The Dark Stores Behind Blinkit and Zepto: How 10 Minute Delivery Works
Quick‑commerce firms like Blinkit and Zepto rely on a network of "dark stores"—compact fulfillment hubs placed within dense customer catchments—to deliver everyday essentials in as little as ten minutes. Inamo, a back‑end specialist, designs the store layout, picking processes and workforce training, using simulators to achieve 12‑15 second pick times and keep order‑to‑delivery cycles under two minutes. The model breaks even at roughly 1,250‑1,400 orders per hour per store, with revenue coming from product margins, convenience fees, delivery charges and targeted advertising. While the sector processes about 10 million orders daily, penetration remains under 10%, indicating significant growth potential.
How Philippines Compares with ASEAN Neighbors During Oil Shocks
The Philippines is markedly more exposed to global oil price spikes than its ASEAN peers because it imports virtually all of its crude and lacks significant refining capacity. Neighboring economies such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam each have...
Produce Season’s Prodigal Return
Tender rejection rates in Fresno’s refrigerated market have surged from under 4% in early March to above 14% within a month, the highest since June 2023. USDA spot rates for produce shipments from central California to Chicago have climbed roughly...
Faisal Islam: Why the Government Is Relaxed About Chinese Car Imports
Chinese‑made cars have surged in the UK, with the Jaecoo 7 becoming the top‑selling model in 2026 and Chinese brands now accounting for about 15 % of new registrations, up from 1.3 % five years ago. The government has deliberately avoided tariffs, emphasizing...
How Iran’s Dark Fleet Is Quietly Keeping Oil Markets Afloat
Iran’s “dark fleet” of opaque tankers is quietly sustaining oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz despite a visible collapse of more than 90% in regulated traffic. By using shell‑company ownership, AIS deactivation and ship‑to‑ship transfers, Iran moves roughly 1.5‑1.7 million...
Independent Supermarkets Struggle to Keep Prices Down as Iran War Hurts
The Iran‑Israel conflict has driven up global fuel and fertilizer prices, raising supply costs for Australian farmers and grocery distributors. Independent chains such as Drakes Supermarkets are absorbing extra supplier charges, while smaller retailers face new minimum delivery fees that...
China Still Gorges on U.S. Chips in Trump Era as Huawei Struggles
U.S. semiconductor exports to China remained robust during the Trump administration, generating about $104 billion for 15 major chip makers, only a modest 4% decline from the prior year and a 17% rise over two years earlier. Meanwhile, Huawei’s ICT infrastructure...
How Satellite Services Support Smart Airports, Shipping, and Logistics Hubs
Satellite services are becoming core components of smart airports, ports, and logistics hubs, delivering outside‑the‑fence visibility, precise timing, and resilient communications. Providers such as Aireon and Spire are expanding from raw position data to integrated tracking, Earth observation, and connectivity...
U.S. Intelligence Shows China Taking a More Active Role in Iran War
U.S. intelligence agencies say China may have shipped shoulder‑fired MANPADS missiles to Iran and is allowing firms to export chemicals, fuel and components usable in weapons production. While the shipment has not been definitively confirmed and no evidence shows the...
MODEX 2026: Trew Expands Sortation Portfolio with TrewSort Swivel Wheel Sorter
Trew announced its new TrewSort Swivel Wheel Sorter, an all‑electric mid‑rate sortation system debuting at MODEX 2026. The sorter targets operations handling 45 to 200 cartons per minute, delivering up to 12,000 units per hour with speeds of 400 feet per...
Baker Hughes (BKR) Secures Strategic Gas Compression Order in Argentina
On April 7, Baker Hughes announced a strategic order from San Matias Pipeline S.A. to supply three NovaLT16 gas turbines and three centrifugal compressors for a new compressor station near Allen, Río Negro, Argentina. The equipment will move natural gas from the...
The AI RAM Shortage Is Also Driving Up SSD Prices
AI‑driven demand for RAM is spilling over into the SSD market, creating a sharp supply crunch. Consumer NVMe drives have surged in price since late 2025, with the WD Black 2TB jumping from $173 to $649 and Samsung’s 4TB 990 Pro...
Reshore Semiconductor Manufacturing to UK and US to Meet Sustainability Goals, Study Says
A University of Sheffield study examined 80 global supply‑chain scenarios for InGaN and InGaP semiconductors and found that manufacturing in the United Kingdom and the United States yields the lowest environmental impact. Shifting production to these low‑carbon regions could cut...
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Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): Key Insights for Efficient Inventory Management
The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model provides a formula for calculating the optimal purchase size that minimizes total inventory costs, including ordering, holding, and shortage expenses. By applying EOQ, firms can align order quantities with annual demand, order cost and...
Hai Robotics Opens EMEA Innovation Center in the Netherlands
Hai Robotics has opened an EMEA Innovation Center in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, to deepen its European footprint. The facility lets customers evaluate the full HaiPick suite, including the upgraded HaiPick Climb, under real‑world conditions. Live demonstrations focus on high‑density storage, flexible...
Three Oil Supertankers Sail Through the Strait of Hormuz
Two Chinese supertankers and a Greek vessel sailed through the Strait of Hormuz hours after a fragile US‑Iran ceasefire, marking the busiest day of oil exits since the conflict halted traffic six weeks ago. The three ships together can transport...
A Panicked Race for Barrels Grips the Global Oil Market
Traders in the North Sea submitted 40 bids for physical crude last week, but only four offers materialized, forcing spot cargoes to change hands at record‑high prices above $140 a barrel. The scramble for immediate supplies has spilled into distant...
MODEX 2026: Dematic Command Center Analytics Platform Debuts in Atlanta
Dematic, a leading supply‑chain automation firm, unveiled its new Command Center analytics platform at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta. The vendor‑agnostic solution delivers real‑time visibility, advanced analytics and actionable insights across warehouse operations. Executives highlighted the platform’s ability to help customers...
India Inc Flags Surge in Cost of Packaging Raw Material, Seeks Relief Measures
India Inc has warned that packaging raw‑material costs have surged, with FMCG packaging up 15‑20% and polymer prices climbing 50‑60% amid West Asia conflict‑driven oil volatility, logistics hikes and a weaker rupee. The rationalisation of commercial LPG has slashed glass‑bottle...
West Asia Tensions Push up Costs for India; Further Impact Hinges on Stability: Report
India’s trade with West Asia totals $220 billion in FY 25, but imports—especially energy—far outpace exports, creating a sizable deficit. Ongoing tensions in the region have already lifted logistics costs and inflation, with the report estimating that each $10 per barrel rise...
US Military Ships Enter Hormuz. Trump Says They're Cleaning Out the Mines
U.S. Navy vessels sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, challenging Iran’s claim that the waterway is blocked by mines. President Trump declared the start of a U.S.-led mine‑clearing effort, framing it as a response to Tehran’s refusal to reopen the...
MODEX 2026: ORBIS Showcases Packaging for Automated Systems
At MODEX 2026, ORBIS unveiled a suite of reusable packaging engineered for seamless integration with robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and autonomous material‑handling equipment. The showcase featured the 40 × 48 Odyssey pallet line, precision‑molded AROS totes, OpteBulk sleeve packs...
Cellular IoT Antenna Shipments Hit 757m Units in 2025, Signalling a New Scaling Phase for Device Hardware
Berg Insight reports cellular IoT antenna shipments jumped 23% in 2025, reaching 757 million units. The surge signals that IoT hardware is moving from niche pilots to consumer‑electronics‑scale production. Antenna volumes, unlike module counts, map directly to the number of connected...
Paying Iran in Crypto Could Put Shippers at Sanctions Risk: Chainalysis
Shipping companies that consider paying Iran’s transit fees with cryptocurrency face heightened sanctions exposure, according to Chainalysis senior analyst Kaitlin Martin. Under U.S. and international sanctions, any crypto payment to the Iranian regime could be deemed material support, risking violations....
Piyush Goyal Holds Talks with Saudi Arabia Trade Minister on Stronger Supply Chains
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with Saudi Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi to reinforce supply‑chain links amid disruptions from the West Asia crisis. The dialogue, part of broader talks with UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, highlighted...
Why East Africa Fuel Crisis Will Linger After Iran War Ceasefire
East Africa's fuel shortage will persist despite a two‑week Gulf ceasefire, as the region depends on refined imports from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda's reserves are expected to run out by mid‑May, prompting rationing...
Schaeffler Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with ROKAE
Schaeffler and Chinese robotics firm ROKAE signed a strategic cooperation agreement on April 7 to co‑develop core components for humanoid robots, including joint modules. The partnership blends Schaeffler’s high‑performance sensors, harmonic drives and precision manufacturing with ROKAE’s full‑stack robotics expertise and...
Seeds | Henan State-Owned Assets + Luxshare Precision Jointly Invest in a 10-Billion-Yuan Robotics Company
EngineAI Robotics Technology Co. closed a $200 million Series B round, lifting its valuation above 10 billion yuan (≈$1.4 billion). The round was co‑led by Henan Investment Group’s Huirong Fund and Luxshare Precision, with participation from numerous state‑backed platforms and family offices. Henan plans...
Chery's First Overseas Operations Center Opens, European Localization Enters Functional Integration Phase
Chery Auto launched its first European Operations Center in Barcelona, paired with a Spanish research institute focused on electrification and smart mobility. The move marks a shift from market testing to systematic regional management, centralizing compliance, finance and supply‑chain functions....
Ukraine Can Play Useful Role in Strait of Hormuz, Britain Says
Britain says Ukraine can play a useful role in securing the Strait of Hormuz, praising its drone technology as among the world’s best. The UK has convened more than 30 nations to discuss reopening the strait after Iran’s blockade choked...
How Ottonomy Robots Are Mapping Last-Mile Delivery With Contextual AI
Ottonomy, a US‑based deep‑tech startup manufacturing in India, has raised $7.8 million to commercialize Contextual AI‑powered delivery robots for indoor‑outdoor logistics. Its two SKUs, Ottobot 2.0 and 3.0, can carry up to ten parcels per trip and adapt to hospitals, airports, malls...
Mundra Becomes India's Largest Auto Export Hub, Adani Port Ships Record 6,008 Cars in Single Vessel
Mundra Port, operated by Adani’s APSEZ, set a national record by loading 6,008 cars onto a single roll‑on/roll‑off vessel, cementing its status as India’s largest auto export hub. The port now ships vehicles to more than 100 countries, reflecting the...
India Permits Iranian Oil Tankers to Berth for Reliance, Say Sources
India’s shipping ministry granted a one‑time exemption for four Iranian‑sanctioned tankers to berth at the western port of Sikka at the request of Reliance Industries. The decision follows a temporary U.S. waiver on Iranian oil purchases that expires on April 19,...
“From Russia of All Places” — B.C. Premier Hits Out at U.S. Lumber Tariffs
British Columbia Premier David Eby used the BC Council of Forest Industries conference to condemn U.S. softwood lumber tariffs, urging American buyers to source timber from Canada rather than Europe or Russia. He noted that U.S. demand outstrips domestic production,...
India-Flagged LPG Tanker Jag Vikram Crosses Strait of Hormuz After US-Iran Ceasefire
India‑flagged LPG tanker Jag Vikram became the first Indian vessel to cross the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week ceasefire. The carrier, owned by Great Eastern Shipping, moved roughly 20,000 tonnes of LPG from the Gulf...
Americans May Be Stuck with $4 Gas for a While
U.S. drivers are now accustomed to paying around $4 per gallon as the Iran‑Israel conflict keeps the Strait of Hormuz largely closed. A two‑week cease‑fire was announced, but shipping firms still deem the waterway too risky, limiting oil tanker traffic...
UP LPG Distributors Association Introduces 5 Kg Small LPG Cylinders for Labourers
The Ghaziabad LPG Distributors Association has begun distributing 5 kg LPG cylinders to address the cooking‑fuel needs of daily‑wage laborers, small families and temporary residents. Eighty‑five gas agencies in the district each received a quota of 50 cylinders, launching a rollout...
New Scheme in Works to Support Domestic Critical Mineral Processing Plants: Mines Secretary
India's Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal announced a new scheme to fund domestic critical mineral processing plants, initially targeting two minerals. The program will sit alongside existing specialty‑steel and battery‑manufacturing incentives. A public‑sector consortium will also submit bids for four Chilean...
Thailand Feels Heat as Iran War Sparks Energy Shock
Iran’s war with Israel has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, choking the main oil transit route into Asia. Thailand, heavily reliant on imported crude, is experiencing an acute fuel shortage that is rippling through tourism, farming, street‑food...
Japan Approves Additional 631.5 Billion Yen for Chipmaker Rapidus
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry approved an additional 631.5 billion yen (about $4.2 bn) for chipmaker Rapidus, bringing total government R&D support to 2.354 trillion yen (~$15.7 bn). The funding is aimed at accelerating Rapidus’s development of 2‑nanometre logic semiconductors, with mass...
Maharashtra Ends Cleaner Rule for Trucks, Brings Relief to Transporters
Maharashtra’s government issued a notification on April 10 ending the mandatory cleaner rule for most heavy motor vehicles. The change eliminates daily fines of ₹1,500 (≈$18) and reduces paperwork for truckers, with exemptions only for articulated and hydraulic trailers carrying oversized...
‘Cancelling Orders’ in China: How Hormuz Oil Crisis Is Hitting Transport, Manufacturing
The reopening and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven Brent crude to $100‑$105 a barrel, inflating fuel and petroleum‑based raw material costs for Chinese manufacturers. Higher freight rates—up to four times normal—are prompting firms to delay or...
US Intelligence Indicates China Preparing Weapons Shipment to Iran, CNN Reports
U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that China is preparing to deliver shoulder‑fired air‑defence missiles, specifically MANPAD systems, to Iran within the next few weeks. The shipment is expected to be routed through intermediary countries to obscure Beijing’s involvement. The development...
Japan Bets $16 Billion to Propel Rapidus in Global AI Chip Race
Japan approved an additional $4 billion in subsidies for Rapidus Corp., raising total government support to $16.3 billion through March 2027. The funding is earmarked to accelerate Rapidus’s AI chip production for early client Fujitsu and follows a positive review of its Hokkaido...
Fallout of War Piles Economic Pain Onto Europe’s Political Stress
Europe is increasingly isolated from its traditional partners—Russia, China and the United States—creating a perfect storm of economic strain. Russian sabotage and reduced oil flows have rattled energy security, while a flood of low‑cost Chinese goods is eroding manufacturing margins...
India Wants Manufacturing at 25% of GDP — Will AI in Factories Help?
India aims to lift manufacturing’s share of GDP from 16% to 25% by leveraging artificial intelligence on the shop floor. Industry veterans Vinod Kumar of PwC India and Srihari Kaninghat of JSW Group argue that AI can cut steel material...
US Tariff Refund Process to Begin April 20 After Top Court’s Decision
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that, beginning April 20, importers can submit requests for tariff refunds after the Supreme Court nullified former President Donald Trump’s sweeping global duties. The refund program will initially cover only unliquidated entries or those...
Saudi Oil Output, Exports Hit After Attacks on Energy Infrastructure
Saudi Arabia reported that recent attacks on key energy infrastructure knocked out more than 600,000 barrels per day of oil production and slashed East‑West pipeline flows by roughly 700,000 barrels per day. The offshore Manifa field and onshore Khurais complex...
Philippine Manufacturers Call for ‘Ayuda’ Amid War-Linked Crisis
The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) urged the government to provide targeted, time‑bound aid to manufacturers as the Middle East conflict keeps oil and logistics costs high. Despite the recent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, fuel surcharges have risen...
Thai Export Pain Set to Continue Despite Mideast Truce
Thai export growth is expected to stall at 0‑1% this year as the Middle East conflict disrupts supply chains and dampens demand in key markets. The partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian tolls raises shipping costs, while...