Hitachi Rail to Build a Premium Dining Railcar in Japan
Hitachi Rail will build Seibu Railway’s new premium dining car, the Fine Dining Train “vies,” slated for service in March 2028. The design draws on Hitachi’s Laview express train platform, leveraging large windows, spacious interiors, and advanced control systems. The project also unveils a bespoke logo and a name that mirrors Seibu’s brand, reinforcing the train’s luxury positioning. The initiative extends Seibu’s successful dining‑car portfolio, which began with the “Fifty Two Seats of Happiness” in 2016.
Airlines and Airports Gain Early Warning of Baggage Disruptions
SITA has introduced Bag Radar, a cloud‑based analytics platform that consolidates baggage data from BIMs, WorldTracer, BRS and DCS to deliver real‑time and predictive insights. By applying historical analysis and AI, the solution flags potential mishandling, missed connections and bottlenecks...
COSCO Resumes Gulf Bookings
China’s state‑backed COSCO Shipping Lines announced it will resume new bookings for standard freight containers from the Far East to the Gulf, covering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq. The decision reverses a March 4 suspension triggered by...
High-Tech Switches as the Key to Project Success
Europe’s rail networks are facing higher traffic, tighter construction windows, and the need for uninterrupted service. Voestalpine Railway Systems addresses these challenges by fully pre‑assembling and testing turnouts in a factory environment, shifting complex work off the track. The company...
The World Is Watching Shipping — Now What?
The Maritime Attention Index (MAI) shows five spikes in public interest over the past five years, with two occurring in early 2026 due to sanctioned tanker seizures and the Hormuz closure. The index, which aggregates Google searches, Wikipedia views, social...
Silver47 Joins DOW's Critical Minerals Forum
Silver47 Exploration Corp. announced its membership in the Pentagon‑sponsored Critical Minerals Forum, a coalition aimed at securing domestic supply chains for defense‑critical minerals. The forum provides AI‑driven market intelligence and a project‑clearinghouse that links miners with investors and government agencies....
DB Cargo Has Equipped 60 Diesel Locomotives with the LEADER System in Just Four Months
DB Cargo has completed a rapid retrofit of its entire Class 77 diesel fleet, installing the LEADER driver‑assistance system on all 60 locomotives within four months. The digital tool, first proven on electric units since 2016, is designed to cut fuel...
Philippines Takes Delivery of Russian Oil After US Waiver
Petron Corp., the Philippines' largest refiner, received a shipment of roughly 13.5 million barrels of Russian crude after Washington granted a sanctions waiver for oil already loaded on tankers. The waiver, issued to mitigate supply shortages caused by the closure of...
Registration Opens for Splash Singapore
Registration opened for Splash Singapore, the first edition of an Asia‑focused shipowner conference slated for September 24 at Singapore’s Fairmont Hotel. The event, built on eight Maritime CEO Forum editions, promises a slide‑free, sales‑free format featuring senior CEOs from Performance Shipping,...
Mayan Train Advances Freight Ambitions
Mexico’s 1,500‑km Mayan Train, originally built for tourism, is now testing freight operations. Night trials employ three Wabtec‑supplied ES44AC diesel locomotives, each delivering 3.3 MW and equipped with European Train Control System (ETCS). The tests focus on coupling and positioning of...
HHLA: Rail Growth Outpaces the Road in 2025
HHLA reported 2025 results showing a 10.9% rise in intermodal volume to 1,982 TEU, with rail freight expanding 11.2% to 1,719 k TEU and overtaking trucks. Total revenue climbed 12% to €797 million (≈$870 million) and group revenue reached €1.756 billion (≈$1.915 billion). EBIT surged...
Barclays Sees 13–14 Million Bpd Oil Supply Loss From Prolonged Hormuz Disruption
Barclays estimates that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would remove 13‑14 million barrels per day from global oil supply, representing roughly 13% of projected 2026 demand. The bank warns that if the disruption extends into late April, Brent...
State Aid for Investment: A Driving Force for Railway Infrastructure
The European Commission has released new guidelines on state aid for railway infrastructure, updating the 2008 framework to include explicit rules for financing new lines, upgrades, and digital traffic‑management projects. The rules differentiate aid for interoperability from rolling‑stock modernization and...
AusPost Increases Fuel Surcharges – but Not for Everyone
"This is a necessary change to help manage cost in a challenging environment,” an AusPost spokesperson said. The post AusPost increases fuel surcharges – but not for everyone appeared first on Inside Retail Australia.
Pandora Selects Hardis WMS to Unify Global Jewelry Supply Chain
Pandora, the world’s largest jewelry retailer, selected Hardis Supply Chain as its global warehouse management system partner to modernize a complex, multi‑region supply chain. The configurable WMS will replace a rigid platform across manufacturing in Thailand, European distribution, and North...
Fuel Shock Pushes Thai Fishery Close to Shutdown
A sharp rise in diesel to about 39 baht ($1.11) per litre—driven by the US‑Israeli war on Iran—has left more than half of Samut Sakhon’s trawlers idle and threatens to shut down Thailand’s multibillion‑dollar fishing sector within days. Thailand exports roughly...
How U.S.A.I.D. Birth Control Meant for Africa Was Ruined
A Trump‑era memo reveals that roughly $9.7 million in contraceptives purchased by USAID for low‑income African nations became stranded in a Belgian warehouse after the agency was dismantled. By September 2025 only $1.6 million remained usable, while $8.1 million spoiled due to lack...
Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Hit By Drone Attack in Black Sea
A Sierra Leone‑flagged Suezmax tanker, the Altura, was struck by drones near the Bosporus, damaging its bridge and engine room but causing no crew injuries. Turkish officials say the attack likely involved an unmanned underwater vehicle, a rare method in...
Saudi Arabia Ramps Yanbu Exports Toward 5 MMbpd as Hormuz Disruption Forces Rerouting
Saudi Arabia is accelerating crude exports from its Yanbu Red Sea terminals, aiming for a 5 MMbpd target as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed by Iran. The East‑West pipeline linking Abqaiq to Yanbu can handle 7 MMbpd, but 2 MMbpd are...
Tetra Pak Rolls Out Single-Serve Wine Cartons in Australia, New Zealand
Tetra Pak has introduced a new single‑serve wine and RTD packaging line in Australia and New Zealand, using its 250 ml Tetra Prisma Aseptic Edge combined with the DreamCap 26 Pro cap. The DreamCap features a screw‑and‑flip tethered design made from renewable plant‑based material,...
How Chef Robots Coordinate to Maximize Throughput
Chef Robotics unveiled robot‑to‑robot (R2R) communication, allowing multiple Chef robots on a shared conveyor to exchange real‑time tray position data via built‑in wireless radios. This coordination lets downstream robots target trays precisely, boosting line speeds to as high as 150...
NSW Targets Fuel Distribution to Support Miners
The New South Wales government announced a coordinated response to diesel distribution gaps that are affecting mining, agriculture and freight. Data from FuelCheck shows 187 stations lack diesel, including 78 in key mining regions, while 32 stations have no fuel...
Prologis CEO Sees Prolonged AI, Data Center Tailwinds
Prologis CEO Dan Letter says AI‑driven data‑center demand will sustain growth, with a 5.7 GW power pipeline—1.8 GW secured and 3.9 GW in advanced stages—under lease discussion for the next three years. The company recorded its second‑largest leasing year in 2025 and expects...
Comau and Reis Robotics Sign a Cooperation Agreement to Pursue Advanced Automation Projects Across Multiple Industries
Italian automation leader Comau and German specialist Reis Robotics have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop advanced automation products for multiple industries. The partnership will initially target shipbuilding, intralogistics, giga‑casting, battery production, heavy industry and critical infrastructure in Germany,...
NORD Delivers Heavy-Duty Industrial Gear Units, Motors, and Controls for Mining Applications
NORD Drivesystems introduced its MAXXDRIVE industrial gear unit series, capable of delivering up to 2,495,900 lb‑in of torque for heavy‑duty mining equipment such as crushers, mills, and conveyors. The units feature a one‑piece UNICASE housing that resists dust, temperature swings, and...
USPS to Hike Prices 8% on April 26 to Cope with Rising Gas Prices
Warehouse robotics, especially autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), are seeing sustained growth, with 2025 shipments up 18.5% and revenue rising 24%. While hardware draws most attention, the article argues that software—specifically integration, synchronization, orchestration, AI‑driven optimization, and simulation—is the true differentiator...
USPS to Hike Prices 8% on April 26 to Cope with Rising Gas Prices
The U.S. Postal Service announced an 8% price increase effective April 26, citing rising fuel costs and broader inflationary pressures. At the same time, the removal of the de‑minimis exemption has introduced a baseline 10% tariff on most overseas parcels,...
NSW Urged to Back Tomago Aluminium Smelter to Protect Jobs and Industry
The Australian Workers’ Union is pressing the New South Wales government to finalize financial backing for the Tomago aluminium smelter, warning that delays could jeopardise hundreds of jobs and the state’s industrial sovereignty. The smelter, the largest employer in the...
USPS Seeks Temporary Surcharge on Packages to Help Cover Transportation Costs
The U.S. Postal Service will impose an 8% temporary surcharge on its core package services starting April 26, 2026, lasting until January 17, 2027. The increase targets Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select, and is driven by rising fuel, trucking...
Video: German Authorities Respond to Inland Vessel Wedged Under a Bridge
On March 24, the fire department in Neuss, Germany, responded to an inland cargo ship that became wedged under a railway bridge on the Rhine River after striking the structure. Several containers fell into the water and others teetered on...
New Research – AI-Powered Procurement: Building the Agentic Future
Artificial intelligence is moving beyond reactive generative models toward agentic systems that can reason, plan, and execute procurement workflows with minimal human input. Agentic AI promises to automate routine, time‑consuming tasks, allowing procurement teams to concentrate on strategic initiatives. To...
JLR’s SAP S/4HANA Journey: Mastering Clean Core Through Governed Extensibility
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) embarked on a SAP S/4HANA migration to replace a legacy ERP and create a future‑proof, agile foundation. The project centered on a Clean Core strategy, keeping the system as standard as possible while using a governance...
Bunker Fuel Shortages in Asia at Tipping Point as War Disruption Continues
Asian ocean carriers are currently managing bunker fuel supplies, but tightening inventories signal a looming shortage if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. Global fuel suppliers warn that prolonged closure could trigger worldwide deficits. To cushion the impact, operators are...
Torsten Slok: $14 Trillion in IG Supply Coming to the Market
Torsten Slok warns that roughly $14 trillion of intermodal (IG) capacity will hit the market over the next two years, driven by a wave of new rail, truck and terminal assets. The surge could outpace demand, creating excess supply in freight...
GOOD GOOD Partners with 3PL to Support UK Growth with Multi-Channel Fulfilment
GOOD GOOD, the health‑focused food brand, has signed a three‑year partnership with UK third‑party logistics provider 3PL to handle multi‑channel fulfillment across direct‑to‑consumer, Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime, and wholesale distribution to Holland & Barrett. The deal leverages 3PL’s Flex service and...
Report: 65% of Pharma Supply Chain Leaders Have Limited Confidence in AI
A new WBR Insights LogiPharma Playbook surveyed 100 European pharma supply‑chain heads and found that while AI is being piloted, confidence remains low. Sixty‑five percent of leaders doubt AI can reliably predict or mitigate disruptions, and only 36% have moved...
Canadian Auto Production Fell in 2025 as Tariffs and Other Uncertainty Took a Bite
Canadian auto production slipped another 7% in 2025, falling to 1.2 million vehicles, marking a second consecutive year of decline. The drop is largely attributed to the United States’ 25% tariffs imposed in March and lingering uncertainty around the electric‑vehicle transition....
Evri Fulfilment Invest £4m to Expand Network in Barnsley
Evri Fulfilment is investing over £4 million (≈$5.1 million) to open a 265,000‑square‑foot fulfillment centre in Barnsley, slated for July 2026. The site will feature advanced sorting and packing automation, allowing parcels to move from order to network entry within an hour...
STB Aims to Reform Rail Permitting
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to overhaul its rail permitting process, aiming to eliminate unnecessary environmental reviews and shorten approval timelines. The proposal introduces categorical exclusions for connecting tracks on existing rights‑of‑way and limits...
Maersk Warns of Prolonged Hormuz Shutdown as Shipping Costs Surge
Maersk warned that the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed to commercial traffic, forcing a reshaping of its global shipping network. The carrier announced an Emergency Bunker Surcharge and a Hormuz Freight surcharge to cover higher fuel and rerouting costs....
Italian Looks to Receive LNG From Algeria, Strengthen Energy Cooperation
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced plans to deepen energy cooperation with Algeria during a visit to Algiers, aiming to increase LNG supplies to Italy. The move comes as Italy grapples with prolonged disruptions in Qatar LNG deliveries, which previously...
Storms Damage Trains Across NW England
Severe gusts on March 25 knocked down trees and damaged overhead line equipment along the West Coast Main Line and surrounding routes in North West England and the Midlands. The disruption stranded multiple passenger trains, forced cancellations, and caused delays...
Inmarsat Maritime’s NexusWave Wins Award for Maritime Mobility Innovation at MSUA 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, won the Maritime Mobility Innovation award at the MSUA 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards for its fully managed bonded connectivity service, NexusWave. The solution aggregates multiple satellite links to deliver up to 340 Mbps downlink and...
Amtech Launches Sourcing Program to Combat Supply Chain Vulnerability
Amtech Electrocircuits has introduced a Multi‑Path Sourcing Initiative to help original equipment manufacturers reduce reliance on single suppliers. The program maps bill‑of‑materials vulnerabilities, validates alternative vendors, and implements continuous monitoring across regions. It targets high‑risk sectors such as medical devices,...
Somali Pirates Hijack Iranian Dhow and Could Be Targeting Ships Warns MSCIO
Somali pirate groups hijacked the Iranian-registered dhow Al Waseemi 786 about 400 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, likely converting it into a mothership to mask their activities. The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) warned that pirates are now operating up...
Southeast Asia: The Next Economic Powerhouse?
Jack Ma, Alibaba founder, says Southeast Asia will eclipse China as the next global economic powerhouse. He cites China’s aging population, regulatory crackdowns, and real‑estate woes, contrasted with the region’s 680 million‑strong, youthful workforce and multilingual talent. Singapore serves as a...
How Lumi AI Helps CPGs Find ‘Multi-Million-Dollar Opportunities’ Hidden in Their Supply Chain Data
Lumi AI, founded in 2023, offers a natural‑language interface that plugs into ERP systems like SAP and Oracle, letting CPG and food‑retail teams query supply‑chain data instantly. The startup has secured $3.7 million in seed funding and counts Kroger, Growmark and...
Umoe Starts Large-Scale Type 4 Cylinder Production in China, First Global H2 Project Deliveries
Umoe Advanced Composites has launched industrial‑scale production of Type 4 composite cylinders at its new 12,000‑sqm Jiaxing plant in China, the company’s largest global manufacturing base. The facility can produce up to 20,000 cylinders a year, effectively tripling UAC’s worldwide capacity...
D&L Sees Potential Supply Challenges as War Drags On
D&L Industries, the Philippines’ largest oleochemical and specialty plastics producer, warned that the ongoing Middle East war is creating supply‑access challenges as crude‑oil prices and raw‑material costs surge. CEO Alvin Lao said 2026 brings new uncertainties, with many suppliers invoking...
Y Combinator-Backed Mandel AI Raises $3.9M to Automate Global Supply Chains
Mandel AI, a Y Combinator‑backed startup, secured $3.9 million in seed funding to launch an AI‑driven supply‑chain coordinator. The platform sits atop existing email and ERP systems, using specialized agents to read supplier messages, reconcile purchase orders and invoices, and act...