Philippines Seeks US Extension to Buy Russian Oil
The Philippines has asked the United States to extend a waiver that lets Manila purchase Russian oil, a permission that lapsed on April 11. Energy Secretary Sharon Garín said the government remains optimistic about the extension while also scouting alternative supplies from South America, Canada and the United States. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended excise taxes on kerosene and LPG, but Finance Secretary Frederick Go warned that cutting diesel and gasoline taxes would yield only marginal price relief. The move reflects Manila’s broader push to diversify energy sources amid global sanctions.
Hull Assembly Starts for Asso.subsea’s New Cable Layer as Keel Is Laid
China Merchants Heavy Industry held the keel‑laying ceremony for Asso.subsea’s new shallow‑water cable‑laying vessel, Althea, on April 9 in Shenzhen, marking the start of hull assembly. The 12,000‑ton ship features up to three carousel cable divisions, a hybrid diesel‑battery power plant,...
U.S. Army Opens New 155mm Artillery Shell Facility in Kansas
The U.S. Army and contractor Day & Zimmermann inaugurated a new Load, Assemble, and Pack facility in Parsons, Kansas, backed by a $36 million Army investment. The plant will produce up to 12,000 M795 155 mm artillery shells each month, contributing to...
Hormuz Day 46: Blockades and Backchannels
Pakistan’s prime minister announced a second round of US‑Iran talks as the US naval blockade of Iranian ports entered its second day, marking the 46th day of the Hormuz crisis. President Trump confirmed Tehran had reached out for a deal,...
‘Silver Tsunami’ Drives Surge in Shipping Claims
The Nordic Association of Marine Insurers' 2025 NoMIS report shows ocean hull claim costs are 33% above pre‑pandemic levels, marking a third year of rising losses. An ageing global fleet—dubbed a ‘silver tsunami’—is driving a surge in machinery and fire...
Prolonged Hormuz Crisis Could Trigger Agrifood Catastrophe, UN Warns
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warned that a prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz could spark a global agrifood catastrophe. Disruptions to fertilizer and energy exports would drive up food prices and compress crop yields. FAO chief...
Download SJ Denim’s Spring 2026 Issue
The denim industry is undergoing a pivotal shift as trade tensions push sourcing closer to home, while new technologies and luxury fiber blends reshape manufacturing. 2026 marks the United States' 250th anniversary, prompting domestic brands to balance patriotic storytelling with...
C-DoT to Commercialise Indigenously-Developed 5G Radio Network
India’s Centre for Development of Telematics (C‑DoT) has completed an indigenously developed 5G radio that operates in both non‑standalone and standalone modes, partnering with VVDN Technologies and WiSig Networks. The consortium is set to begin field trials in Ambala after...
China Quietly Profits From US AI Boom Despite Washington’s Tech Curbs: Research
The United States is embarking on a $2 trillion data‑centre build‑out to fuel its artificial‑intelligence surge, with three‑quarters of the cost tied to hardware such as semiconductors and servers. While Taiwan and South Korea dominate advanced chip exports, China is quietly...
Werner Pumps Invests In Advanced Machining To Strengthen Local Manufacturing Capability
Werner Pumps has bolstered its South African manufacturing base by installing a new 5‑axis CNC machine. The advanced machining tool enables the company to produce complex components in‑house, cutting lead times and reducing dependence on imported parts. MD Sebastian Werner...
Red Cat & HADDY Accelerate USV Production Through Robotic 3D Printing
Red Cat Holdings’ maritime unit, Blue Ops, has partnered with HADDY to embed large‑scale robotic 3D printing into its USV production line in Valdosta, Georgia. The AI‑driven robotic systems are expected to double output of the company’s 5‑meter and 7‑meter...
Qantas Slashes Domestic Flights Amid Fuel Crisis
Qantas announced a significant reduction in its domestic flight schedule, blaming soaring jet‑fuel prices that have been amplified by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The airline said the cost pressure makes several routes financially unsustainable, prompting cuts across major city...
Bangladesh in Ship Recycling Pole Position but Supply Remains Weak
Bangladeshi ship‑recycling yards have seized the pricing lead, offering $490‑495 for container vessels as stable exchange rates lift steel‑plate costs. The sector, however, is hampered by a shortage of scrap candidates and lingering OFAC‑sanctioned VLCCs that remain outside port limits....
Leaders and Visionaries in Shipping – Captain Gianluigi Aponte
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is on the cusp of operating a fleet of 1,000 vessels, roughly 10 million TEUs, marking a historic scale for the privately held carrier. Founder and Group Chairman Gianluigi Aponte grew MSC from a single ship in...
Australia, United States Outline Joint Steps to Secure Critical Minerals Supply Chains
Australia and the United States have formalized a bilateral framework to secure critical‑minerals and rare‑earth supply chains, committing at least $1 billion each in financing within six months. The partnership establishes a Critical Minerals Supply Security Response Group to pinpoint vulnerabilities...
Russian Drone Attack on Ukrainian Port Damages Panama-Flagged Vessel, Officials Say
Russian drones attacked Ukraine’s Izmail port in the Odesa region on April 14, damaging a civilian Panama‑flagged vessel and destroying a workshop building, two buses, seven cars and an ambulance. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said multiple strikes hit critical...
New Rules Hinder Foreign Firms From Moving Supply Chains From China
China has enacted an 18‑point regulatory package aimed at preventing foreign firms from shifting supply chains out of the country. The rules, signed by Premier Li Qiang on April 7, empower regulators to interrogate staff, audit records, and even bar individuals...
Augmented Reality Digitalizes and Optimizes Processes for Frontline Workers
Augmented reality (AR) is moving from a niche visualization tool to a core production aid for frontline workers in manufacturing. By projecting step‑by‑step instructions, live sensor data and quality metrics onto smart glasses or tablets, AR turns static paperwork into...
The End of Programming? Natural Language Interfaces in Industrial Robotics
Researchers from Huawei Noah’s Ark Lab, Technical University of Darmstadt, and ETH Zurich have introduced a framework that integrates large language models with the Robot Operating System, enabling robots to understand and act on natural‑language commands. The system translates spoken...
Yunex Traffic UK Consolidates UK Operations in New Facility
Yunex Traffic UK has secured a up‑to‑20‑year lease for a purpose‑built facility at Bournemouth Airport’s Aviation Business Park, slated to open in 2026. The site will bring together manufacturing, research and development, and office functions for roughly 500 employees under...
Iran Oil Hoard at Sea Shields China’s Refiners From US Blockade
A stockpile of about 38 million barrels of Iranian crude sits on tankers in Asia, with over a third anchored near China’s Yellow Sea. Chinese independent refiners—known as “teapots”—have built near‑record on‑shore inventories in Shandong, giving them roughly two‑and‑a‑half months of...
XCharge Opens First European Assembly Plant in Spain
XCharge inaugurated a 3,000 m² assembly plant in Silla, Valencia, Spain, its first European manufacturing hub. The facility will assemble high‑power EV chargers such as the 400 kW C7 and the GridLink battery‑integrated solution, currently sold in North America. By localising production,...
A. Merceur (BOXtoBOX Conseil) : « Maintenir Un Niveau D’exigence Fort Sur La Thématique Des Achats Responsables »
Facing a tough economic climate, French professional sports clubs are tightening budgets and seeking cost efficiencies. BoxtoBox Conseil, founded by Antoine Merceur, provides outsourced procurement services that cover everything from supplier sourcing to contract management and responsible purchasing policies. The...
Helium: The Invisible Gas that Powers AI, and Why It’s in Short Supply – Podcast
Helium, essential for MRI, particle accelerators, deep‑sea diving and AI hardware, faces a tightening global supply. The Guardian podcast highlights how the gas powers cooling systems in AI data centers and why production bottlenecks have resurfaced. Historically fragile supply chains...
Space Industrial Base Studies: How the US, UK, ESA, Canada, and Japan Are Assessing Their Competitive Position in Space
A new wave of formal assessments from the United States, United Kingdom, European Space Agency, Canada and Japan reveals common weaknesses in their space industrial bases. All five reports flag workforce shortages, fragile supply chains and a mismatch between ambitious...
DryFlow Magnetics Ramps up Manufacturing for Waterless Iron Ore Tech
DryFlow Magnetics, an Adelaide‑based industrial tech firm, has secured an additional seed‑funding round following a $10 million AUD (~$6.6 million USD) raise in December 2025. The capital will fund manufacturing and installation of its first commercial pilot plant at a South Australian...
Guard Leaders Tell Congress the Air Force Needs 100 New Fighters a Year
National Guard adjutants general from 22 states sent a letter to Congress urging multiyear funding for the Air Force to acquire 72 to 100 new fighter jets per year, focusing on the F‑35A Lightning II and F‑15EX Eagle II. The...
ACM CRC Backs Manufacturing Project to Develop Smart Surfboard Fins Aimed at Reducing Shark Attack Risks
The Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC is funding a research initiative to create smart composite surfboard fins that embed miniaturised sensors, electromagnetic deterrents and illumination directly into the fin structure. Led by Gowing Bros in partnership with UNSW Sydney and the...
MODEX 2026: Automha and Comau Showcase Integrated Logistics Automation Technologies
At MODEX 2026, Automha and Comau unveiled a 360° integrated logistics automation portfolio that spans inbound handling, intelligent storage, ASRS, order preparation and synchronized shipping. Automha introduced NOVA AI, an AI‑driven assistant embedded in its warehouse management system that delivers...
Sprintex Secures Bangladesh Distribution Deal for Jet Blowers
Sprintex (ASX:SIX) signed an exclusive three‑year distribution agreement with Kingsley Engineering Service Corp to sell its G‑Series jet blowers in Bangladesh’s wastewater aeration market. The deal starts with an initial order of about AU$71,000 (≈US$47,000) and sets minimum purchases of...
MODEX 2026: Locus Robotics Launches Locus Array
Locus Robotics unveiled Locus Array at MODEX 2026, a fully autonomous fulfillment system that merges mobile robots, an integrated picking arm, and AI‑driven perception. Early adopters such as DHL Supply Chain report up to 90% labor reduction and 24/7 high‑density...
Market Retrospective: The Pakistan Army’s Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) Program Circa 2007-2026
Between 2007 and 2026 the Pakistan Army moved from sporadic MRAP imports to a structured, HIT‑centric wheeled‑vehicle strategy. Early purchases relied on U.S. MaxxPro and Turkish Kirpi units with no technology transfer. A 2024 memorandum of understanding between Thailand’s Chaiseri...
Samarth Biorigins Expands Capabilities to Meet Demand for Better Bioavailable Ingredients
Samarth Biorigins, a Bangalore‑based specialist in liposomal and microencapsulation technologies, has opened a new GMP‑compliant manufacturing facility in Tumkur, Karnataka. The plant can produce up to one ton of bioavailable nutraceutical ingredients per day and includes an application lab for...
Titomic Expands Manufacturing Capabilities Through TWI Industrial Membership
Titomic, an advanced metal manufacturing firm, has become an Industrial Member of TWI, a global materials‑engineering organization. The partnership grants Titomic access to TWI’s consultancy, research programmes and technical resources, bolstering its proprietary Kinetic Fusion cold‑spray technology. With manufacturing hubs...
Asia Air Travel Faces Turbulence as Iran War Exposes Jet Fuel Vulnerability
Jet fuel prices in the Asia‑Pacific have spiked to roughly $198 a barrel, about twice pre‑war levels, after the United States began restricting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following stalled Iran peace talks. The surge is forcing airlines across...
Malaysian Bust Spotlights Shadow Fleet Oil Trade in Southeast Asia
Malaysian maritime authorities seized two tankers off Penang after detecting an unauthorized ship‑to‑ship transfer of more than 700,000 litres of diesel valued at about US$1.16 million. The incident highlights the persistent shadow‑fleet trade that moves sanctioned Russian and Iranian fuel through...
Brussels Must Resist ‘Passive’ Role in US-China Trade War, EU Chamber Urges
European Union Chamber of Commerce in China warned Brussels against a passive stance in the escalating US‑China trade war, urging the EU to take the lead on export‑control negotiations. The chamber highlighted that Beijing’s rare‑earth export controls, introduced in April,...
Which Company Makes Frigidaire Appliances And Where They're Manufactured
Frigidaire, now a flagship brand of Electrolux Group, originated as the Guardian Refrigerator Company and introduced the first self‑contained home refrigerator. After a series of acquisitions, Electrolux bought Frigidaire in 1986, making it a core North American label. The brand’s...
Europe’s Big Three Legacy Airline Groups: Capex Cycle Remains on a Plateau
European legacy carriers Lufthansa Group, IAG and Air France‑KLM are entering 2026 with modest capex adjustments. IAG and Lufthansa plan slightly higher net spending than 2025, while Air France‑KLM trims its budget. In aggregate the three groups will reach a...
CK Hutchison to Navigate “World in Turmoil” By Scaling Up
CK Hutchison Holdings (CKH) is steering through heightened geopolitical risk by leveraging a massive cash war chest rather than altering its long‑term strategy. A $22.8 billion Panama‑port sale to a BlackRock‑MSC consortium has stalled after Chinese criticism and a Panama expropriation,...
What UK eCommerce Brands Need to Know About Post-Brexit EU Fulfilment
UK eCommerce brands are confronting higher costs and slower deliveries when shipping to EU customers after Brexit. Customs paperwork, import duties and the upcoming removal of the €150 ($165) exemption on July 1 2026 – replaced by a flat €3 ($3.30) duty...
Philippines to Manufacture Hybrid Vehicles by 2028- #BeltAndRoad #Economy #Infrastructure
Mitsubishi Motors announced it will join the Philippines’ Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) to produce a new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) at its local plant by mid‑2028. The move marks the first large‑scale hybrid manufacturing effort in the archipelago, leveraging...
Strait of Hormuz Blockade: The Complex Regional Realities the US Ignores at Its Peril
President Donald Trump ordered a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, halting Iranian port traffic. The narrow waterway moves roughly 20% of global oil—about 18 million barrels a day, worth over $1 trillion annually—so the blockade threatens to spike crude...
Xi to Meet Vietnam Leader as Hormuz Blockade Risks Energy Flows
Vietnam’s new president To Lam will meet Xi Jinping in Beijing to cement deeper energy, infrastructure and telecom ties as the Iran‑driven Hormuz blockade threatens oil supplies. The agenda includes a possible VietJet‑Comac aircraft deal, metro construction contracts and expanded rail investment,...
The Right to Food
World Central Kitchen (WCK) has delivered more than 313 million meals in Gaza, operating over 60 community kitchens, field kitchens and mobile bakeries. The organization has invested roughly $500 million locally, generating a multiplier effect for the Gaza economy. However, the war...
Xi’s Petroyuan Dream Gets New Life From Trump’s War in Iran
The Iran‑Israel war has revived interest in a Chinese "petroyuan" as Tehran began accepting yuan for oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. A Chinese‑affiliated scholar noted a surge in yuan‑denominated crude, and the Cross‑Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS)...
War Has Sanctioned Russian LNG Booming
Russia’s Novatek has begun offering cargoes from its Arctic LNG 2 project to buyers in South Asia, despite the facility being subject to U.S., EU and UK sanctions. The shipments are priced at discounts of up to 40 % versus current spot‑market...
Stardust Power Expands US Lithium Supply Pipeline for Oklahoma Refinery
Stardust Power (NASDAQ: SDST) signed a Letter of Intent to purchase up to 15,000 metric tons per year of lithium chloride from a California brine project, securing feedstock for its Muskogee, Oklahoma refinery. Initial deliveries are slated for Q1 2028, with...
The UK Needs More North Sea Gas; Imports From the US Are the Real Enemy | Nils Pratley
The UK will meet this summer’s gas demand but faces a longer‑term shortfall as domestic North Sea output declines. Analysts at Wood Mackenzie warn that, without new drilling, US liquefied natural gas could supply more than 60% of Britain’s gas...
US Navy Should Rely on Allies to Boost Maritime Industrial Base, Report Says
The Center for Maritime Strategy released a report urging the U.S. Navy to lean on allied partners to revitalize its shrinking maritime industrial base. It highlights the Navy’s current shortfall—295 ships versus a 381‑ship target—and a FY2027 budget of $65.8 billion...