Explainer: How Europe’s Commercial Harbours Became Military Targets
Belgium announced the deployment of a NASAMS air‑defence system at the Port of Antwerp. The move reflects a broader shift as European commercial harbours are increasingly viewed as potential military targets amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Authorities across the continent are accelerating defensive upgrades, integrating radar, missile interceptors, and hardened infrastructure. The trend forces shipping companies to factor security costs into routing and cargo‑insurance decisions.
Hunting the Elusive Snipe
End users in process industries are abandoning legacy distributed control system (DCS) tools as support dwindles and upgrade costs rise. The article follows Cassia’s struggle with an unsupported alarm‑management suite and the loss of a single point of accountability from...
Patrick Terminals Boosts Rail Support at Port of Melbourne
Patrick Terminals announced a two‑year program starting 1 March 2026 that waives the Exchange Transfer Charge for containers moved by rail at its PortRail Melbourne terminal. The concession applies to shipments originating or terminating at Somerton Intermodal, SCT Altona and Salta Dandenong....
CMA CGM Upgrades Eagle Express 1 Japan–US West Coast Service
CMA CGM has upgraded its Eagle Express 1 (EX1) service, adding weekly calls at Kobe, Nagoya and Yokohama to strengthen Japan‑U.S. West Coast trade. The new rotation cuts Los Angeles transit to 12‑16 days and is backed by on‑dock rail at...
Honda Flips Script by Exporting Two Vehicles to Japan
Honda Motor Co. will begin exporting two U.S.-built models—the Acura Integra Type S and the Honda Passport TrailSport Elite—to Japan in the second half of the year. The move follows a new U.S.-Japan trade accord that streamlines safety inspections and reduces...
Readers Speak: What Could Derail the Hapag-Lloyd–ZIM Merger?
Industry watchers are focused on the pending merger between Hapag‑Lloyd and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services. Readers of Container News flag regulatory approval and Israel’s “golden share” as the most likely obstacles, while labor unrest is viewed as a secondary concern....
TSMC Urging Customers to Apply for N2 Node Allocation as It's Almost Full Until 2027
TSMC is urging its customers to submit applications for the N2 process node as most capacity is already booked through the end of 2027. Remaining slots carry a six‑quarter lead time, and even allocated customers face up to twelve months...
Hapag-Lloyd Reroutes IMX Service via Cape of Good Hope
Hapag‑Lloyd has suspended all Trans‑Suez sailings on its IMX service and will reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope because of deteriorating security in the Middle East and rising tensions in the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait. The carrier says the safety...
Chinese Debates on a Fragmenting Global Order | Sinification: February 2026
The February Sinification digest captures a widening debate within China over how to navigate a fragmenting global order. Analysts propose a shift from free‑trade to “managed trade” frameworks, while others call for crystal‑clear economic red lines comparable to Taiwan policy....
How Iran’s Missile Barrage Struck at the Heart of Global Trade
Iran’s recent missile barrage over the Persian Gulf resulted in debris striking Jebel Ali, the world’s busiest container port, igniting a fire that forced a temporary shutdown. The incident halted more than 10% of global container throughput, disrupting supply chains that...
Analyst Insight – Generation Next: SAP Ariba’s AI Rebuild (III)
SAP Ariba announced a full architectural rebuild of its Source-to-Pay suite, targeting a February 2026 release. The new platform will be AI‑native, leveraging SAP Business Technology Platform and introducing Joule agents for tasks like bid analysis and intake management. Existing customers...
Airbus: Repeatedly Missing the Mark on Delivery Guidance
Airbus has failed to meet its commercial aircraft delivery guidance for three consecutive years, with shortfalls driven by engine shortages, buyer‑furnished equipment delays, and quality‑control problems. The company repeatedly revised its outlooks as supply‑chain bottlenecks persisted, undermining the reliability of...
Explainer: Why EU Keeps Its Warships in the Red Sea
The European Union has announced that Operation ASPIDES, its naval mission protecting Red Sea shipping, will be extended through 2027. The decision signals that the underlying drivers of the Red Sea crisis – chiefly Houthi‑linked attacks on commercial vessels –...
LOGISTEED and REXEV Advance EV Truck Electrification
LOGISTEED and REXEV have launched a joint demonstration to integrate electric trucks into LOGISTEED’s delivery fleet in Japan, applying REXEV’s energy‑management platform. The project targets three cost‑saving levers: peak‑demand charge reduction, schedule‑based charging aligned with market prices, and using idle...
Lloyd’s Register Grants Approval for Hybrid Nuclear Vessel
Lloyd’s Register has issued an Approval in Principle for a hybrid nuclear‑ready power concept co‑developed with Australian ship designer Seatransport. The design merges micro‑modular nuclear reactors (1.2‑2.6 MW) with diesel‑electric propulsion on 73‑metre and 90‑metre amphibious stern landing vessels. Recent sea...
What’s Your Cold Chain Testing Telling You?
Altor is hosting a free webinar on March 12, 2026 to teach cold‑chain professionals best practices in thermal testing. The session will cover how nuanced variables affect test outcomes and which questions to ask to validate designs. Speakers include Altor’s Director of...
Micro-Hubs, Spokes, Hand Trucks, & U Boats: The Last Steps Are Human Logistics | At the Junction
The article outlines a growing micro‑hub and spoke delivery system in Manhattan, where trucks park at neighborhood hubs and workers complete the last‑mile on foot with hand trucks. It highlights the chaotic, obstacle‑filled urban environment that makes fully automated delivery...
Cosco and OOCL Remove Conakry From WMAX Service
Cosco Shipping Lines and OOCL have removed Conakry, Guinea, from their West Mediterranean‑West Africa (WMAX) service. The revised rotation now operates with two 1,800‑TEU vessels on an 18‑day schedule, calling at Valencia, Algeciras, Dakar, Tema and Abidjan before returning to...
CEO Interview with Echo Yang of CSCERAMIC
CEO Echo Yang steers CSCERAMIC, a China‑based advanced ceramics maker, toward high‑purity alumina solutions for laboratory and high‑temperature industrial markets. The firm differentiates itself by engineering‑focused collaboration, tight dimensional control, and stable raw‑material sourcing rather than catalog sales. Customers benefit...
Milaha Expands Intra-Gulf Express (MIG) Service to Include Bahrain
Milaha, the Qatar‑based maritime and logistics leader, has expanded its Milaha Intra‑Gulf Express (MIG) service to include Bahrain, adding the kingdom to a seven‑port rotation that spans the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain and Qatar. The revised loop runs...
Wan Hai Revises JST Service Rotation
Wan Hai Lines has restructured its intra‑Far East Japan‑Kansai‑Thailand (JST) service, dropping Kobe and the southbound Hong Kong call from the rotation. The revised schedule still operates four 1,700‑TEU vessels, calling at Osaka, Moji, Hakata, Tokuyama, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Shenzhen (Shekou),...
Multiple Attempts Made to Sneak Electronic Waste Into Port Klang
Malaysian customs seized nearly 1,000 tonnes of electronic waste in five separate incidents at Port Klang. The shipments were uncovered after officers detected mismatches between declared cargo and the containers' actual contents. The crackdown highlights heightened vigilance against illegal e‑waste...
Fresh Formats, a Debut Event Director, and a New Viennese Venue for LogiPharma 2026
LogiPharma 2026 will debut in Vienna’s Austria Center, moving from France after four years. Under new event director Ben Sharples, the conference introduces interactive panels, Oxford‑style debates and hands‑on training through the LogiPharma Academy. The program splits into two interconnected...
Port of Barcelona Launches Tender for Multipurpose Terminal
The Port of Barcelona has opened a tender for a public multipurpose maritime terminal at the Príncep d’Espanya wharf after the previous concession expired. The new terminal will handle non‑containerised general cargo and mixed traffic, excluding passenger, dry and liquid...
The Minerals of War: Criticality in an Age of AI and Artillery
The article expands the "mineral imperative" concept, arguing that global demand for metals and critical minerals must roughly double by 2050 to sustain development, decarbonisation, digitalisation and now defence. While population growth, urbanisation, electrification and AI have already driven material...
RCL Shifts RCP2 Slot Allocation to CNC’s China–Philippines Service
Regional Container Lines (RCL) has moved its slot allocation from CNC Line’s Japan‑Philippines (JP8) service to the carrier’s China‑Philippines (CP2) rotation, continuing to market the lane as RCP2. The shift narrows RCL’s focus to the Shenzhen‑Philippines segment, replacing Batangas with...
Port of Bilbao Advances Connectivity and Energy Transition in 2025
The Port of Bilbao closed 2025 as a strategic year, delivering over 32 million tonnes of throughput despite a 6.8% traffic dip caused by the temporary Petronor refinery shutdown. Second‑half volumes rose 1.5% year‑on‑year, driven by expanding trade with the United...
Hellmann and Exotec Sign Global Warehouse Automation Agreement
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and French robotics firm Exotec have signed a global framework agreement to automate Hellmann’s contract‑logistics warehouses. The partnership will roll out Exotec’s modular goods‑to‑person robotic systems, starting with a pilot at a German healthcare customer. The solution...
DP World Secures Warehouse Contract with Suzano
DP World has secured a five‑year contract with Suzano to operate a 5,000‑square‑metre warehouse and production‑line supply hub in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil. The agreement covers inbound receiving, inventory control, line replenishment and outbound distribution of tissue products, handling up...
Norwegian Shipbrokers’ Association and BIMCO Adopt SALEFORM 2025
The Norwegian Shipbrokers’ Association (NSA) and BIMCO have adopted SALEFORM 2025, the latest version of the standard ship sale and purchase memorandum. The revision updates the 2012 form to reflect new banking, KYC/AML, anti‑bribery, sanctions, and EU emissions regulations. It...
Explainer: Washington Declares Maritime War on Beijing
The White House unveiled a Maritime Action Plan aimed at confronting Beijing’s dominance in global shipbuilding. The strategy calls for a massive increase in U.S. shipyard capacity, leveraging $30 billion in federal funding and new partnerships with allies such as Japan...
DHL Group and JD.com Sign MoU
DHL Group and JD.com have signed a memorandum of understanding to help German brands expand into China and Europe. The partnership merges DHL’s global logistics network with JD.com’s Joybuy platform, creating an integrated e‑commerce solution. It enables German manufacturers to...
Why Warehouse Maturity Blooms in Uneven Seasons
The article frames warehouse technology adoption as a series of seasonal maturity levels, ranging from manual operations to fully dynamic, software‑driven facilities. It warns that forcing a single platform across all sites creates fragmentation, higher costs, and stunted growth. Instead,...
PortSide Stories: Yokohama
The Port of Yokohama remains Japan’s busiest container gateway, handling millions of TEUs each year and accommodating the world’s largest vessels. Its deep‑water berths link Japan’s export‑heavy industries—automobiles, electronics, food—to markets across Asia, North America and Europe. Beyond logistics, the...
ONE Enhances North-South Connectivity with New AEX and Revamped LEX Services
Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced a strategic overhaul of its European network, launching the Aegean Express (AEX) and revamping the Levant Express (LEX) effective March 2026. The AEX will run weekly, linking major North European hubs such as Felixstowe, Hamburg...
Interlocking Three Inputs for Pump Logic: PLC Tia Portal
The article details a PLC program built in Siemens TIA Portal that uses latching and interlock logic to control a single pump via three RUN buttons. Pressing START sets a SYSTEM_ON memory bit, enabling the RUN inputs while STOP clears...
Port of Auckland Posts Strong First Half Results for FY26
Port of Auckland reported a strong first‑half FY26 performance, posting NZD 204.3 million in revenue, a 4.5% increase year‑on‑year. Underlying net profit after tax rose 28.1% to NZD 53.8 million, prompting an interim NZD 26 million dividend to Auckland Council. Volume growth drove results, with...
What Is Backlog Inventory? Causes and How to Manage It (2026)
The article defines backlog inventory as sold but unshipped stock and explains how it differs from back orders and overall order backlogs. It outlines four primary causes—demand spikes, supply delays, operational issues, and routing errors—and quantifies the financial risk of...
“K” LINE Signs Natural Capital-Focused Commitment Line Agreement
K LINE has entered a 10 billion JPY, five‑year commitment line under Mizuho’s Natural Capital Impact Finance scheme, marking the maritime industry’s first use of this nature‑focused financing framework. The agreement leverages Mizuho Research & Technologies’ assessment methodology, which aligns with the Taskforce...
Sophus Technology to Showcase Quantum Solver Delivering Faster Optimization
Sophus Technology will unveil its Quantum Solver in a March 10 webinar, promising optimization speeds 50‑to‑100 times faster than current solvers. The quantum‑inspired platform enables full‑fidelity supply‑chain models, eliminating the need for simplifications that compromise accuracy. By handling daily production planning and...
Cybersecurity and AI in the Era of Home-Based Care Logistics
Kenco’s vice‑president of life sciences, Tim McClatchy, detailed how the firm is hardening cybersecurity across its manufacturer‑to‑home delivery network while deploying AI to streamline labor planning and route optimization. He explained the specific encryption and verification steps used at each...
Katana Cloud Inventory Review 2026: The Honest Guide for Shopify Brands That Make What They Sell
Katana positions itself as the only Shopify‑native cloud inventory and manufacturing platform, unifying real‑time inventory, production planning, and shop‑floor execution. It targets Shopify brands that make their own products, charging a $299 per‑month Core plan plus optional add‑ons and a $2,000...
Indian Register of Shipping Launches First Defence Export Project
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has launched its first defence export project, delivering a floating dry dock to the Sri Lanka Navy. The dock, constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited, was inaugurated on February 19, 2026, with Rear Admiral MDK Wijewardana...
Kuehne+Nagel Acquires Lohmöller Road Logistics Business in Germany
Kuehne+Nagel has completed the acquisition of the road logistics operations of LSL‑Lohmöller Spedition und Logistik GmbH, adding groupage, LTL and FTL services to its German portfolio. The deal brings roughly €23.5 million of 2024 revenue, 142 logistics specialists and about 50...
Catching Up With Tom Burke and His Inductive Automation Pivot
Inductive Automation has appointed Tom Burke, former OPC Foundation leader, as Technology Evangelist. Burke’s background includes roles at Mitsubishi and the CC Link Partners Association, positioning him to champion lightweight messaging standards like MQTT and Sparkplug within Inductive’s platform. The...
Port of Lázaro Cárdenas Opens 2026 with Cargo Growth
The Port of Lázaro Cárdenas opened 2026 with a strong start, handling 2,383,826 tonnes in January – a 6% increase over the same month last year. Containerised cargo dominated, representing 56% of throughput, while TEU volumes jumped 22% to 234,962....
Spend as a Signal for Future Readiness
Spend data, traditionally a lagging metric, is being re‑engineered as a forward‑looking signal thanks to AI advancements. Zip’s recent survey of over 1,000 spend management professionals reveals heightened focus on analytics, AI skill demand, and a rapidly diversifying procurement technology...
Making the Case for Change: Orchestration & Procurement Operating Models
The session with ORO Labs executives reframed procurement as an end‑to‑end process rather than a siloed function, emphasizing its impact on user experience, cost savings, risk mitigation, and compliance. Rapid advances in AI and automation are forcing procurement technology stacks...
Serving Up Savings in Food Procurement
Organizations that serve food at scale face rising inflation and supplier pressure. Partnering with a group purchasing organization (GPO) allows them to lock in lower prices, standardize contracts, and streamline budgeting. Marissa Muzik, senior manager at Una, explains how GPOs...
TikTok Shop Scraps Controversial Shipping Overhaul Under Seller Pressure
TikTok Shop announced on February 17, 2026 that it is pausing the enforcement of a policy that would have eliminated independent shipping for U.S. sellers, keeping the existing fulfillment model in place for now. The original mandate required merchants to...