, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, and produced a formal safe‑passage...
Facts on the Ground in Hormuz – 85% Oilflow – Iran Tested on Backing Up Threats
U.S. Central Command reported that 55 merchant ships moved more than 17 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on June 20, roughly 85 % of the route’s normal daily capacity. After a sharp dip to about 4 mbpd in May, traffic...
Rhenus Alpina Grows Despite Market Uncertainty in 2025
Rhenus Alpina posted revenue of CHF 454 million (≈$495 million) in 2025, defying geopolitical tension and weaker export demand. The group credited heavy investment in logistics infrastructure, automation and sustainability for the upside. Warehouse utilisation remained high at 80‑95% and a new Möhlin...
AD Ports Group Launches Digital Logistics Joint Venture in Jordan
AD Ports Group and Aqaba Development Corporation have launched Noatum Ports‑Maqta Ayla Digital Solutions, a joint venture aimed at digitising Jordan’s port and logistics ecosystem. The venture will develop a Port Community System that links terminals, authorities and shippers, and...
Americold Opens Integrated Cold Chain Hub at Port Saint John
Americold, together with DP World and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, has opened an integrated cold‑chain hub at Port Saint John, New Brunswick. The 22,000‑pallet facility combines temperature‑controlled storage, port handling and rail service, eliminating drayage and cutting transit times. It...
Panama Canal Carries Out Gatun Locks Maintenance without Disrupting Transits
The Panama Canal performed a scheduled dry‑chamber maintenance on gates 33 and 34 of the upper Gatun Locks from June 8 to June 17. By temporarily draining the chamber, engineers inspected for leaks, reduced water loss, and evaluated corrosion protection systems. The...
Above the Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (June 19, 2026)
The latest supply‑chain roundup highlights a wave of geopolitical, regulatory and market shifts reshaping logistics. The EU Parliament cleared a transatlantic trade deal while Canada tightened its forced‑labour import ban, and the U.S. announced the Strait of Hormuz will reopen...
Sea-Intelligence: Transpacific: Ripe for New Non-Alliance Services
Sea‑Intelligence examined the link between Asia‑North America West Coast container spot rates and the share of capacity run by non‑alliance carriers. Using a 4‑week rolling average, the study found an 83% correlation with a 15‑week lag between rate spikes and...
AI Procurement’s Pricing Problem: Why “Market Rate” Means Nothing Anymore
The post argues that legacy procurement software pricing—per‑seat licenses of $200K to $2M a year—was built for manual workflows that AI now automates. Vendors and CPOs debate whether AI‑native platforms can justify lower fees given enterprise‑level needs such as ERP...
Citi Sees Oil at $60-65 by Q1 2027 as Hormuz Flows Normalise
Citigroup projects crude oil prices to settle between $60 and $65 a barrel by the first quarter of 2027, assuming the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding restores normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The bank argues that the current war...
Siemens and Xometry Partner to Expand AI-Based Supply Chain Intelligence
Siemens announced a strategic partnership with Xometry, backing the AI‑driven manufacturing marketplace with a $50 million minority investment. The deal embeds Xometry’s manufacturability, pricing, sourcing and lifecycle intelligence into Siemens’ Xcelerator platform, extending its supply‑chain‑intelligence from electronic components to custom mechanical...
Energy Cliff, Supply Chain Shock: The Toxic Cocktail Behind The Urgent Push For An Iran Deal
The United States and Iran signed an interim peace memorandum that began normalizing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil conduit shut down by recent conflict. President Trump, after meeting oil executives, warned that strategic petroleum reserves (SPRs)...
Procurement Automation: A Guide to Where AI and Automation Actually Belong
Procurement automation has progressed from e‑procurement and RPA to generative AI, yet its effectiveness differs across spend categories. Jack Freeman’s maturity‑based framework splits spend into tail, middle, and strategic tiers, recommending full automation for low‑value tail transactions, guided buying with...
Japan's 94% Middle East Oil Dependence Leaves Firms Deeply Exposed Even as War Winds Down
Japan sources 94% of its crude oil from the Middle East, with 93% transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving its refining sector highly vulnerable to any disruption. A Reuters‑Nikkei survey of 215 firms found nearly half expect more than six...
Iran-US MOU Signed but Baghaei Fires Warning on Missiles, Uranium and Hormuz Fees
Iran and the United States have electronically signed a memorandum of understanding, removing the immediate tail‑risk of a military flare‑up. Tehran’s foreign ministry, led by Esmaeil Baghaei, made clear that the deal excludes any discussion of missile capabilities or the...
Pakistan LNG Imports Face Growing Pressure From Supply Shocks
Pakistan’s LNG imports are under renewed strain after disruptions at Qatar’s Ras Laffan export hub and reduced flows through the Strait of Hormuz. With Qatar providing roughly 90% of the country’s LNG, the outage has tightened supply and lifted spot...
Movianto Expands Belgian Healthcare Logistics Hub
Movianto, the healthcare division of Yusen Logistics, has almost doubled the pallet capacity of its Aalst, Belgium hub, raising temperature‑controlled storage from 14,000 to 25,000 positions. The expansion adds ambient, refrigerated, frozen and ultra‑cold zones, plus dedicated areas for hazardous...
Jack-in-the-Stox: Neo Performance Materials and the Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Supply Chain
Neo Performance Materials (NEO) is drawing investor focus as a potential supplier in the rare‑earth permanent‑magnet supply chain that underpins electric vehicles, wind turbines and other electrification technologies. While demand for these magnets is set to rise, the company’s profitability...
Why Packaging Is Now a Frontline Issue In Pharma Supply Chains
Pharma cold‑chain packaging, originally designed for predictable transit, is now exposed to frequent disruptions such as weather delays, hub congestion and cargo theft. The rise of biologics, cell and gene therapies—requiring ultra‑low temperatures and time‑critical delivery—has amplified risk, making packaging...
DP World Plans First U.S. Gulf Coast Container Terminal
DP World has entered exclusive negotiations to develop and operate a new container terminal at the Port of Corpus Christi, marking its first Gulf Coast facility. The proposal includes designing, building, and running the terminal to boost regional container capacity...
Provider of the Week: ProcureAbility
ProcureAbility has evolved from a traditional procurement consultancy into a full‑service firm offering advisory, managed services, staffing, and digital solutions. The company emphasizes a talent‑centric model, hiring only procurement specialists and measuring success through a unique "client implied promise" metric....
Liebherr Wins STS Crane Order for Baltimore Container Terminal
Liebherr secured a contract to supply seven ship‑to‑shore cranes for the new Sparrows Point Container Terminal (SPCT) in Baltimore. The $1.2 billion privately financed project will boost the Port of Baltimore’s container capacity by roughly 70%, enabling two ultra‑large vessels to...
Port Nelson Welcomes Largest Vessel in Its History
Port Nelson in New Zealand welcomed the Maersk Cap Jackson, the largest vessel ever to call at the port. The 264.32‑metre, 77,000‑tonne ship can carry up to 4,600 TEUs and arrived loaded with apples, fish, meat, beer, wine, timber and dairy from...
Copenhagen Malmö Port Joins Portchain Connect Network
Copenhagen Malmö Port has joined the Portchain Connect Network to digitize berth planning and coordination with shipping lines. The platform enables real‑time schedule updates and move‑count data directly from carrier systems, allowing the port to issue rapid berth‑plan revisions. By using secure...
Can the Pentagon Buy Faster Before the Next War Arrives?
The GAO’s June 9 report warns that the Department of Defense’s acquisition system is structurally and culturally predisposed to award massive contracts before business cases are solid, pushing weapon‑system timelines beyond 12 years. It highlights that the DoD plans to...
Hormuz Reopening Framework a Fragile First Step, Says S&P Global
A U.S.–Iran framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was announced on June 14, with a formal memorandum of understanding expected to be signed on Friday. S&P Global Ratings says the deal aligns with its existing base case, which projects...
Peak Season Without the Panic: How Intelligent Route and Capacity Planning Keeps Retailers Ready for Demand Spikes
Retailers facing ever‑longer peak‑season windows are turning to AI‑driven route and capacity planning to replace static, manual schedules. Libera’s engine, proven across 2,400 warehouses and 5 million daily shipments in India, optimizes heterogeneous fleets, tight delivery windows, and real‑world constraints in...
UPS Invests $50M for North American Automotive and Industrial Manufacturers Logistics
UPS announced a $50 million investment to upgrade its network and launch dedicated industry teams for automotive and industrial manufacturers. Starting in August, the North American Air Freight (NAAF) service will provide 1‑, 2‑ and 3‑day heavy‑freight options to and from...
Explainer: Hormuz Under the US-Iran Framework
The United States and Iran issued a diplomatic announcement signaling a willingness to de‑escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, but they have not yet reinstated a formal transit regime for commercial vessels. The statement leaves the legal framework for...
ONE Launches Service Connecting Port of Riga to Portugal
Ocean Network Express (ONE) has launched the Iberia Baltic Express, a weekly container service that creates the first direct sea link between Latvia’s Port of Riga and Portugal’s ports. The rotation calls at Leixões, Lisbon, Southampton, Rotterdam, Gdańsk, Riga, Klaipėda,...
Maersk Revises Dry Port Surcharges for Hungary
Maersk announced new Dry Port Surcharge rates for both import and export traffic through Hungary’s inland terminals in Budapest and Fényeslitke, effective July 1 for non‑regulated and July 13, 2026 for regulated markets. The import surcharge (DPI) is set at...
Five Ways Shipping Can Navigate a Strait with Two Masters
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil conduit, now operates under two de facto authorities—Iran’s coastal control and a multinational naval presence that enforces security corridors. This duality creates legal ambiguity, heightened geopolitical risk, and fluctuating transit costs for commercial vessels....
Containership Orders Continue Across Multiple Market Segments
Containership orders are rising across liner carriers and non‑operating owners, spanning feeder to mid‑size vessels. CMA CGM placed an order for eight 6,000‑TEU ships from Hengli, while Global Ship Lease committed $917 million for ten 6,200‑TEU reefer‑rich vessels slated for delivery...